THE LAST HOWLELUJAH
TAILS FROM THE TRAIL
By William B. Miller
A Saint Julian Press Book Review
by Ron Starbuck
by Ron Starbuck
WILLIAM MILLER’S newest book about a dog, and a boy and his dog, is a book about God's presence within our lives. And a book about a boy and his God, “dog” spelled backwards. In the author’s engaging and well written prose, the light of God’s love shines through distinctly and ever so clearly. This is a book about faith and faithfulness, healing and hope, and doubt and discovery. It is a book about God’s unlimited blessings and compassion.
THE LAST HOWLELUJAH: Tails from the Trail, is one of those rare books that will make you smile big, laugh out loud, and cry tears with wild abandon and a joyful celebration for life and love and all God’s creatures. And you will not care who may see you doing so, you will become lost in these stories and lost within your own thoughts and feelings, forgetting your troubles and self in a glorious kenosis—self emptying.
Miller’s smooth flowing and entertaining prose will bless everyone who reads them in a sacrament of words. Words that invoke a warm heart, a contemplative spirit, and a quickening of the flesh, where spiritual goosebumps will become a common occurrence, and joy comes easily bidden. These stories will break open your heart, while the light of lovingkindness flows from the page and into the great compassion of your soul.
They will ease your heaviest burdens, give rest to a weary soul, and renew your spirit. Before the end of the first chapter you will be humming and then singing that great Anglican hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, in a remembrance of its well-known and well-loved words and verses.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
In the end, or rather at the end, you will discover something true, which is why this is a journey of discovery. You will know, if you did not already know this before, that the creatures God sends our way are an answer to an unspoken prayer we never knew we were praying. You will know, that the truest things in life, the truest knowledge, comes from a humility of heart and a loving-kindness and faithfulness of spirit we learn from them as the gracious gift they are to humankind.
You will learn, if you did not before, that in the deepest and greatest mysteries found within creation, dogs are their own howlelujah revelation. They are their own blessing from God. You will finally and utterly know, that “Dog” and “God” are a cosmic palindrome or rather a semi-palindrome. And you will look with yearning and love upon the leash hanging by the doorway, to take your “best friend” out for a walk or to play in the park.
And if you have lost that friend recently or even long ago, you may one day find that God, within the infinite and loving wisdom of creation, has sent a new friend your way. And this is where you must pay attention. Because, such gifts really are an answer to an unspoken prayer, you never knew you were praying. So, pay attention, don’t miss that moment. It is an answer to your prayers.
Father William (Bill) Miller is a noted writer, innovator, public speaker, motivator, and teacher. He is an Episcopal priest, and the author of The Gospel According to Sam: Animal Stories for the Soul (Seabury: New York) and The Beer Drinker’s Guide to God: The Whole and Holy Truth about Lager, Loving and Living (Howard Books/ Simon and Schuster: New York). Originally from Texas, where he was one of the original founders of the legendary Padre’s in Marfa. He’s served as a Rector to churches in Austin, Houston, Hawaii, and now near New Orleans, with his lovely wife Sandy, and six lively dogs, Sinbad, Lili, Waylon, Rosco and Dash. Learn more at www.FatherBill.net.
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THE LAST HOWLELUJAH: TAILS FROM THE TRAIL
By William B. Miller From Howlelujah Press, Inc. (October 30, 2020) |
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As an Amazon Associate — Saint Julian Press, Inc. may earn funds from any qualifying purchases.
This arrangement does help to sustain the press and allow us to publish more books by more authors.