By Ed Olfert
Published by DriverWorks Ink
$19.95
ISBN 9-781927-570227
I must begin this review with a disclaimer: I was hesitant to read and review this book, based on the recognizable Biblical quote in its title. I expected that within Ed Olfert鈥檚 pages I鈥檇 be subjected to Christian proselytizing, and I鈥檓 not particularly receptive to preaching of any kind. The quote, from Genesis 1:31, refers to God observing creation then stating 鈥淎nd it was very good.鈥� Well, you know what they say about judging a book by its cover. (And in this case, the cover鈥檚 a particularly attractive photograph of what appears to be a Saskatchewan lake). I鈥檓 delighted to share that within just a few pages, my hesitancy vanished and I realized I was in for a darn good read.
Firstly, the Laird, Saskatchewan, author comes to the page rich with life experience. He鈥檚 from a 鈥済rease under the fingernails鈥� Mennonite family, and his work experience includes mining, welding, truck driving, and 鈥渕inistering a church.鈥� He鈥檚 a father, a proud and connected grandfather, and a volunteer who has worked in Haiti, and he often works with the homeless and downtrodden locally. As Darryl Mills, managing editor of the Prince Albert Daily Herald 鈥� where these stories first appeared in Olfert鈥檚 column - writes, 鈥淸Olfert offers] a regular invitation for readers to really ponder their world a little more fully.鈥� Yes. That鈥檚 it exactly. And Olfert鈥檚 rose-coloured glasses are welcome in a world where 鈥渁 sea of pessimism鈥� seems to be the norm.
When a writer includes why they鈥檝e written a book, I listen. Olfert explains that his point was to 鈥渋dentify glimpses [of God]鈥� and 鈥渢o savour those moments as powerful gifts.鈥� He adds that there鈥檚 鈥渘othing earth-shattering, momentous, revolutionary鈥� here, but I鈥檒l argue that simplicity does not preclude profundity. The book鈥檚 filled with short anecdotes about people society in general might not consider extraordinary, yet Olfert finds that through their surprising words and deeds, they are indeed awesome, and can teach us all how to be better humans.
Take Bill, a convicted sex offender, whom Olfert met though his work with Circle of Support and Accountability. The author鈥檚 story illustrates how Bill inspired him, and how 鈥渁 hurting spirit rose above its woundedness.鈥�
Evident in story after story, Olfert鈥檚 habitual non-judgement is ultra-inspiring. He recognizes that life can be difficult (indeed, he confesses that he suffers from depression and takes anti-depressants), and asks us to consider some challenging questions, ie: 鈥淲hat are we prepared to do for the grandchildren of our enemies?鈥� He sees holiness in unusual places: 鈥渋n sharing a single life jacket,鈥� for example, and in a vandal with FASD who destroyed the church鈥檚 grand piano, and in a 鈥渄usty warehouse.鈥�
What a gift to be able to see the good in others, rather than the foibles. I鈥檓 in awe of Olfert鈥檚 gift, and grateful that he鈥檚 shared it in this book 鈥� a book that I鈥檇 prejudged before I鈥檇 read a single word.
I read these moving stories a handful at a time, and they were very good.
This book is available at your local bookstore or from www.skbooks.com.
