Scouting The Divine: My Search For God In Wine, Wool, And Wild Honey (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Probably my favorite of Margaret's works (there are several favorites in the list), this was one of the very first books that I read written by a woman a faith where I felt like I could truly relate to the author. Exploring passages of the Bible about sheep, wine, beekeeping, and farming with a shepherdess, a vintner, a beekeeper, and a farmer to unleash their power, Scouting the Divine turns familiar verses into new treasures. I have read this work rice already and would read it again (and again). A splash of color in a dim world, this book will open your eyes to God's tender loving care and beauty once again. This book was an enjoyable read about the author's adventures throughout the US in places like Alaska, Colorado, and Nebraska as she explored the richness of the Bible's parables, metaphors, and historical events that reference the agrarian culture God's people lived in. For the vast majority of the Western world today, we live in societies that have no context or appreciation for the lessons and beauty of Scripture.As the book's description puts it, how can we understand a land overflowing w/ honey if we buy our honey in a bear-shaped bottle at the grocery store? Or how do we appreciate what Jesus said about Him being the Good Shepard when our only exposure to them is at the local petting zoo, or how do we make sense of abiding in the vine and bear good fruit when we buy grapes from the store? As a Westerner who grew up in the mean suburbs of Orange County, CA, I can appreciate Feinberg's curiosity about missing the richness of Scripture by not having a context for it. Thankfully, she does the work of traveling and finding the experts to help her understand and unpack these biblical truths. The book starts off with Feinberg's visit to a shepherding farm, where the bulk of the richness of Scripture's agrarian themes are explained in depth here. For me, this was the most enjoyable part of the book. I will probably update this review w/ some excerpts that I found beautiful as Jesus's role as the Good Shepard is poignantly and richly explained. Feinberg eventually moves onto exploring farming and then heads to a beekeeper's farm, ending her trip to wine country in Napa Valley at a winery. As someone who spent some time at a few wineries on a tour last year in Sonoma County (just next to Napa), I enjoyed the additional insight she had into explaining the wine-making process. You'll gain deep appreciation for the industry when you find out that it usually takes at least 8 years for the planting of a seed to the bottle and the deep, strategic, endurance of a wine-maker, symbolizing the love God has for us, enduring w/ us through our journeys of the seasons of our lives. The beginning of the book seems to be a stronger and better written portion of the book, but it's an easy read and helps you to be more thoughtful and appreciative of the God that loves us and His Son who leads us. Recommend.
What do You think about Scouting The Divine: My Search For God In Wine, Wool, And Wild Honey (2009)?
I really only loved the section on the shepherd...I think the rest was bit too light and fluffy.
—bookman
Easy read. Really enjoyed Margaret's journey to really make Scriptures come alive.
—Mvttxblvck
