Timothy Keller, imagination and integration
My journey compiling a year of daily readings from Timothy Keller
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of author and pastor Tim Keller’s death. I was at Hutchmoot UK when I heard the news, the Christian arts conference run by the Rabbit Room. Here’s a reflection I wrote for the Rabbit Room website on his works and my work in compiling the devotional A Year With Timothy Keller (UK edition) and Go Forward In Love: A Year of Daily Readings from Timothy Keller (US edition).
Also keep reading for a few quick updates from me on my writing, reading and watching!
A Crash Course in Grace
At Hutchmoot UK 2023, in the beautiful Derbyshire setting of the Hayes Conference Centre, I sat down for lunch on Friday with a friend and former colleague from Hodder Faith, the UK publishers of Tim Keller’s books. It was great comparing notes on Hutchmoot, chatting about Christian books, faith and creativity—and also a freelance project I was about to begin work on: compiling A Year With Timothy Keller, as the UK edition is called.
I’d been asked to compile a devotional volume of 365 excerpts from Keller’s writings into daily readings. It was a big task, but I already had some ideas about how to break it down and start choosing Keller’s “greatest hits,” and was looking forward to getting into the project. I don’t remember the details, but as well as discussing the book, we almost certainly discussed Keller’s health, since his son Michael had just shared on social media that Tim was going into hospice care.
Later that day, on the afternoon of May 19, 2023, the news came through: Tim Keller had passed away. This good and faithful servant had gone to be with his Savior.
Inklings and Imagination
The news was a sobering jolt amidst the joys of creative fellowship at Hutchmoot UK. Many of those present had read and been influenced by Keller, appreciating his nuanced, culturally engaged approach to the Christian faith.
Like Hutchmoot and the Rabbit Room, Tim Keller was deeply shaped by Tolkien and Lewis. According to Collin Hansen’s Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation, he’d been introduced to The Chronicles of Narnia by Kathy Kelly (who’d corresponded with Lewis) early on in their relationship, and their shared love of The Lord of the Rings was one of the threads that drew them together as a couple. This love for the Inklings runs through Keller’s writing and preaching—Tolkien and Lewis are among his most-quoted authors outside the Bible.
A few quick updates…
My book proposal on imaginative discipleship is out in the wild with publishers! Having been on the other side of the commissioning editors’ desk, I know that it can take a while for publishers to consider and decide about book pitches. But I pray that it will find an enthusiastic publisher who will catch the vision for it and want to get behind it.
There’s been lots of interesting science fiction lately that I hope to discuss soon – the second season of Andor was superlative, a haunting and powerful exploration of totalitarianism and the sacrifices, courage and co-operation needed to fight for freedom.
Doctor Who season 2/15/41 (depending how you count!) is more of a mixed bag, there’s lots that’s worth unpacking in terms of myth and story, especially the recent The Story and the Engine. Keep an eye out for my thoughts on this and Andor as I get chance to write them up!
I’ve also been thinking a lot about reality, symbols, sacraments and the spiritual realm – Rod Dreher’s Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age gave me lots to chew on. I found it a mix of ‘wonderful’ and ‘woo’, and I’m trying to sort out the two! I hope to review it soon.