Cartoonists have a rare skill of being able to
condense a story, an ironic twist, or a profound truth into a minimum of simple
lines and maybe a handful of words. It’s
a step beyond “flash fiction” and way out of the league of yours truly, who
tends to write “long” rather than “short.”
Will Robertson, an up-and-coming cartoonist, has
published several collections of his daily comic strips. Now he’s put together a new book, a bit
different from the others, which explains the Christian concept of being “born
again” in a story as simple and profound as Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.
Most of my friends and family are aware that I
classify myself as a non-denominational live-and-let-live Christian. I treat other people’s beliefs (or non-belief)
with respect, and generally receive the same respect for mine. I don’t feel called to be an evangelist. I do
sometimes “preach to the choir,” reminding self-professed Christians of the
essence of their religion: love God and your neighbor. I’ll share my beliefs when asked, but mostly
I try to be a living testimony, to “walk the walk” instead of just “talking the
talk.” That’s what this book is about, also: the futility of “talking the talk”
if you’re not willing to “walk the walk.”
I see this book as a useful tool to reach non-committed
sort-of Christians who are teetering on the brink, as well as a reminder to
those who have strayed from the path. I
think it would also appeal to kids who are just learning about religion. I suggested to Will that it’s a form of “sneaky
evangelism” because a lot of people will pick up a cartoon book to read for
amusement, and get hit between the eyes by the message. As for my non-Christian
(and even anti-Christian) friends, especially the writers, whether or not you’re
interested in the message, you might enjoy it as a deceptively simple story,
beautifully told.
