I wrote to Anne Rice some time last year after reading Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and she wrote back right away, busy woman though she be. I cannot tell you how kind and sweet her words are - though, of course, you may know this, she being one of the most gifted writers of our age.Many know by now what a wonderful story she tells - one that seemed impossible and almost even heretical at first glance. Yet it is masterful and sincere. Ms. Rice bends no corners and takes the Gospels seriously and reverently, throwing in some 'legends' from the Apocrypha, she portrays the life of Christ and makes it so wonderfully tangible. Her conversion bears fruit and I applaud her and thank God for the gifts He has given. I defend her in the midst of many who would condemn.
If you would tear down Ms. Rice for the work she has done, you must tear down the Sistine Chapel as well.
Now what a blessing was the second installment, Road to Cana! The book lasted a few hours in my hands and I lost a night of sleep reading right till morning. It was absolutely compelling. Anne Rice has linked the Gospels together beautifully, made Christ's life so real and immediate - I can almost say as much as the Gospels themselves. I cannot imagine any better way to honor God with one's gifts and hard work than with what she has done here.
The intricacies of the web she has woven, showing the visceral life of our Lord and yet making it so holy, making real and credible the miracles and the (very human) reactions to them, I applaud her. I haven't read anything that fills me with such "a longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off," something so indescribable since Bunyan or Lewis.
John Akers wrote:
“Where are the creative men and women, the writers, the artists, the filmmakers who will capture the imagination of our confused world in the name of Christ? Where are those who will expose by their work, those vanities and contradictions of our age and affirm with all the skill they can master, that only in Christ are the hidden resources of his wisdom and knowledge?
"Unless we communicate to our generation through the art forms that influence it, our convictions will continue to be judged irrelevant, unworthy of examination, by modern secular man. May God raise up those who will fill the gap”
Thank you Anne Rice for filling that gap and inspiring others to rise up and do so as well.
