Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace
Jackson's 2008 blog query-"What is one thing you feel you can't say in church?"-evoked huge response and birthed a Web site that became this book, whose purpose is "to show you that you're not alone in your battle with fear and secrets." Jackson doesn't pull punches when she talks about fear, brokenness, and confession. "When you confess something that's shattered in your life,... you're acknowledging that you need the Cross" is the typical forthright statement you'll find here. One of Jackson's best "permissions" is what she calls the "Gift of Going Second," when you confess or reveal something first, which allows others the freedom to follow in candor, giving a gift that keeps moving forward. Included are pages of full-color, confessional artwork submitted to her by mail or blog, as well as her heartfelt encouragement to "step up and confess-not only the bad, but confess the good and noble as well." This is a pointed, much needed glimpse at the toughness of life and at the grace and goodness that can come when one person speaks freely.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.