Subtle Beauty
9/21/2010
I’ve just returned from a trip to South America, spending four days in Brazil and seven in 
Argentina. During the trip my publisher in Brazil released my next book, What Good Is God?, six weeks ahead of the U.S. release, something they celebrated with justifiable pride.
If ever I doubted reports that the center of global Christianity is moving to places like Africa and Latin America, the book convention in Sao Paulo known as ExpoCrista silenced those doubts. Just five years ago the large Christian booksellers’ convention in the U.S. attracted some 15,000 attenders. Since then, Christian bookstores have closed by the dozens (thanks in part to Amazon.com and new attention to religious books from the chain stores), and this year’s convention in St. Louis had around 5,000 attending. The opposite trend is taking place elsewhere. The large convention hall in Sao Paulo looked like the U.S. version in its heyday, with glitzy booths featuring books, CDs, DVDs, and kitschy gift products. Some Christian publishers in Brazil are experiencing a 50 to 60 percent annual growth in book sales—almost all of them of the old-fashioned, hard-copy variety—and are branching out through such outlets as Avon (yes, Avon calling). I visited downtown bookstores larger and better stocked than anything I’ve seen in the U.S. It does a writer’s heart good, I must say.
From there to Argentina and the Youth Specialties convention. I mentioned in my previous blog the loud music that characterizes those conventions in Latin America, and Buenos Aires surely did not disappoint. Each plenary session featured three or four bands which seemed to compete in volume if not in quality. Four thousand youth pastors had come from sixteen countries, and many of them jammed together in front of the stage, jumping up and down mosh-pit style throughout the “worship” part of the program. Then graying speakers like me had to get up and try to hold their attention.
I had heard of the renovation of the Teatro Colón, a magnificent concert hall built in 1908 which has hosted every orchestra, performer, and opera singer of note
in the past hundred years. It reopened this year after being closed for four years to undergo a $100 million rehab, and is ranked as one of the five best acoustic buildings in the world. Janet and I took a subway to see it, only to find that they do not offer tours. Instead, we bought tickets for a ballet performance the following night, the only way we could get inside the building. The theater was designed European-style, with seven gilded tiers of seats surrounding the main stage in a horseshoe configuration.
I know almost nothing about ballet, but the program featured music from Donizetti and Tchaikovsky as well as an edgy modern ballet set to Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. I listen to classical music all day long and play some occasionally on the piano. While living in Chicago we went to the great Lyric Opera about once a year. I’m embarrassed to admit that I think of opera and ballet mainly as venues for good music with the added bonus of something to watch. Not knowing the “language” of those arts, I miss most of the subtlety.
With my ears still ringing from the previous day’s worship bands, I kept thinking of that word subtlety. While in Buenos Aires we also visited a museum featuring the best of modern art from Latin America, much of it blatant, in-your-face, and frankly ugly by any traditional measure, constructed of rusty metal and plastic parts. Unintentionally widening the rift between classical and modern, on this trip I had brought along an old novel to read, Henry James’s The Wings of the Dove. I tend to carry books like that on long overseas trips because otherwise I never get around to reading them. It took me about fifty pages to adapt to the cumbersome sentences and the narrative pace, so much slower and more understated than modern fiction. Jane Austen may spend a hundred pages leading up to a meaningful kiss; modern novels get the main characters naked and in bed together within a few paragraphs.
Theodore Dalrymple, a cranky conservative columnist in Great Britain, makes the observation that the modern era is the first in history which takes its aesthetic taste from the bottom up, rather than the top down. In every other era people have looked to the more sophisticated and educated classes for their idea of beauty; in modern times we’ve reversed the trend. Think of casual dress and the jeans culture, of tattoos and body piercing, of grunge rock and rap. Or, check out Time magazine’s issue on the most influential people of last year: Lady Gaga made the cover, along with Bill Clinton and a soccer player. Any civilization that includes Lady Gaga in its most influential trinity is a civilization in deep trouble.
You can make the case, as some do, that this trend shows a healthy democratization, a rebellion against the tyranny of the upper class. You can also make the case that it demonstrates a confusion about quality. I’ll leave such arguments to the aesthetes. Here’s what stands out to me: what used to be known as good taste demands something of the viewer or reader. To appreciate ballet or opera, I would need to learn the language, as I have more done so more fluently with classical music. Mosh-pit rock, which seemed to have a spectacular effect on the South American youth pastors, requires little but standing in front of speakers and letting the cells vibrate.
After Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires we spent three days at Iguazu Falls, one of the great natural wonders of the world. We saw toucans, parrots, and other birds decorated with geometric designs more strikingly beautiful than anything in an art museum. We spilled a soft drink on the ground and stood silent as swallowtail butterflies—flying fabrics worthy of museum display—fluttered down for a drink. We watched as the setting sun turned the thundering waterfalls (“they’re so loud they feel like a third heartbeat,” said my wife) delicate shades of yellow, orange, and pink.
Maybe I’m just getting old. Or, maybe we’re in danger of losing something very valuable in our cut-to-the-essence, in-your-face culture. Something like beauty?
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About Philip Yancey
For Yancey, reading offered a window to a different world. So, he devoured books that opened his mind, challenged his upbringing, and went against what he had been taught. A sense of betrayal engulfed him.
Yancey,
I’m in Brazil reading your book What Good Is God? The chapter about the “Apostle Lewis” was what you needed to be redeemed of your fault of not putting it in Survivor Soul…lol
Hi, Mr. Yancey=) I came across one of your books about 5yrs ago but only now did i fully appreciate your thoughts,your message. And I must say, I totally get you now! Lol! This year, I rediscovered you and your works & just over a period of 3months, I read and shared your books with my mom: What’s so Amazing about Grace, Jesus I Never Knew and Prayer. Thanks for always pointing us back to Jesus=) God Bless and Keep writing! Thanks!
Hello Philip!
Greetings from Malaysia! Sooo glad to find your website printed on the cover of the latest book of yours that I purchased today ie What Good Is God? You have no idea how many books of yours I have purchased……yeap have almost all the books you have written. I first picked up Where is God When It Hurts? many years ago when I was coming to terms with severe depression and a real horrendous and disastrous church experience, that plunged me in the deepest despair and almost robbed me of whatever faith that was left in me of God. Well the truth is I gave up on God but He wouldn’t give up on me, showing me in many ways little little grace notes that came in varied forms especially in the gentle and loving ways of kind and godly friends, family members that are firmly rooted in good values who comforted and supported me in my most dire and difficult times (though we are all of different faith) certainly the Bible too……that pointed me to the right path again.
But you know what Mr. Yancey? Your book that I picked up with the words blaring at me ‘where is god when it hurts?’ was something that spoke volume to me. In a sense all the bitterness and anger or rather the unfairness that I felt was slowly peeling away. It was as though I found this gracious message that I was meant to read all along, that God must in his highest providence and wisdom meant for me to be acquainted with your writing filled with nuggets of His love….lavish love….so insightful, so much depth, laced with so much hope, a page turner nonetheless, a thoughtful book and something so good brimmed out of it’s pages that from then on I was hooked reading your book. You bet I am your greatest fan in Malaysia! You have no idea how many of your books that I have given away to people that I sensed might help in some ways. I gave a copy of Prayer to a cab driver, another to a grieving friend. Must have passed around umpteenth copy of the Jesus I Never Knew too. Yeap your books are such great ways to evangelize in a friendly and non coersive manner. Even my mentor a German Catholic Missionary Brother who used to be my school principal loves your books. Have shared many copies of your books with him and your bet I’ll purchase the latest one for him one of these days.
You have been such a real blessing to me, any book of yours is worth every ounce of my time and money. You write with much fluidity, your style is so superior, you cleverly strewn words that not only evokes thinking and response but entice reading. I never seem to get enough……ha,ha…..hint hint…write some more as soon as you can…..it’s bound to be yet another best seller, another thought provoking gem……wink wink 😉
You know I once told a friend if I could have five great people of my choice to feast with, one of them would certainly be Philip Yancey sitting next to Mother Teresa and the likes of her. Oh what wishful thinking…..but if you ever drop by Malaysia you bet I would drop everything and be among the first to meet you 🙂
Well enough of rambling….and I’d end with a million thanks to my favorite Christian author……..there is no other modern writer who reflects Christ more than I know you do. So God bless you for being a real blessing to many, I, among one of them. Take care and have a great day!
An Avid Yancey Fan.
Kim
This is the 2nd occasion I have come across your blog post in the last couple weeks. Seems like I ought to take note of it.
love your inspirational articles so much.
I’ve been reading from Grace Notes almost everyday and there’s always something precious to take away from your words.
I was wondering if you ever have speaking engagements in New York.
Thank you for your books. They are an inspiration.
I’m about 1/3 of the way along in your book ‘Where is God when it Hurts’, and I’m going to re-read it again, and again, I can tell. Many good points in there, especially about dying. I’m not hurting and, at 63, I expect to live a long life, but recently the death of a fellow Christian brought home to me the value of the death of a faithful Christian, holding fast in faith to the bitter end, the gospel being squeezed out of her along with her physical life. Those unbelievers she was trying to reach with the gospel must have been reached if I understand anything at all about what the bible says of martyrdom. Albeit her death was not quite that kind of death, nevertheless, starting with our Lord, the death of a faithful believer can move someone to the on-ramp of eternity with Jesus. And our Lord’s death still does that today. After her death, as I pondered this and my deep concerns for the salvation of some precious souls, it ocurred to me that death, not suicide of course, is frequently mentioned in the bible with respect to bringing in the unsaved. Perhaps more so than miracles. It’s definitely an overlooked resource for evangelism. And I said at one point right after that, ‘Lord, if I could bring that person into paradise in only one way, with my life, then help me make that happen’. I was reassured that another type of death was going to be required; death to self. And really, there’s no greater love than that because it’s still death, and a glorious one at that because death brings life, as I read it. Having said that, I would always persist in faith in being healed if I was struck down with terminal illness, but I know that if I wasn’t healed, my death would not be in vain.
This is my first visit to your website. I have all your books and am looking forward to your new one, coming soon. You have inspired me with your writing, and your insight into God’s Word. An amazing gift and anointing is yours. Your understanding of God’s Word and the ability to write it down in a fashion that is so “useful and practical” to the ordinary man is amazing to me. Thank you for being available to God and using your talent and gift for Him and “us.” I have given numerous copies of “Disappointment With God” to people going through crises. It’s an amazing book. Thanks
Hi Philip,
I have been reading your books for a few years. They seem to come at a time of deep personal crisis which relates to challening people in the workplace about this subject of values and then being retaliated on. I am writing a thesis for a PhD at Newcastle University on this subject. I think that as Christians we need to be focusing on living the values that Jesus taught us which is based on forgiveness. Forgiveness is what places Christianity above all other religions. I find it interesting that you have to take time out in the day to consciously do prayer. I think our whole life is a prayer. Because my life has been so fraught with anxiety and fear about where God is leading me to next which invarioubly means having to preach the gospel of respect and care of others and then being retaliated on in shambolically organised workplaces, which leaves my finances in total chaos then I have no choice other that to be praying all day long.
I decided to look you up on Google to see what you look like and you are nothing like I expected. I expected to see a middle age suited man with a tie.
Your books are certainly worth reading and you provide an important link to people who find fundamentalist evangalisim which invariably leads to judgemental thinking and behaviour and our Lord. They have been a great comfort to me in times when I have felt quite despairing about what God has lead me into. Living by faith doesn’t fit with Australian life.
Cheers,
Pauline
Wonderful to have met you!
Wonderful to have met you, Philip!
“Maybe I’m just getting old.”
You are getting old Philip – 35 years ago I told my twins Uncle Philip was coming to see them and one of them asked – “you mean the man with the big hair?”
Glad you got another taste of Brazil – I like the website.
Do you have ‘The Jesus I never knew’ in Italian? I know that Italians are not much for reading, but I have observed that a book that has ‘Gesu’ in the title usually makes the top 10 best-sellers in Italy. And since there is a derth of Christian writers here, the book might do well (both in Catholic and Protestant arenas).
Also I have a suggestion for a new book of yours: “The Jesus I never knew. The Sequel”. It would be about the Jesus in the OT (especially in the Psalms, prophets and of course in Revelation). At one point I told my husband that Jesus is EVERYWHERE in the Bible. He responded that I am splitting hairs in order to find out who is speaking in passages in the OT (the Father or the Son… or the Son through David in the Psalms). Even though it is not easy I still love discovering the kingdom of God in the OT.
This is great. Can you get on Twitter? It’s the best way to direct traffic to your site and notify people of new posts. I would definitely “follow” you and I think lots of others would too. I’m new to it, but I’ve already found a lot of people who love great writing. Something to consider!
Philip, I really enjoy your books and in a real sense they have changed my life. However, I would very much like to write to you about a problem you seem to find insurmountable and raised again in ‘Prayer’, in the context of your conversation with a Japanese pastor: ‘What about the 99% of Japanese who are not Christians, what happens to them?’ and to the many like them worldwide. I believe there is a clear and positive answer in the Gospels but I’m not sure this is the space or place in which to write my response. Do you have an address I can write to?
John
Hi Philip,
Reading your books is a blessing for me. First I read “The Jesus I Never Knew” and then “What So amazing about Grace” are really enrich my life. You write is so narrative, deep and easy to be understood. I am so helped to know God’s Word through your writings.
When will you visit my country, Indonesia? I think you have to come to Jakarta, there are lot of people who read your books and know you well [by your books]. If you have read Christianity in Indonesia, you’ll find more uniqueness and interesting things according to the congregational growth and missionary, also many of denominations. 🙂
Keep up the great works Philip, always wait for new Christianity thoughts from you.
I am very happy that you have this website so I can read about your trips and experiences. Thank you!
I am reading “Grace Notes” right now and it enriches each day. Looking forward to next month when your new book is released.
Thanks for your great work – it is a blessing in my life!