No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp

148: Philip Yancey: Where the Light Fell

Mar 21, 2024

Bestselling author Philip Yancey shares his painful life journey in 'Where the Light Fell,' reflecting on childhood poverty, parental abuse, fundamentalist Christianity, atheism, and a near-fatal accident. He discusses finding new understanding in suffering and the power of storytelling.

48:23

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Philip Yancey

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Quick takeaways

Philip Yancey's memoir explores pain and grace from fundamentalist upbringing.

Encounters with bad theology impact lives, emphasizing responsible navigation of beliefs.

Deep dives

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Introduction

2min

Exploring the Impact of Personal History on Faith

17min

Exploring Personal Experiences and Historical Stories

2min

Breaking Free from Fear: Navigating Childhood Trauma and Family Dynamics

14min

Exploring the Roots of Bitterness and Love in Family History

3min

Transformative Reflections on Faith and Identity

9min

Exploring the Themes of Suffering and Grace in Life

4min

What do we do with the painful parts of our life story?

Anybody familiar with Philip Yancey’s work knows that it has cost him more than time to be a bestselling author and journalist. It has cost him a lifetime of pain, loss, and deep spiritual struggle.

Philip intentionally waited until recently to write down his story to protect some of the people in it, but now in his seventies, he’s released “Where the Light Fell,” his memoir that shares all the messy details about growing and beyond - losing his father, childhood poverty, parental abuse, ruinous fundamentalist Christianity, militant atheism, a nearly fatal car accident, and more.

In this episode he shares how he managed to come to new understanding in the face of suffering. “A writer really only has one gift,” says Philip Yancey, “and that's the gift of his or her own life.”

Show Notes

Similar episodes:

William Paul Young: Author of The Shack

Amy Grant: Fame, Vulnerability, and Staying Grounded

Kelly Corrigan: How Vulnerability Leads to Connection

Christian Wiman: The Opposite of Faith is Certainty

Resources mentioned this episode:

Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey

PDF of Lee’s Interview Notes

Transcription Link