I Tell You a Mystery: Life, Death, and Eternity
This lovely, inspiring collection of meditations by the senior elder of the Bruderhof is as much an introduction to the extraordinary witness of that singularly ordinary community as it is a reflection on the fullness of life in the face of death. Combined with a foreword by Madeleine L'Engle and a note to readers written by Mumia Abu-Jamal from death row, this is a powerful collection indeed. Most of the book is devoted to stories of ordinary people--both inside and outside the Bruderhof community--who have faced their own deaths or the deaths of others with courage and dignity. Because Arnold's writing is simple and elegant, it allows the lives of ordinary people to speak with a clarity that is too often denied. That in itself is a commendation of the simplicity of the Bruderhof, a simplicity that is likely to leave readers not only comforted but also curious. A brief section on the Bruderhof and sources for additional information add to the book's value as a library resource.Steve Schroeder