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Picking Dandelions: A Search for Eden Among Life's Weeds
Sarah Cunningham, a moderate middle-class white girl who grew up in the Michigan countryside, speaks about God with humor and honesty more characteristic of liberal west-coast writers. In this warm and witty memoir, she describes finding and keeping a personal faith in the quirky settings of her ultra-Christian childhood. Whether recounting living next to a cemetery, teaching at-risk high schoolers, or listening to her grandmother's stories about being a British 'war bride,' the author weaves faith into down-to-earth metaphors of growth and renewal, planting and reaping, greenery and weeds. In the end, Cunningham succeeds in sifting through the dysfunctions and flaws of human life and discovering pockets of God's original Eden goodness for both herself and for you. Picking Dandelions is a candid and personal account of outgrowing laissez-faire Christianity, moving into mature faith, and realizing that a God-following person is a changing person ... and you just might follow suit.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2010
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215 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 10, 2010
I have been reading many Christian non-fiction pieces lately and I stumbled upon Cunningham. I finished this book in two days, in between working and other things, because I kept expecting something out of it...but it never came. Cunningham is a lovely writer. But sometimes she gets too caught up in metaphors and ends up describing the subject of the metaphor in greater detail than the subject itself. This grew to be distracting at times. Also, the structure of Eden that she uses throughout her book was entirely too much. I would be getting towards the end of a chapter, see signs of rebirth and think of her comments in the beginning about Eden, then drown in an overt comparison. At times, I felt stupid, as these images and allusions were being described to me in great detail. I wish that she would have left those little blurbs out, but retained the preface before each chapter, so the reader could interact more with the text and make the connections themselves.
But then, she would be right on with the fundamentalist Christian experience. As one who has grown up in a legalistic Baptist church, I could totally relate. She was honest, clever and provided insight into her childhood experiences that obviously surfaced after many years of reflection. I would often have to re-read a passage and wonder if she had read one of my journals because the events were so spot-on. I think that any person coming from a fundamentalist background could easily related to many of her experiences.
When she went to serve in New York after 9/11, I was amazed at how quickly her church responded with relief but I expected her to go into greater depth with her experiences there. I wanted something raw, exposed. I wanted her to describe how difficult it was to live in that. She told a few brief stories, but I didn't hear much about what really happened. I wanted to know how she felt about her relationship with God after that. I finished the chapter and thought, "Is that all?"
I wanted to know more about the ugliness behind her experiences in ministry. They just seemed too picturesque. She did mention briefly that she had a few projects that didn't work out, but I wish she would have elaborated on them.
Only towards the end of the book do we gain greater depth, but even then I felt robbed. It is obvious that she is a brilliant woman, but I wanted her to really dig deep and evaluate her quest for sanctification. As she compiled the list of "sins" in her life, they seemed somewhat shallow. I could taste a hint of what she was aiming for, but if she would have pulled back a few more layers, I think that this book could have been amazing.
I couldn't put it down, because I was excited to see what would come next, but I feel that Cunningham's overall reflection remained at a middle school level. I thought that she would start off with more shallow issues as she thought of her younger Christian self and progress as she got older. Even her moment of revelation on her front porch was not very deep. Her conversation with God seemed canned. But, I don't believe that it really happened the way she wrote it, there's more to her then that. I saw great potential in this book, but it was just missing something. It hinted at so many great things, but then fell short.
As I read the last page, I remember wondering, "That's it? But, she's just so brilliant and lovely and clever...." If only she could have captured herself a little better and more realistic on the page....
But then, she would be right on with the fundamentalist Christian experience. As one who has grown up in a legalistic Baptist church, I could totally relate. She was honest, clever and provided insight into her childhood experiences that obviously surfaced after many years of reflection. I would often have to re-read a passage and wonder if she had read one of my journals because the events were so spot-on. I think that any person coming from a fundamentalist background could easily related to many of her experiences.
When she went to serve in New York after 9/11, I was amazed at how quickly her church responded with relief but I expected her to go into greater depth with her experiences there. I wanted something raw, exposed. I wanted her to describe how difficult it was to live in that. She told a few brief stories, but I didn't hear much about what really happened. I wanted to know how she felt about her relationship with God after that. I finished the chapter and thought, "Is that all?"
I wanted to know more about the ugliness behind her experiences in ministry. They just seemed too picturesque. She did mention briefly that she had a few projects that didn't work out, but I wish she would have elaborated on them.
Only towards the end of the book do we gain greater depth, but even then I felt robbed. It is obvious that she is a brilliant woman, but I wanted her to really dig deep and evaluate her quest for sanctification. As she compiled the list of "sins" in her life, they seemed somewhat shallow. I could taste a hint of what she was aiming for, but if she would have pulled back a few more layers, I think that this book could have been amazing.
I couldn't put it down, because I was excited to see what would come next, but I feel that Cunningham's overall reflection remained at a middle school level. I thought that she would start off with more shallow issues as she thought of her younger Christian self and progress as she got older. Even her moment of revelation on her front porch was not very deep. Her conversation with God seemed canned. But, I don't believe that it really happened the way she wrote it, there's more to her then that. I saw great potential in this book, but it was just missing something. It hinted at so many great things, but then fell short.
As I read the last page, I remember wondering, "That's it? But, she's just so brilliant and lovely and clever...." If only she could have captured herself a little better and more realistic on the page....
September 15, 2010
“A memoir for the rest of us. No great shocking conversion, just the beauty of simply belief”
Picking Dandelions is a memoir, a perspective of the life of Sarah Cunningham. Beginning with her conversion story, traveling on with her through the crazy growing up days, and ending up in a place where she looks back on her life to see the hand of God, the reader finds wit, wisdom, humor, and delight.
These are the stories of faith I enjoy reading. Give me your ordinary life with your ordinary faith and tell me how God broke through to make it a life adventure. I do enjoy the strong testimony of life altering moments of conversion for some, but I also enjoy the sweet awakening in ordinary lives. After all, the same blood saves both.
Sarah Cunningham notes her first encounter with God by saying “Somewhere between holding lightning bugs hostage in glass jars and sledding at mach speeds down Pennsylvania hillsides, I stumbled across the One referred to as God.” And further, “Jesus made my hair fly back in the wind and that was enough for me.” I found this simply beautiful.
What follows is a recounting of the her life as she continued in her faith. It is a sweet recounting, filled with imaginative comparisons and always with fondness for her elusive faith. Isn’t that true for all of us?
She ends the book with stories of the impact and influence of her grandmother’s love for gardening. She discovers a connection between a life of discipleship and tending to a garden by stating “…I realized the secret my garden loving grandmother shared with God: Picking weeds is a beautiful thing.”
I loved this book for the way the author captures her walk with Jesus, it is in the sweet and enduring telling of the relationship. I recommend it highly.
Picking Dandelions is a memoir, a perspective of the life of Sarah Cunningham. Beginning with her conversion story, traveling on with her through the crazy growing up days, and ending up in a place where she looks back on her life to see the hand of God, the reader finds wit, wisdom, humor, and delight.
These are the stories of faith I enjoy reading. Give me your ordinary life with your ordinary faith and tell me how God broke through to make it a life adventure. I do enjoy the strong testimony of life altering moments of conversion for some, but I also enjoy the sweet awakening in ordinary lives. After all, the same blood saves both.
Sarah Cunningham notes her first encounter with God by saying “Somewhere between holding lightning bugs hostage in glass jars and sledding at mach speeds down Pennsylvania hillsides, I stumbled across the One referred to as God.” And further, “Jesus made my hair fly back in the wind and that was enough for me.” I found this simply beautiful.
What follows is a recounting of the her life as she continued in her faith. It is a sweet recounting, filled with imaginative comparisons and always with fondness for her elusive faith. Isn’t that true for all of us?
She ends the book with stories of the impact and influence of her grandmother’s love for gardening. She discovers a connection between a life of discipleship and tending to a garden by stating “…I realized the secret my garden loving grandmother shared with God: Picking weeds is a beautiful thing.”
I loved this book for the way the author captures her walk with Jesus, it is in the sweet and enduring telling of the relationship. I recommend it highly.
February 8, 2010
I have to admit, I’m a fiction fan. This is the first memoir I have read that wasn’t assigned for a school project. That being said I fell in love with this book. Sarah has a way of telling her story that makes you feel like you have been there every step of the way. As she walks us through her childhood I was brought back to that same time in my life. How many of us jumped from rock to rock to avoid the lava in the yard? Did you sit in on, what my mom called “grown-up” meetings, and sneakily make your vote known? Who was that senior that asked you out as a freshman that you turned down? Not only does Sarah show us these parts of her life but she leads is through them with purpose teaching us what she learned from them.
Sarah show us glimpses into her time working in soup kitchens and homeless shelters and the wacky conversations that actually meant a lot that she had with the people there. We get a glimpse into the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster. There is no way around it, expect to cry during this part. The conversations Sarah has there are moving. Who knew that while on a search for Eden disaster and heartache would be what brought you the closest to it.
Sarah shows us her endless efforts to fix her flaws. From her thoughts as a beginning gardener about just sprinkling some weed killer on them and hoping they all die and never come back, to the moment she discovers constant weeding is the only way to make her garden flourish, then to the realization that no matter how much you weed you need a master to fill up the empty holes in order to achieve that full life. Each step along the way we, as readers, begin to see the yellow, dried up flowers the weeds have chocked out and the need for constant weeding, but most importantly the need for a Master in our lives.
There are many little seeds that this book has placed in my heart. “This is how people grow, running into walls, but helping each other to grow again.” What a great outlook to have on growth! “Some things have to die so that others can live.” It’s a hard Concept to accept but one that when accepted can change every aspect of our lives. “The dandelion’s value is not determined by the quantity in which they grow, but by the insightful eye of the receiver.” What a Receiver we have that allows us, in our times of failing, to still be able to come to Him and be valued by Him!
Sarah show us glimpses into her time working in soup kitchens and homeless shelters and the wacky conversations that actually meant a lot that she had with the people there. We get a glimpse into the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster. There is no way around it, expect to cry during this part. The conversations Sarah has there are moving. Who knew that while on a search for Eden disaster and heartache would be what brought you the closest to it.
Sarah shows us her endless efforts to fix her flaws. From her thoughts as a beginning gardener about just sprinkling some weed killer on them and hoping they all die and never come back, to the moment she discovers constant weeding is the only way to make her garden flourish, then to the realization that no matter how much you weed you need a master to fill up the empty holes in order to achieve that full life. Each step along the way we, as readers, begin to see the yellow, dried up flowers the weeds have chocked out and the need for constant weeding, but most importantly the need for a Master in our lives.
There are many little seeds that this book has placed in my heart. “This is how people grow, running into walls, but helping each other to grow again.” What a great outlook to have on growth! “Some things have to die so that others can live.” It’s a hard Concept to accept but one that when accepted can change every aspect of our lives. “The dandelion’s value is not determined by the quantity in which they grow, but by the insightful eye of the receiver.” What a Receiver we have that allows us, in our times of failing, to still be able to come to Him and be valued by Him!
October 5, 2010
"Pushing Dandelions: A Search for Eden Among Life's Weeds" is a memoir of Sarah Cunningham, who has previously published a book called "Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation." Ever since reading "Dear Church", I've wanted to read more from Sarah because I connected so much with her first book. And I guess I was hoping to find out more of the story behind that book.
But that isn't what I found in reading "Picking Dandelions." Instead I found a story, still similar to mine, but divergent enough to keep me interested without throwing myself completely into a "yup, that's me, too"' type of self-help mindset that I've done with other people's memoirs. This is a very good thing, in case that isn't clear, because it requires me not to check out of my own story while taking in someone else's.
For some reason the intro and first chapter were very slow for me, but after that, the pace picked up very quickly. Where I really homed in are the chapters on Sarah's assisting efforts at Ground Zero after 9-11. Part of this is because I had just watched the movie "Reign Over Me" and part because it is such a seminal moment in our generation's history, but I was gripped by this section of Sarah's story. What I appreciated most is the comparison of the recovery and support effort to be an incarnation of real community and church: loving neighbor over ourselves. I tire so easily with church being our own patting ourselves on the back at church or being inward focused that I long for a more permanent outward focus like that, though not necessarily needing to be that extreme.
And other examples exist in other stories Sarah tells, about teaching experiences, her chance to lead in ministry at a church, or making up a blues diddy at a homeless shelter. Sarah maintains an easiness about her story that pulls you in, yet disarms your own storied conceptions to listen intently to her's.
I definitely recommend Picking Dandelions, and hope Sarah has another book project coming soon.
But that isn't what I found in reading "Picking Dandelions." Instead I found a story, still similar to mine, but divergent enough to keep me interested without throwing myself completely into a "yup, that's me, too"' type of self-help mindset that I've done with other people's memoirs. This is a very good thing, in case that isn't clear, because it requires me not to check out of my own story while taking in someone else's.
For some reason the intro and first chapter were very slow for me, but after that, the pace picked up very quickly. Where I really homed in are the chapters on Sarah's assisting efforts at Ground Zero after 9-11. Part of this is because I had just watched the movie "Reign Over Me" and part because it is such a seminal moment in our generation's history, but I was gripped by this section of Sarah's story. What I appreciated most is the comparison of the recovery and support effort to be an incarnation of real community and church: loving neighbor over ourselves. I tire so easily with church being our own patting ourselves on the back at church or being inward focused that I long for a more permanent outward focus like that, though not necessarily needing to be that extreme.
And other examples exist in other stories Sarah tells, about teaching experiences, her chance to lead in ministry at a church, or making up a blues diddy at a homeless shelter. Sarah maintains an easiness about her story that pulls you in, yet disarms your own storied conceptions to listen intently to her's.
I definitely recommend Picking Dandelions, and hope Sarah has another book project coming soon.
September 25, 2011
I enjoy having the opportunity to read new books, and lately I've been seeking more non-fiction to read. I found that Sarah Cunningham's writings were being compared to Donald Miller, so her newest book , Picking Dandelions, caught my interest.
Sarah begins the story with her early Christian conversion, and how she learned to keep growing as a Christian throughout her life into adulthood. The stories are a collection of events that range from her experience of 9/11 to her job as a teacher. The sections of the book provide a nice transition into each phase where she was discovering new things about her faith through these events that happened. The story uses humor well, and the people featured in the story are memorable.
When I first began the story I thought it might be about the problems in the church but that was only a minor part, but her view and experience with what she has witnessed in the church definitely makes me interested in what she has to say in, Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation. Some of the incidents she witnessed in the church are bad, but not shocking because I've witnessed similar. Hopefully this book brings a small awareness of those problems.
The comparisons to Donald Miller seem to drift no further beyond the hope to change the church, and the sense of humor. I actually found Sarah Cunningham to be a bit more relatable because my upbringing was more similar to hers. This book is a good read for anyone. If you're a Christian you'll probably find it as an encouragement to keep continually trying to grow in your faith instead of forgetting about it amongst life's obstacles. You can find Picking Dandelionsavailable at Amazon
Sarah begins the story with her early Christian conversion, and how she learned to keep growing as a Christian throughout her life into adulthood. The stories are a collection of events that range from her experience of 9/11 to her job as a teacher. The sections of the book provide a nice transition into each phase where she was discovering new things about her faith through these events that happened. The story uses humor well, and the people featured in the story are memorable.
When I first began the story I thought it might be about the problems in the church but that was only a minor part, but her view and experience with what she has witnessed in the church definitely makes me interested in what she has to say in, Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation. Some of the incidents she witnessed in the church are bad, but not shocking because I've witnessed similar. Hopefully this book brings a small awareness of those problems.
The comparisons to Donald Miller seem to drift no further beyond the hope to change the church, and the sense of humor. I actually found Sarah Cunningham to be a bit more relatable because my upbringing was more similar to hers. This book is a good read for anyone. If you're a Christian you'll probably find it as an encouragement to keep continually trying to grow in your faith instead of forgetting about it amongst life's obstacles. You can find Picking Dandelionsavailable at Amazon
August 10, 2014
I absolutely adore this author's writing style!! It was simple, smart and funny all at the same time. Loved this memoir.
One of my favorite quotes, "Apparently, even when you do everything in your power to propel yourself in a certain direction, the wind doesn't always cooperate with your deepest desires. Sometimes it just moves the way it wants to. And then one day, when you're quiet, and you accept where the gust is taking you, you gradually learn to trust that the force behind the wind knows best."
One of my favorite quotes, "Apparently, even when you do everything in your power to propel yourself in a certain direction, the wind doesn't always cooperate with your deepest desires. Sometimes it just moves the way it wants to. And then one day, when you're quiet, and you accept where the gust is taking you, you gradually learn to trust that the force behind the wind knows best."
June 2, 2013
This is a delightful book and I laughed a lot. The writing is fresh and original. The author shares experiences growing up in church and her search for a deeper relationship with God. She shares her memoirs with ingenuousness. Many readers will identify with her childhood experiences—either from the child or the parent persepective. This book is great read for Christians and seekers alike. It is an honest look at growing in God.
January 28, 2010
Great read. Sarah's Cunningham's memoir will be released on Monday, February 1, 2010. I will be posting my review of the book on the devotional blog: www.under-the-fig-tree.com
Check the site on Feb 1st for my thoughts.
Check the site on Feb 1st for my thoughts.
February 12, 2010
This book just came out yesterday. It was written by one of my best friends, who also happens to be one of the greatest people I know. I am going to open it tonight and sure I will finish it in one sitting. This is her second book and I am sure it will be just as good as her first.
February 9, 2010
If you like Anne Lamott, Elizabeth Gilbert, Kath. Norris, pick up Sarah Cunningham's new memoir. A departure from her first collection of essays about organized religion, this series of stories about growing up in ultra-religious territory is funny, witty, and intelligent.
July 1, 2010
I'll be posting my review on July 21 as part of Sarah Cunningham's blog tour: http://kingdomstrider.wordpress.com
July 8, 2010
A spiritual Erma Bombeck. Humorous and touching.
October 16, 2010
Wow. Well-written and made me think. Highly recommended.
October 26, 2010
Details the authors journey towards happiness and fullfillment and the role of God in her life and His ever changing influence in her life from youth to adulthood.
I liked it.
I liked it.
September 14, 2012
This is a really good memoir. I was expecting something a little more didactic, but this is a good book with some good life illustrations.
April 20, 2016
a very good read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews