Embarrassed: Living with a faith that makes no sense to my friends

by Graham Turner

“Fun and full of insight” — Jonathan Clatworthy Embarrassed is the honest story of one man’s struggle with a faith that was important to him but meant so little to his non-believing friends. Coloured with tender emotion, misunderstanding and desire to follow what he thought was right, Embarrassed tells of Graham Turner’s “coming out” about the shame he has carried all his life. He felt awkward when his friends commented, “You seem like a nice guy, how come you believe this nonsense?” Crippling embarrassment confused and wounded him; it alienated him from many of the people he knew and valued who did not “do God”. But, in time, this awkwardness became the catalyst that led him to discover a deeper, more generous and less simplistic appreciation of life in all its fullness. This is not a heroic story of triumph over adversity, but the discovery of goodness in all things through an experience of life falling apart and decades of being ill at ease. His is a story of discovery, fulfilment and hope.

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2025

Reviews

[Dtwo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham’s book takes me back to when I brought my daughter to see a comedian at a church. The comedian joked about dressing as Jesus and standing by a sleeping hospital patient’s bed. My daughter’s jaw dropped—it was something she never expected to hear in church.

At times, I found myself thinking, “Can a vicar really say this?” The book is funny, deeply authentic, and shares Graham’s journey—his desire for his friends to experience something whole in life and his frustration with how the church can get in the way. For Graham, there is no faith and secular, no us and them—only a call to be present.

He admits his failings, making himself vulnerable. But in that vulnerability comes growth—the shedding of shame and the discovery of something more honest.

Graham straddles two environments , often more at ease outside the church than within it. Across 64 short chapters, he shares his story. He writes, “Late in the day, I have realized life is all about stories. We learn by hearing them and sharing them.” He invites us to consider the power of sharing our own stories and risking vulnerability to connect at a deeper level.

I wonder if I have that courage—how much of myself I am willing to risk in sharing. It’s an engaging story that often made me laugh—something Graham does well, and not just as a way to get out of trouble.

I know both Graham and myself better for having read this—and that is wonderful.

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a sense of good humor and candor that permeates the book as Graham recounts seminal moments in his interesting life and traces his spiritual development up to the present time. I enjoyed the mix of anecdotes, theological reflections, and cultural observations. And I especially appreciated hearing about Graham's experience ministering to those in prison - hearing from an 'insider' was eye-opening. Graham guides us through his story using the theme of his embarrassment about the oftentimes bewildering accretions Christianity has been subjected to in the culture in which he grew up as a person of faith. I hope people who share such an embarrassment get a copy and read what Graham has to say about it, and how he courageously persevered through it.

[John Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is many things, words like "challenging", "humbling", "illuminating" and "insightful" being at the top of my list. This is a "must read" book for anyone who has an interest in (or has completely rejected) Spirituality in life. Written with a gritty honesty there's something good here for everyone.

John Turner (no relation, incidentally).

[Michael A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A flowing read. Graham's honesty is so refreshing, brutally honest and his thoughts are challenging, much chimes with me. I think there are many people who are closet Grahams. Time to come out of the woodwork? Excellent book!

[Diane Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting and thought provoking