In a sea of Christian theological books, it’s hard to take seriously one that is as simple as Don Miller’s Blue Like Jazz. Without a single footnote or Biblical cross-reference, Miller manages to simmer the core principles of Christianity into a 250-page memoir that bounces around from short essay to shorter essay, meandering through MIller’s own life, drawing wisdom where it can. But amid the reflections, which sometimes seem like they were recorded by a fifth grader, Miller effectively presents the simplicity of Christian spirituality in a very profound way.
What’s most remarkable about Miller’s life is how truly unremarkable it is and yet his story is still compelling. There are no near-death experiences, no tragic losses to build a stronger man. Miller grew up with out a father, sure, but his father left so early in Don’s life that he hardly seemed missing. Instead we have the first-hand account of a fairly regular guy trying to figure out what it all means. I think what’s so appealing about Blue Like Jazz, is that it represents a journey that we all take and doesn’t try to explain it away with Biblical analysis, but instead lets the journey explain itself.
Blue Like Jazz follows Miller’s life as he leaves his Texas home to find purpose. On the way he lives with hippies in the woods for a bit, works at a Christian youth camp, and ultimately decides to take classes at Reed College, a liberal northwestern college, which is supposedly home of some of the most godless students in the country. One of the most intriguing scenes of the book comes when MIller and a small band of Reed College Christians decide to set up a confessional booth during the most depraved party of the year. But the twist is that if they convinced any of the partying students to step into the booth, they wouldn’t ask them to confess, instead, they would ask them to receive a confession of Christianity’s failures.
Blue Like Jazz is full of insights wrapped in the most surprisingly simple anecdotes. There are times when I read Miller’s words and think “is this guy for real?” because he often seems to have such a simplistic outlook. But by the end of the book, I was left with such a hopeful feeling of resolve about the simple truths behind Christianity. Apart from 5-inch-thick biblical commentaries, apart from greedy televangelists, apart from the Christian marketing machine, it is possible to see the simple truth and I think Donald Miller sees that truth, and articulates it well in Blue Like Jazz.
For something so simple and seemingly disarming, Blue Like Jazz has stirred its share of controversy. Conservatives have labeled Miller a liberal post-modernist, while liberals have labeled him a rehashed fundamentalist. If you have read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
