“Where The Holiness Is Palpable…”

I’ve been reading Frederick Buechner’s novel The Storm and enjoying his reverent craft to a high degree. I’ve also been listening to some of his talks while driving to and from work. An interview conducted by Walter Brueggemann is one of my favorites, and I’ve included the third section of it below. In the interview, Buechner talks about his experiences within and thoughts about the church, and he makes the perceptive point that “the mystery is missing” in the physical structure of today’s church buildings, noting with sadness the sterile, brightly lit religious structures of today. His words about holy aesthetics reminded me of the fine essay In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki, which I also recommend.

~ S.K. Orr