Ain’t No Valley – A Novel

During my morning commute, I like to read to make the time go by faster.  I picked up a copy of  Sharon Ewell Foster’s book (2005 – Bethany House) Ain’t No Valley, and I was awed by the interweaving of  the parable of the prodigal son, the story of Ruth and the wedding feast spoken in the book of Revelations.  This book is a work of fiction, but it speaks to the very real experience of living and prospering in the midst of the valley.  A particular passage spoke to me:

“We supposed to invite people to the wedding that don’t deserve to be there…that we don’t think deserve to be there. ‘Cause the truth is, we don’t deserve to be there ourselves. She pointed to her chest.  ‘We supposed to be inviting the uninvited, we supposed to tell them that the King of Kings has requested their presence.  He has asked for them by name.  We need to tell them that they may not have the right clothes, people might not like them, but they’re still invited.  If they get on our nerves, we still supposed to invite them.  Prisoners, sick people, doctors, lawyers, drug addicts, prostitutes, policemen, teachers, Black, White, Brown, Red, Yellow–everybody, even Inez.  They may not be ready now–they might not have on the right clothes or have oil ready for their lamps, they may not be studying or living right–but we still supposed to invite them.”

If you get a chance, check it out.  It is the third book in her “Ain’t No River” series.