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Resource reviews

The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
Paul Rogat Loeb
Powells.com for $8.95-$15.96
422 pages
Basic Books

The Impossible is a collection of essays, poems, excerpts and prose compiled and woven together by the author. Contributing writers include Howard Zinn, Desmod Tutu, Cornell West, Alice Walker, Jim Wallis and Arendati Roy, just to name a few. The Impossible addresses the question that each person dedicated to social and economic justice asks: When are things finally going to change. With his compilation of writings by a series of storytellers-some prophetic, some narrative, some pastoral-Loeb reminds us that what seems impossible is not. It will, however, take time. The Impossible is a book for those who work to create change, long for peace and are waiting on tiptoe to see just the tiniest shift towards justice. It is a book for those who are in the fight for human rights, economic justice, gender and racial equality, and an end to discrimination for the long haul.

At TCU, our Disciples on Campus group used The Impossible as the basis for a six week long small, discussion group. Each week we would select an essay read it and met to discuss it. We opened the group to friends and other students with a passion for social justice. Reading an essay and meeting to discuss it provided a forum for us to discuss our frustrations and misunderstandings. It also gave us a chance to learn about new perspectives in the fight for justice. Some authors called us to make noise; to raise our voices and be heard. Others called us to practice quite kindness and hospitality; to care for our neighbors.

I read The Impossible solo the Winter Break before we started the discussion group at TCU and found that it became my personal devotional throughout the Advent season. While not all of the essays are necessarily religiously based, and are definitely not all Christian based, I found it served the spirit of preparation and waiting that Advent calls us to.

Reviewed by: Kelly Rand, Texas Christian University
Posted: July 11, 2007

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We want to know what you think. Send your comments on this review or on this material to blyons@helmdisciples.org. Your comments will be posted on this page.



		Resource reviews The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear Paul Rogat Loeb Powells.com for $8.95-$15.96 422 pages Basic Books The Impossible is a collection of essays, poems, excerpts and prose compiled and woven together by the author. Contributing writers include Howard Zinn, Desmod Tutu, Cornell West, Alice Walker, Jim Wallis and Arendati Roy, just to name a few. The Impossible addresses the question that each person dedicated to social and economic justice asks: When are things finally going to change. With his compilation of writings by a series of storytellers-some prophetic, some narrative, some pastoral-Loeb reminds us that what seems impossible is not. It will, however, take time. The Impossible is a book for those who work to create change, long for peace and are waiting on tiptoe to see just the tiniest shift towards justice. It is a book for those who are in the fight for human rights, economic justice, gender and racial equality, and an end to discrimination for the long haul. At TCU, our Disciples on Campus group used The Impossible as the basis for a six week long small, discussion group. Each week we would select an essay read it and met to discuss it. We opened the group to friends and other students with a passion for social justice. Reading an essay and meeting to discuss it provided a forum for us to discuss our frustrations and misunderstandings. It also gave us a chance to learn about new perspectives in the fight for justice. Some authors called us to make noise; to raise our voices and be heard. Others called us to practice quite kindness and hospitality; to care for our neighbors. I read The Impossible solo the Winter Break before we started the discussion group at TCU and found that it became my personal devotional throughout the Advent season. While not all of the essays are necessarily religiously based, and are definitely not all Christian based, I found it served the spirit of preparation and waiting that Advent calls us to. Reviewed by: Kelly Rand, Texas Christian University Posted: July 11, 2007 Was this review or resource helpful to you? We want to know what you think. Send your comments on this review or on this material to blyons@helmdisciples.org. Your comments will be posted on this page.