Of Stillness and Storm
- Fiction
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson
- Published: 2016
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Publisher's Description
Award-winning and highly acclaimed author, Michèle Phoenix, pens a story of marriage and missions, and what happens when they don’t always align. “The Poisonwood Bible for a new generation.” —Elizabeth Musser, author of The Long Highway Home “I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing.” It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream—reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family’s undoing. At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren’s past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It’s thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction. Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry. “In this fine novel, Phoenix realistically captures the deep struggles enveloping a missionary family.” — Publishers Weekly
Endorsements (6)
“For every woman whose religion has asked her to keep quiet and small, and made her believe her insecurities were all she was made of, Michèle Phoenix gives us a heroine to say, ‘Enough!”
“A poignant, cautionary tale that peels back layers of the soul. This beautifully written, heart-wrenching journey takes us into both the familiar and unfamiliar, reminding us that no one is perfect or immune to life’s harsh realities and challenges. Raw and real, yet infused with hope, the beauty within this book will touch your heart and stay with you long after the last page is turned.”
“This moving story of one family’s struggle with the human cost of following God’s call will resonate profoundly. As is so powerfully illustrated in Of Stillness and Storm, sometimes the sacrifices we make for God can cause others to suffer in ways He never intended. Like Michèle Phoenix, I am an MK and am passionate about protecting children. I urge you to read this gripping cautionary tale, listen for God’s voice, and take to heart what is so close to our Father’s heart—caring for every precious child He has placed in our path.”
Dr. Wess Stafford
“You will be captivated by this story of heartbreak and triumph. Of Stillness and Storm is an important book for anyone who has heard that still, small voice saying this is not right—and mustered the strength to make a change. A must read.”
“The Poisonwood Bible for a new generation, stark yet with a subtle hope. Michèle Phoenix’s hauntingly beautiful prose depicts a family in deep turmoil as they try to follow God’s will. Of Stillness and Storm is a disturbingly poignant look at how godly people can become dangerously dysfunctional. This novel touched deep places in my soul, as a thirty-year-veteran missionary in Europe who works in Member Care. Michèle got it right and unabashedly shares the horrors one family descends into as they seek God’s will. A must-read for those contemplating missions and for all those who pray for missionaries and their children (MKs) who are scattered around the world.”
“In Of Stillness and Storm, Michèle Phoenix bravely tackles what appears to be a great paradox in Scripture—that Jesus says we are to follow him despite the cost to self or other relationships, yet later we read that those who do not care for their families are worse than infidels. How can both principles be operative at the same time? Through a beautifully written and compelling account of one family’s struggles to understand the implications of these statements within the context of ‘real life,’ Michèle causes us to take a fresh look at our own stories as well. You will be both challenged and encouraged as you read this gripping tale.”
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