Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

Carnival rides & optimism re: death

I’ve been reading a lot of N.D. Wilson lately, which is to say, as of five minutes ago, I’ve read everything he’s written: The 100 Cupboards trilogy, Leepike Ridge, and Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl.

The author who forces you to read everything he or she has written is a rare find. Talking to Andrew about this, I reflected that PD James was the last such find for me…that was about six years ago, and those wondrously haunting, psychological, bloody murders got me through seminary.

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl is the book I just finished, and Wilson’s only nonfiction work to date. What I like about Wilson? His irrepressible, G.K. Chesterton-like happiness in the created world, a faith that inspires humor (all too rare), his optimism about death.

Christians should be happy, even when we’re beat up. We should find a lot to joke about, starting with ourselves. If you follow Jesus, then you’re in the camp that states unequivocally, Death is already the punchline of God’s comedy, death has been had, death poses no real threat.

Wilson:

This world is beautiful but badly broken. St. Paul said that it groans, but I love it even in its groaning. I love this round stage where we act out the tragedies and comedies of history. I love it with all of its villains and petty liars and self-righteous pompers. I love the ants and the laughter of wide-eyed children encountering their first butterfly. I love it as it is, because it is a story, and it isn’t stuck in one place. It is full of conflict and darkness like every good story. And like every good story, there will be an ending. I love the world as it is, because I love what it will be.

Other reasons I like Wilson: He has five kids. Renovates his own house. Has a high tolerance for risk, reasons outlined above, and…he writes. All said, this guy does my heart good.