The Dusty Ones: Why Wandering Deepens Your Faith

by A.J. Swoboda

Through every turn of the biblical story, God's people are a wandering people. When they are rescued from slavery in Egypt, God sends them into the desert, where they wander for a generation. Jesus and his disciples wander from town to town. In fact, some of God's most important truths are imparted to people with dusty feet as they travel on the road.
With his trademark thoughtful introspection, A. J. Swoboda boldly suggests that wandering is not an absence of faith but a central component of faith. In "The Dusty Ones," " "he leads the restless, the frustrated, and the curious on a spiritual journey to uncover the answers to questions like
- Do I wander because I'm failing or because God has left me?
- Is the desert something I can overcome?
- Why is God sometimes "hidden" in the Bible?
- What do I do when the end seems nowhere in sight?
This compassionate and contemplative book offers hope and peace to Christians and seekers alike as they make their way down the winding road of faith.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Theology

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) pastors Theophilus Church in urban Portland, Oregon. He is executive director of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance, a consortium of Christian higher education institutions dedicated to reconnecting Christians with the biblical call to care for God's creation. Swoboda also teaches biblical studies, theology, and church history at Portland Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary, among others. He is an award-winning author or editor of nine books and speaks regularly at conferences, retreats, churches, and seminars. Visit his website and blog at www.ajswoboda.com.

Reviews

[Matthew Wimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who has wandered from denomination to denomination, in and out of dark times, and genuinely struggles in his relationship with God, A. J. Swoboda’s The Dusty Ones speaks so deeply to me. The amazing thing about this book is the fact that Swoboda time and time again presents a faith that takes you away from comfort, away from that spirituality on fire, into the desert places, hurt, and pain. The Dusty Ones seeks to illuminate those who wander from place to place, almost without a destination, but always acknowledging that it is God who leads one in the desert.

In a way I absolutely love, Swoboda effortlessly weaves history, personal stories, and theology together in such a way that he takes you on a journey. This isn’t academic theology, nor is it a historical study; this is all about guiding you in your relationship with God. Clearly one with a deep, pastoral heart, Swoboda doesn’t offer up a God who wants you to have everything your heart desires, nor a God who is simply our buddy; Swoboda gives us a God who is challenging, complex, and often hard to follow. Lest you be discouraged, Swoboda reminds us that we are in the company of great heroes like Moses, the monastic Fabiola, Bonhoeffer, and others.

If you’re in a place of peace, prosperity, and security in God—this may not be the book for you. But then again, as Swoboda effortlessly portrays, God rarely leaves us in those places for long, taking us away from the lush river into the desert. If you are in that desert, I encourage you to read The Dusty Ones. Swoboda doesn’t offer an easy way out of the desert, but rather encourages you to experience the desert in full. Consider this: one generation in history spent forty years wandering through the desert, and God showed up in truly amazing ways. Perhaps the desert, not the river, is where God will appear in our lives as well.

[Sam Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a lot of good things to say about a lot of different subjects...even if they don't seem to really pertain to the subject of wandering.

[Gideon Yutzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this book was oversold a little by the person who recommended it to me. The writing style, um, wanders just a little too much for me. But there are occasional flashes of insight, e.g.:

-there is something in the Bible to unsettle all who read it (and thus set them off on further wandering)
-it's never that we don't have needs, it's only that we don't realize the needs and when we realize the needs, we wander to new places, thus lifelong wandering is inevitable.
-to need is foundational to being human and having relationship; Jesus also (God incarnate )put himself in situations where he needed things.

I confess I thought (secretly hoped?) it would be another Donald Miller style bashing of fundamentalism but it was anything but. And that's ok! As a result, however, it didn't feel as honest and sometimes he seems to have an a priori commitment to Reformed theology (total depravity, the complete inscrutability of God, etc.). But then that's probably just because of my cultural conditioning...

Sorry, that was a sarcastic little jab against his constant attacking of our modern sensibilities; for instance, the fact that many of us are troubled at the story of Ananias and Sapphira is our problem ("God is mystery! We don't need to explain why they were killed!"). I kept wanting to ask him, "Is it possible that we have these sensibilities precisely because they are the result of us building on hundreds of generations of humankind maturing (and wandering!)?" Good book overall, but I suggest you skim-read parts of it because he repeats himself and isn't always very succinct.

[Carlos Fernandes II · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking book that I took my time reading through.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a great book that weaves how God has been shaping and cultivating God’s people throughout scripture with the honesty and realness of one who is right smack in the middle of that journey, then you’ve found it in AJ and his new book, The Dusty Ones.” AJ looks at the theme of “wandering” throughout scripture and then allows you to sit in them as he “wanders” down another facet of our faith journey only to reconnect you back to where you were previously sitting. The style of this book along with the others I have read are like sitting down and having a conversation with an old friend. There is not a outline, merely an invitation to be a part of the conversation which is rich with truth and honesty. I found myself at times having to put the book down and let my mind be in the moment of the last sentence.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like their own “desert experience” is not going anywhere, or to those who may have tried to avoid a “desert experience” all together. This was a highly enjoyable book to sit with.

[Camille Olcese · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the topic of wandering was an interesting idea, but it turns our the author's writing style wanders too much. Where was his editor???

[D.J. Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my, I thought I was going to be joining the one and two star reviews for the same reasons they gave. The theme of wandering seems to wander off a lot, and the author wanders all over continually and consistently throughout the book. Did Swoboda need different editors or a different theme, I don't know; however, there are jewels in this book for the reader willing to keep mining. (And, look how long I had to mine -- I started in January and finished in December!)

Chapter 7 "Our Need for Needs" is gold. It took this chapter to convince me not to give the book 2 stars. Then, in chapter 11 "Perceived Famine" is the sentence that was life changing (to go with the main idea in the chapter about manna society [from Daniel Erlander's book Manna and Mercy]): "Dorothy Day, the famed founder of the Catholic Workers Union, once said that if we have two coats, we have stolen one from the poor" (183). I am going to be pondering this sentence and this chapter along with chapter 7 and making changes from now on (I hope).

Would my mom read it? Insert "are you kidding eyeballs" here. If the book wandered too much for me, my mom is definitely not going to pick it up.

Let me finish by writing that I'm still reading Swoboda books (and listening or watching him when he speaks). The Dusty Ones was written 8 years ago. I imagine most writers wish some of their earlier books were better written.

[Jennifer Layte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book resonant with my life experience and particularly relevant to the people to whom I am drawn/called to minister these days.

I struggled with the writing style--at times it felt overly self-conscious and most of the time I felt like I was getting slow motion mental whiplash, as Swoboda jumped from one illustration to another, often with very little opportunity to make the mental connection to the theme he was unpacking in a given chapter before coming at it from another angle. I suppose some of this may have been intentional, in a book about wandering, except it felt a little more frenetic and attention-deficient than a wander, to me.

I am very happy, however, that someone is writing on a popular level in exploring the topics of desert and darkness and wandering in the human (Christian) experience of God--and felt my heart leap a number of times as Swoboda demonstrated Jesus' own experience with these elements of walking with God. Overall, I'm glad I read this book and anticipate referring to and even recommending it as I continue to work with fellow wanderers.

[Ellen Morris Prewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this book a 5 star review because it engaged me entirely in what it was saying (the review would be 4 stars if efficient writing were the measuring stick—thoughts were repeated and some chunks seemed to be included because the author had already-written material with good things to say and a page count to meet—but surely engagement is more important). The comfort of the book is stated early on: "One can wander and be right on track." For Swoboda, wandering, which can include many circles, is part of the journey. Not surprisingly given this view, much of the book is about the mystic approach to Christianity, again which I appreciated. The book is a validation for anyone whose "journeys look way more chaotic" than others. And, apropos of just about nothing, one of my favorite sentences was, "We always assume that to serve someone means that we endorse that person." Permission granted to quit judging. How nice.

[Emily Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dusty Ones by A.J. Swoboda was not what I expected. This book talked over a lot of different subjects that all linked back to the wandering we do as God's people. I enjoyed this book and it has a bunch of highlighting in it. However it did fail to hold my attention at times, I would find my mind wandering (pun not intended). I liked to writing style and it had a fresh look on so many different subjects and bible stories.
The Dusty Ones is definitely a keeper and I look forward to re-reading it and discovering new truths the nest time around.

*I received a free copy of The Dusty Ones by A.J. Swoboda from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review*

[Jason Normansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are some of my thoughts from my experience of reading this book that may be useful to you if you are curious about whether or not to read it yourself.


The Strengths:

Swoboda’s writing style is very easy to read. It comes across as very conversational, seeking to engage in the topic with you rather than preach it down at you from a high pulpit. In that vein, it’s also less given over to polishing up the Christian life than other books may sometimes be. He addresses some hurts and pain in the Christian experiences with refreshing frankness. Furthermore, he doesn’t claim to have a new cure or special Band-Aid, but rather a simple willingness to look at some of the wounds in the community of faith and talk about them.

He has formal academic training and knows how to cite references. But again, this is done in a less alienating way. He brings in his sources in palatable amounts for the reader. It’s rare to feel overwhelmed by academic jargon in the book. He seems very intentional about that.

One of his biggest strengths is his story-telling. He includes many anecdotal stories that are well written and, for me, resulted in some of the most memorable moments in the book. The story of the car crash in Chapter 7, in particular, sticks out to me, and I will likely carry it with me for a long time.


The Weaknesses:

The primary weakness of the book is its tendency to stray from its own topic of wandering. There are many poignant statements in the book, yet too many of them are made about topics that stray from the main path the author is attempting to carve out. The problem for me was not that this happened at all, but that it happened too frequently and took me too far off the path each time. Main topics in any given chapter led to other topics which led to yet more topics, and I began to feel lost – not in understanding, but to his purpose. I found myself asking, “Why are we talking about this?” That’s not to say that I was in disagreement with his thoughts, I simply disagreed that he should have taken the reader that way, owing to the fact that it served to weaken the point of the book and needlessly distract the reader. Ironically (and almost beautifully), this is its own type of wandering, which serves to exemplify some of the frustrations of Christian wandering. In the end, when the author attempted to come full circle at the end of each chapter and tie all the points together, it was no small task and, in my view, was not accomplished.

Another weak point for me was being left with a feeling that the topic of wandering was poorly covered. Too little time was given to the difference between “good” and “bad” wandering, with the result of a general feeling of confusion on my part as to how to best relay what I’ve learned from this book. As another reviewer has already pointed out elsewhere, the employment of Swoboda of the Israelites wandering in the desert as analogy to our own wandering felt misused in the absence of more explanation as to how the Israelites being forced to wander 40 years because of their sin relates to my all-too-natural wandering as a part of my Christian life.

Swoboda does suggest at one point that the book would address the disciplines and realities of wandering, and while I believe some of the “realities” were well hit upon, the “disciplines” side was not well developed. This left me wanting at the close of the book, as I did not feel the book did what it was intended to do at the outset. Another example of this comes from p. 17 on which the author states, “What I offer is this: a description of and hopeful vision for the wandering Christian experience.” As before, I believe the book does a better job with one of these than the other: the “hopeful vision” can be felt in the reading, but the “description” is lacking.

To the credit of the author, he does state on p.11 “Wandering, like the truth, can’t be fully explained. It can only be experienced. Wandering is, as I like to say, a sermon without an explanation.” However, as a reader, this is extremely dissatisfying when, upon finishing the last page, I felt unable to communicate what the author was really trying to say. In other words, I found myself unable to tell others about what Swoboda had attempted to say in his book with much clarity – or rather, with any more clarity than it was delivered with. The subtitle of the book is “Why Wandering Deepens Your Faith.” I do not believe the book does an adequate job addressing this “Why.” Or, more accurately, I do not believe I, having now read the book, would be able to restate why Swoboda believes wandering deepens your faith.

One way to look at the outcome of this book is that it suffers from a multitude of small and needlessly disparate truths attempting the make an impact and falling short, rather than a concentrated grouping of related truths which would have carried the true force of impact that I believe the author would have liked to achieve – and not for himself, but for the reader who he, as a pastor, is clearly more concerned about.

I give this book two stars here on Goodreads because, according to their rating system, it indicates “it was ok.” This aligns with my experience of reading the book. Other readers do have a different take on the book and I suggest balancing their thoughts with these to determine if reading The Dust Ones will be right for you.

[Evan Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most refreshingly honest Christian book I have read in a long time. Swoboda gets it. He understands what it is like to live and love Jesus in modern America. This book should be read by anyone in their 20-30s who is struggling with contrasting the faith of their childhood and their adult life. 6 out of 5 stars for sure.

[James Ordonez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, heart-warming, honest book. We need to come to terms with our doubts and hang-ups in our faith. Wandering, or being an exile, in your faith can be dangerous but if we make space for ourselves to be taught and to learn, a room for maturity and growth awaits us.

[Jonathan Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find a quiet place and kick up your dusty feet.

“It turns out that freedom in Christ does not necessarily include freedom spatially, or relationally, or vocationally. More often than not, we will blossom most in those stuck places we’d never want to be or dreamed we’d be in in the first place.”

[Shera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few chapters were a bit slow and didn't engage me, but the rest of the book was great.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. It had some really good points, but they almost felt buried in a lot of extra things. This book would've been better if it was shorter, and wandered less.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a lot from this one, but I felt like After Doubt was more powerful.

[Joshua Uidam · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be a follower of Christ is to wander. Ask the hard questions.

[Ali C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really appreciated the first half of the book & Swobodas comments on depression, desert season, and the culture of Christianity surrounding those things. This book was really encouraging for me as I was walking through a “desert season” while reading it. I Took a lot of notes so that I can hold on to the truth that Swoboda shared about a topic that is usually not addressed in church.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggle with the idea of bounded creativity.

In Andre Bazin's essay "Eroticism in the Cinema" he suggested that "nothing is more censored than dreams" saying that censorship was a "dialectical constituent of cinema and dreams alike." In AJ Swoboda's book "The Dusty Ones" he argues that we either do "creativity or boundaries" and that we're "generally good at one but not the other," while also theorizing "that this awkward tension is why so few Christians choose" to become artists. This raises an interesting question regarding art and artists; if every person is capable of being an artist, in that he possesses an ability to create, the things we create should have purpose. If we have no boundaries within what we create we may still be able to effectively convey an idea, but in the process of 'showing' we may do more harm than faithful observation. As a filmmaker, I've often wondered if Kubrick was in the wrong to film some of the images in "A Clockwork Orange"? In filming Malcom McDowell actually having sex with women had he, in Bazin's words, shown something that was "contradictory to exigencies of art"?

Swoboda's book does very well in exploring the map through which wandering can take place, reminding us that the "gospel is a wander":
"Christianity is not a movement of secrets. It is a movement of mysteries. A secret is knowledge withheld from others. A mystery is knowledge imparted to others; it just so happens that the knowledge is beyond our finite minds to comprehend. God is a mystery. Resurrection isn't logical. Grace isn't rational. Love isn't reasonable. I cherish how much mystery I'm invited into every day. And God's mystery has a terrible beauty . . . As God is mysterious, so is God's creation."

If the gospel is a wander, Swoboda says "having a map and walking the terrain are different experiences" and "the last thing we need is data." Similar to what the characters in Tarkovsky's "Stalker" find, "mystery is the fresh air that keeps the faithful going." The map is not the territory and as human beings we wander for a variety of reasons, but mostly because we're curious -- if we have no boundaries to our curiosity, we often choose to stop respecting "the Zone", which is to Tarkovsky, the Zone of creation. If we do not respect creation we do harm.

Swoboda's book plays out something like a walk -- a long walk through the map of his experiences, his memories and his home city of Portland -- different from Rousseau's ruminations in "Reveries of the Solitary Wanderer," in that he isn't so constantly concerned that the world is out to get him, but connected to Rousseau in that he is a keen observer of the world around him. When our dreams start to reflect something which is not of God's kingdom, and we indulge in those dreams, we wander from our purpose as created beings.

[Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.J. Swoboda's The Dusty Ones is about the reality of wandering. All humans wander through life, figuring out who they are and where they fit.

Contrary to what many Christians seem to project about God and the Christian life today, Swoboda wants readers to know that Christianity makes sense of human wandering not because it provides an escape but because it tells us why it happens and what it's for.

Swoboda draws heavily on the biblical narrative as a whole, highlighting the wandering-like stories of Abraham, Moses, and the people of Israel. The people of God have always been a wandering people; indeed, it's the experience of wandering in the proverbial desert that constitutes the real saving of salvation.

Wandering, the desert, is for God to meet you.

In every chapter, Swoboda confides in the diverse Christian tradition; from John Calvin, Marianne Moore, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux. He refreshingly draws on poets, singers, novelists, and theologians from every corner of the Christian tradition without prejudice.

Swoboda writes with pastoral candour; you can almost hear him preach what he writes. His anecdotal style of writing is vulnerable and engaging; he speaks of his own wandering as a pastor, father, and husband. The book itself is a sort of experiment in the art of wandering, frequently offering nuggets of insight on the Bible, singing songs, and the goodness of a simple life drawn from Swoboda's own experience.

Swoboda's honest and vulnerable expression of the slow and mysterious qualities of wandering will make you appreciate the transforming power of being present in the mundane; be careful, he may even convince you to start your own garden and raise your own chickens.

The Dusty Ones will challenge readers to let go of the clean box used for God and to enjoy the wandering mystery of the desert; the place where God encounters his people.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written by a wanderer for wanderers. Some of us enjoy the candor and honesty of other men only found over a mug of ale. AJ Swoboda chooses to address the taboo topic of wandering directly. All followers of Jesus will find themselves at different levels with different intensities throughout life. The idea that God himself will lead you into a wandering, a messy middle, where only God can find you.

Swoboda talks to you in this book. He's not preaching or pontificating or philosophizing. He's having a conversation with you about how to not just survive the wandering of life but actually mine the value of wandering from life. Swoboda suggests that wandering is an art, that wandering is not only a good idea for Christian faith and practice; it is a holy discipline that can revolutionize a person’s experience of God.

From the introduction to the end, AJ gave picture and purpose to my doubtful, and sometimes, desperate wanderings. As he unpacked the truth of this spiritual discipline I found myself wandering but not lost. The more I read the more I let the hope and peace of wandering into my journey of faith.

Warning, if your anything like me The Dusty Ones will cause you to avoid reading it in public, unless you’re the cry in public type. Some of its pages will make you want to throw it in the corner and never pick it up again. Some of its pages will cause you to stop and in careful consideration, look for how God has been graciously leading you in your beautiful life.

I highly recommend The Dusty Ones.

[Dustin Bagby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christian life is leading somewhere. Though it’s not some aimless journey of self-discovery, there is certainly some wandering involved when we decide to follow Jesus. If the story of Israel and Jesus tell us anything it’s that this journey is not a quick trip from A to B. In fact, sometimes we may find ourselves seemingly walking in circles in the dark. Through biblical passages, illuminating personal stories, and witty metaphors, AJ Swoboda writes a compelling theological and pastoral case for the value and design of wandering for spiritual formation and maturity.

Swoboda writes, “Given the amount of wandering the ancients did, wandering must not be caricatured as some extracurricular activity that only a few immature Christians do in their seasonal times of sin or disobedience. That would assume that good, churchgoing Christians never wander. Or that wandering would never happen for the person who is squarely in the will of God. But I want to suggest otherwise: wandering will be, at times, the very will of God the Father. Any caricature of this won’t do. Christian wandering isn’t extra credit; it’s often the class itself. The topsy-turvy walk of the Christian faith eventually leads through a series of peaks and valleys and wanderings on the way to the destination."

Enjoyable, enlightening and encouraging, I would recommend this to any Christians who might be wondering what faithfulness looks like in the wandering.

[Desirae Ritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the privilege to not only be moved and educated by A.J Swoboda’s writing, but by his preaching every Sunday and pastoring for years now. I had the honor to speak at our church, about an experience I had recently. Before hand, A.J repeated to me a few times, make sure you say ‘us’, ‘we’ … never ‘you’. “Always include yourself.” I agreed fully and thought the inclusive nature of this was imperative to honest preaching. But after reading A.J Swoboda’s new book, #thedustyones, I understand that the root of the inclusive nature goes deeper. He wants to make sure no one stands in front of any congregation claiming to be the savior. This book is not just for preachers. This book is for anyone that seeks truth, and most of all, for those of us who doing so while wandering. As A.J points out; no one has a right to speak to God’s people and shine the spotlight on themselves. If we do this, we are preaching about the wrong savior. Preachers are called to wander with God’s people. To help, not to save. As A.J writes in his new book “For any of us to stand up and say—wrinkle and wandering-free—that we don’t continue to wander our way toward Jesus is to lie.”

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seldom do I find a book that resonates in a way that The Dusty Ones has. I had to wonder if the author was in my head, or if I had lived his life at some point. Perhaps both. Indeed, A.J. Swoboda has honestly articulated a perspective on the Christian life that I so needed to hear - a perspective that I think can speak to an audience beyond just me. So often has the metaphor of 'wandering' come and gone from my life and yet here I find that the worded journey Swoboda invites the reader into gives both clarity and weight to the beauty and the pain wandering is. Through The Dusty Ones I have seen a trueness of God that I had yearned for, but could not find words for within the years and journey of my own life. Find a quiet place and kick up your dusty feet for a while.

[Vanessa Siemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really appreciated a book about wandering, a topic that is not readily discussed. It was honest, authentic and refreshing. Loved that the good and bad forms of wandering are discussed. Thankful for an honest discussion about Sin (and sin) and the ways in which they cause us to wander from God- we too often sugar-coat our lives and our heart attitudes in an effort to choose comfort. Also appreciate the affirmation that wandering is part of being a Christian and that we are saved into the desert and it is not always a direct route we take, but God is doing something profound within us along the way. Overall an enjoyable read and many profound truths throughout.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dusty Ones wanders with the reader through the vast story of the Scripture in hopes to bring encouragement to those who are looking for meaning in life. AJ Swoboda weaves the narratives of the Genesis account, the Exodus, as well as of there days of Jesus to illustrate that not only is it ok to wander in our faith, it is expected. From intentional wandering to unintentional, the reader hears how to follow Jesus through the wilderness of life. This book will help you find meaning in what Swoboda labels as everyday "gardening" of life as well as give you a hope for what to expect as we continue to walk after Jesus.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I liked the title and premise as I often feel the urge to wander and explore. Even after a month of digesting what I read, I am a bit stymied. There was something different about this book; perhaps the writing style? It also felt very alive. It seemed as though every day conversations tied in with something I had recently read. That doesn't happen often for me and it made me sit up and take notice. Several times I thought "this chapter is definitely my favourite" but now I'm really not sure which one struck the loudest chord. Very well done, very approachable and easy to read, it also really makes you think. Kudos to Swoboda.

[J Cero · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a place to learn about power of wandering in your faith, look no further than here. AJ details the power and genuine heart of God in those who wander after him. He dives into the lost art of wandering towards Jesus in a culture that says arriving is all that matters. From page one on, this book is drenched with God's truth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone! You won't regret it!

[Caleb Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A challenging, inspiring, and encouraging book all in one. Swoboda does an excellent job of explaining that the Christian life isn't about finding a way around the valleys, but a way through the valleys. That often wandering is THE MEANS to relationship with our Savior. A must read for skeptics, new believers, and seasoned Christians alike.