I don't know if you know about Margaret Feinberg. I'd heard her name and seen her picture before, but at Catalyst I was introduced to her when she stood on the stage and declared that her book Scouting the Divine would be given to everyone attending. Just to give you a clue -- that's roughly 13,000 copies that she and her publisher GAVE away. Now, to be perfectly honest with you -- I had "seen" Margaret before -- on The Nines. Frankly, I heard a bit of what she said, but what I heard mostly was about her book and I felt a bit put off. So, I made sure I got my free copy. I mean, I could always give it away or eBay, right? So, here we are a couple weeks since Catalyst Conference and I've read where people have talked about the book and my curiosity is up.
I knew what the book is about, from the summaries both on the book and from Margaret herself.
A woman living a modern life. A Bible full of ancient truths. Join critically acclaimed author Margaret Feinberg as she invites readers on the spiritual adventure of a lifetime. In her quest to better understand what God wants to communicate through the Bible, Feinberg explores the symbols and metaphors within the stories. To discover these deeper meanings, she spends time with a shepherdess in Oregon, walks the fields with a farmer in Nebraska, explore a vineyard of California, and talks with a veteran beekeeper in Colorado. Along the way, she gains deeper insight about how scripture applies to life today and discovers answers to puzzling questions. Do sheep really know their shepherd's voice? How often does a grapevine need to be pruned? What does it mean for a land to be described as overflowing with honey?
Not content to just read in the Bible, Margaret made the effort to better understand, and then she shares that understanding with us. From the first chapter, I was hooked.
This is not a book to be raced through,however. There is too much meat. Rather like a big juicy Porterhouse. Such insight into portions of scripture both Old Testament and New.
I'll share more about it in coming days, right now, I'm still chewing that steak and enjoying every bit of flavor and nourishment.