Roots & Sky, by Christie Purifoy (book review)

Roots & Sky by Christie Purifoy was was the perfect book to settle into while my summer nights stretched out. Christie shares her personal discoveries as she settles into her “new” home – a century old farmhouse in southeastern Pennsylvania. Each season becomes her teacher, bringing revelations about about God, purpose, family, community and hope.

Christie’s writing is poetic. Fragrant. I could taste the juicy Brandywine tomatoes she harvested from her backyard garden as I read. It was as if I could feel the imperfections on the stairwell railing with my own hands. I could hear the leaves rustle on the trees that marked the driveway leading up to Maplehurst. Christie’s writing engaged all my senses as I read. This type of writing is, quite simply, a gift.

In the (very) early pages of her book I wondered what Christie could offer me. I admit seeds of bitterness have been planted deep in my heart, and I prematurely discounted Christie’s book as a tale of a woman who got her dream home and spent her days pouring over paint samples and dreaming up future renovations.

And yet, here I am, grappling with some profound thoughts that Christie has left me with…

Sharing her journey through Autumn, Christie observes, “We rarely feel stronger for having survived or overcome. We feel only despair. I cannot possibly go through again, we tell ourselves.” She later continues, “I give memory a power it has no right to hold—the power to predict my future. I forget that God’s promise of newness arrives with a command: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isa. 43:18-19)” (page 26).

Christie has given Isaiah 43:18-19 wonderful new meaning for me. In order to receive this newness, I need to release the former things. I have a tendency to hold onto the past too tightly. What new things have I missed being a witness to while being so focused on the past? The idea that I have given certain memories power over me to predict my future is somewhat haunting. As I look back, I see I have become non-committal at times for fear of things turning out the way they have in the past. I am grateful to have become aware of this negative way of thinking and the power it has over me.

And later, I was so moved by what Christie wrote on page 156. “It is especially strange that we burden children with this question of what they will one day do, when so much of our lives are already prescribed. What will my children do? I can already see most of it. They will sleep. They will eat. They will live in relationships with others. They will celebrate special days and live ordinary days that tick with repetitive tasks. The truly important question seems not to be what they will do, but how will they do it.”

In a world that honours what we do and assigns certain social rankings based on our level of achievement and vocation, I appreciated the reminder that it’s how we do life that matters. Sure, it might not be flashy and it might never be celebrated, but I am convinced that it is how we live and work in relationship with others that will profoundly impact those around us – not necessarily what we do.

Eight years ago, my husband and I moved back to the area where I was raised. We’ve been working on putting down roots, but still, I often struggle with not feeling settled. I long for the mountains. I long for the ocean. I long for a place that offers warmth 365 days a year – not just in one short season (or a few weekends, for that matter).

Roots & Sky has made me excited about celebrating where I am – releasing the past and being more fully present in order to discover God’s newness around me.

I am going to embrace this new season we are coming into & celebrate the bounty this area in southwestern Ontario produces by canning this coming weekend. My intention is that with every can of homemade tomato sauce I open on a dark winter’s night, I will open up more reasons to be grateful for my very own roots & sky.

My thanks to #EllensPicks for introducing me to another great author!

#ChristiePurifoy #EllensPicks