What Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies Taught Me on Living Perfectly

“Hope is contagious. Hope is like yeast and baking powder. It has an energy that makes things rise. If you want to know if you are good for others, ask yourself how much hope you’ve given them. It is there you will find your answer.” – Anne Lamott (Traveling Mercies)

Click Here to skip my review and go straight to Amazon to check out Anne Lamotts Traveling Mercies

My Review for Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies

If you have read Donald Miller’s popular book, “Blue Like Jazz” then you have came across the name of Anne Lamott. I would even go further and say that you have heard the name Anne Lamott even if you heard the name of Donald Miller. She is without a doubt the biggest influence on his writing.

I only realized how big of an influence she is on Donald Miller and well the entire spiritual writers community this past month because I just began reading her book – Traveling Mercies. I have heard her name being thrown around for years as one of the premier contemporary authors of today. Her words can dry the tears of babies, cure world hunger and even make Mike Tyson cry.

eh.. That’s nice.

Is Traveling Mercies Anything More than Hype?

I figured that one day I would get around to reading her most popular work, Traveling Mercies, but I’ll forget about the hype for the time being and go finish playing Angry Birds on my iPad.  I don’t enjoy following big hype crazes that will change the face of the world as we know it. The way that I see it is that I’m lazy. I’ll let someone else read the world changing book and then I can reap the rewards.

So I put it off.

until last month.

I needed a book for “Book of the Month”. Traveling Mercies foot the bill pretty well. An accomplished and popular writer who is the leader of a cult has a cult-like fanbase will be a feature for the month of June. I can surely churn up some Amazon affiliate sales with a link to her book. I might even earn enough to buy that attractive blonde next to me a cup of coffee.

Getting past the 6’4″ gorilla in man’s clothing  whom is sitting next to her will induce problems and pain though.

So I went out and purchased the Kindle version of Traveling Mercies on my iPad to read and write a fluffy review. I didn’t expect much as I said I’m not into cult-hype. I assumed it would be an easy read with at least a few interesting insights.

I was wrong.. I’m barely half-way through it.

Anne Lamott Shares Her Most Intimate Moments

The book is actually good. Excellent in fact. I was waiting for the book to disappoint me and leave me saying, “I knew it. I’m always more right than those silly latte-sipping, glasses wearing, smart word spewing book types who think they know it all.”

But the book truly is really great writing and you can quickly see its influence on Donald Miller and many of his sheep… me included.

Anne chronicles some of the most intimate and real moments of her life to share with us how it has all molded her personal faith. She reflects on all of her experiences with no event to be considered too personal or private. There is no censorship from fear that people will reject her.

Her life is completely open to the onslaught of hail that will surely come from the critical public.

In hopes that she may inspire a single reader to reach out for God.

We are moved to encourage her as she weeps through the loss of her beloved father. We then roll our eyes in disgust as she exposes her experience with abortion. We forgive her as she finds a home in church, but lose faith as she has a child out of wedlock. Will she ever become the saint whom we envy and love to hate? What can I learn from such a constant and wretched sinner?

She is not perfect.

Anne Lamott’s Imperfections and Real Life Exposed

The more I read her memoir, the more I hate her. I want her to be beautiful and perfect. I don’t want her to spew curse words or think about the stench of belly buttons. She needs flowing golden hair with unstained white wings that wrap around her perfectly curved body.

I need her to have the beautiful soprano voice that sings into the desires of my soul.

Instead, she talks about wasting her athletic talent for tennis so she could go get high. I hate this because its real. She doesn’t have wings nor gorgeous flowing golden hair. She does have the golden hair but they are matted in dreadlocks. She sins. She turns to God. She sins. She cries for God. She sins. She seeks God.

You think she finally has it.

She finally has the perfect faith with a perfect son in a perfect house surrounded by a perfect fence while rocking in a perfect chair that we so perfectly fake while having empty conversations with our also perfectly fake friends.

Then she falls again.

I am not through with the book, but I have a feeling that she will not reach that point of nirvana and enlightenment. She will continue to fail in a pursuit of perfected life but remain strong in knowing that God will always hold her in those darkest of nights.

God is there for us even though we are filthy misfits who clumsily waddle through an experience called life.

Traveling Mercies is Not a How To or Theology Book. Anne Lamott isn’t  for Everyone

This book does not please everyone as you can see when you travel to the land of Amazon and read the one star reviews. One of my favorite reviewers said, “Simply, I do not understand why the interest in this book. Very confused and lonely person with no answers.” Another one condemns her for use of foul language and others do not understand how this is a spirituality book.

These people are right.

This is not a how-to book where a Christian guru tells you the “7 secrets to a perfect prayer life” or “How to Live Sin-Free in 3 Easy Steps”.  There are no deep theological insights where you are wowed into her perfect logical explanation for the openness of God or why pink monkeys are in heaven. She would be foolish to write such things.

This book is for people who haven’t gotten past the mess and junk of reality. It is encouragement for the rest of us to know that it is okay we aren’t perfect Christmas tree ornament angels all of the time. Life isn’t always sunny for me nor is it without storm clouds for Anne either.

God still cares for us even though sometimes we enjoy the smell of our own fart a little too much.

I don’t know whether you will love or hate the book. I know you won’t say, “meh.. its whatever” about it. Isn’t this the sign of an extremely powerful book? I know that I can pass buying a book if there are more 3 stars than 1 or 5 because the author has nothing important to say.

Anne has plenty to say but it is up to you whether you chose to let her speak to your heart.

click here to check out Anne Lamotts Traveling Mercies on Amazon

Anne Lamott Traveling Mercies Reviews From Amazon

I had no idea what to expect in this, my first encounter with Anne Lamott. The wide assortment of reviews convinced me to purchase the book–plus, the idea of reverence paired with irreverence, since we can all use a little humor to season the subjects that matter most…that therefore become so stinkin’ divisive! Wow! When I’m not laughing at Anne’s great writing and gritty insights, I’m pushing down that lump in my throat. Anne plants and waters the flowers of faith and grace, but pats down their seeds beneath the coarse dirt and smelly manure of life… (Positive Review)

One of the best books about faith, this is not preachy in an off-putting way. Rather, Lamott’s honesty and humanity prove heart- and soul-warming. (Positive Review)

I found this book to be lacking the insights I was seeking. Anne Lamott’s life is simply not that inspiring. True, she is a recovering addict who is also a single mom. True, she is a writer. But I didn’t find any insights into the nature of God or faith in this book that I felt would qualify Lamott to teach me anything about God I couldn’t learn from my own life or my own prayer. (Negative Review)

No, I’m not an English lit professor, just a reader who enjoys a good book. I was curious about Ms. Lamott since there always seems to be controversy surrounding her and her work. Well, I’m not a member of the Christian Right, nor am I a Republican, and I am well read and I can say this book was a disappointment. If you order steak, pay for steak, and are given hamburger, you’re ticked. I was ripped off and I want a refund. Ms. Lamott should take a rest. (Negative Review)

Anne Lamott Traveling Mercies Quotes

“Forgiveness is giving up all hope of having had a different past.”

“Traveling mercies: love the journey, God is with you, come home safe and sound”

“It’s funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools – friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty – and said ‘do the best you can with these, they will have to do’. And mostly, against all odds, they do. “

Order Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies

You can pick up a copy of Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies today by clicking on my affiliate link below. I would be thrilled with your support of this poor novelist trying to change the world through this silly blog. I recommend the Kindle version because I get to see the most popular areas where others have highlighted and its almost like we are all reading together and saying, “Hey, what she says here really speaks to me.” and “I completely agree. This is good stuff.”

Anyway, click here to check out Anne Lamotts Traveling Mercies on Amazon

p.s. If you have already read Traveling Mercies or purchase it through this link leave me your thoughts on the book and lets discuss what she is saying together.