Book Review: Undone by Michele Cushatt
Many books point us to God, but few do it through such an open window into an honest heart. In Undone, Making Peace with an Unexpected Life, Michele Cushatt invites us to simultaneously wrestle with and yet utterly trust the goodness and grace of God in the rawness of life. In this well crafted memoir she chronicles her battle not only with cancer, but many “unexpecteds” with transparency, artistry, and humor.
Undone is not a book about cancer; instead Michele dives deep into her faith journey through a myriad of disappointments, fears, loss, sorrows, and relationship struggles, that any one of undo the strongest among us. Strong, broken, bleary eyed from tears of lament and joy, she unfolds the questions of our hearts. She bravely asks the questions most of us barely whisper.
In years of working with women, as well as mining the depths of my own heart, I found a few common themes: “Is it okay to be me? and Where is God in this mess?” We want to know that we are not alone in our struggles – that other women wrestle and wonder as we do.
Reading Undone, I found myself, nodding in agreement, writing in the margins, seeing my journey and struggles in her words. Michele offers insights and an outstretched hand to embrace the journey and cling to God, without sugar coating or platitudes.
She reminds us that God is in the midst of our messiness, struggle, and uncertainty. In Michele’s story telling, I found a fellow traveler, a kindred spirit… a friend. With powerful transparency, she not only reveals her inner world, but invites us to her kitchen table to share ours as well.
More than anything, her authenticity beckons us – almost compels us- to be more real with God and one another … and that, is a priceless gift. I am blessed beyond measure by this beautiful book and you will be too.
This treasured verse comes to mind: “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zeph 3:17
