Book Review: Lessons in Belonging by Erin S. Lane

By Indie PKO -
We consider the shoehorn and the shoe. Sometimes we forget that the foot is the most important part of the equation.

Erin S. Lane writes of her longstanding disillusionment with the church in her book, Lessons in Belonging: From a Church-going Commitment Phobe. Her stories seem to reflect a shoehorn attitude that attempts to make a small church shoe fit her expanding foot.

She seems to feel stuck in a hierarchy of religious tradition that doesn't make sense to her and that she tries to stay stuck in anyway. Her search feels empty as long as it includes religion and the church.


Erin's questions and journey seem representative of her generation that won't stand by and believe what their parents believed. This questioning leads to a healthy belief system that makes sense to the individual who formulated it. Erin tells enjoyable, personal stories that describe her internal spiritual struggle to be real when the church seems sheltered in its tired, old ways. She seems to be isolating within her church where she try to force a sense of belonging rather than growing community with a greater cross-section of humanity that may occur outside the church.

Her thought that "some of us have a life outside of these walls" is one that could fuel her curiosity to see her God outside of tradition and inside the lives of those who need that God the most in the greater world.

I wanted to read more of her thoughts on belonging without the church. She was so used to looking to grow and serve within that structure that she may be missing out on the limitless God I've come to believe in. It's clear that she continues to struggle with who she is spiritually and I hope she keeps sharing these revelations as a young and entertaining storyteller for the next generation of expanding feet, aka spiritual seekers.

I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Paul Kolak
11/16/15

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

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