This year, RBC is running a series of articles in the Beacon examining books that might be especially helpful to the life of the Church. We hope you will benefit from these book descriptions and suggestions.
The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls*
I found The Glass Castle to be a meaningful and thought-provoking memoir. The book details the life of the author, Jeannette Walls, from the carefree perspective of her childhood to the more complex viewpoint of an adult. She had an unconventional childhood filled with frequent moves, scarcity, and financial instability, yet managed to describe it endearingly. She experienced freedom through exploration, a chance to be independent, and opportunities to hold her possessions loosely. Through it all, she sees the positives and the growth mindset her parents encouraged.
The following quote epitomizes her life:
”One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect it from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. ‘You’d be destroying what makes it special,’ she said. ‘It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty.’”
Like the Joshua tree, the author experienced many hardships, yet grew to become strong and resilient. “I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes,” she writes.
After burning many bridges in the western US, Walls’ family eventually settled back into their Appalachian home community. Through all the traumatic ups and downs, the father kept referring to “the glass castle”—a plan he had for their eventual living quarters. He drew up plans and spent hours dreaming of what this dream house would eventually be, but because of poor life choices, alcoholism, and other extenuating circumstances, he never completed or even started the “castle.”
As I pondered this “glass castle” thread throughout the book, I was reminded of the amount of time and energy I have spent on fruitless endeavors. I realize it’s easy for me to criticize this father’s obviously impossible dream, but at the same time know I’m also guilty of spending lots of mental energy on things that are equally unproductive and not Christ-focused.
How do we really help those in need, especially when we see unhealthy patterns of life and decision-making?
The relationships in Walls’ family were also quite complicated, especially between the children and their parents. Jeannette’s artist mother showed a never-ending positive outlook and was able to make excuses or justify her actions, even when it meant the family struggled to eat or have a safe place to live. Walls was her father’s favorite child, and he used the power in that relationship to manipulate her.
Parents have a huge impact on their children in both healthy and unhealthy ways. This book reminded me that having Christ at the center of our homes goes a long way toward helping us create healthy family relationships.
In the final chapters of the book, the author describes her life as a stable adult with a job, a spouse, and an actual house (not a glass castle). Meanwhile, her parents were now homeless, uninterested in receiving support, and misused the support they did receive.
The Glass Castle also made me think about our responsibility as Christians to care for the poor and needy in our communities, sharing in both physical and spiritual ways. How do we really help those in need, especially when we see unhealthy patterns of life and decision-making? Do we too easily assume we know what is in people’s best interests instead of taking time to build relationships and hear their stories? What does sharing the gospel and caring for people living in poverty look like practically?
While The Glass Castle is not “Christian,” it certainly helps us consider situations unlike our own and use that knowledge to help grow the Kingdom in our world today.
*While this book contains some language and content RBC doesn’t condone, it’s a valuable description of one family’s real-life experiences and valuable lessons learned.
Header photo credit: Circe Denyer: “Joshua Tree Closeup”
