Joseph Huneycutt

We Came, We Saw, We Converted: The Lighter Side of Orthodoxy in America

The author got the title of this book just right, especially the byline. It definitely presents the “lighter” side of Orthodoxy here in America. When I offered to read and review this book in exchange for a copy from the publisher, I was expecting some very humorous anecdotes, and images of the everyday life of converts - that’s what I get for having never listened to Father Joseph Huneycutt’s blog before this book. Had I listened, I might have better known what to expect.

At first, I read with all seriousness. Then I realized that it sometimes (often) went over the hyperbolic top. Many of the characters could never be real. Nor could some of the situations. Yet there was always a ring of truth to each of the stand-alone chapters; while presented in a light manner, these truths often resonated longer and more deeply than some of the more overtly deep books that I will occasionally trudge through.

This book offered truth through story, allegory, and reflection. I am grateful to own it, and can see myself reading it more than once - it’s likely to rest in a location where I may read a quick chapter every once in a while. It is a book that anyone could read (whether Orthodox or not) and enjoy. The persistent theme that I took away from it was that the surface is not as important as what is underneath. For instance, the chapter titled, “An Empty Church is a Peaceful Church” reminds us that we are meant to worship together, and that the goal is Christ, not always a quiet and peaceful church. Fr. Huneycutt writes on page 164, “The Good News is: God never changes. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And when seeking peace in our churches, it must be His peace, the peace that passes all understanding, which we seek.” He reminds us all that at the core of our faith, it is ultimately not about us, but about God.

I was often caught off guard, even once I sort of knew what to expect. Fr. Huneycutt does a great job catching readers off guard, taking us on adventures, allowing us to listen in on conversations that may or may not be real, and then confronting us with Truth. And it’s a beautiful process. I’ve also listened a few times to the “Orthodixie” podcast on Ancient Faith Radio, and found that it, too, helps listeners to learn and to grow in their faith in a fun and down to earth manner. Reading, and now listening, I must agree with him and what he said on page 93: “I realized, even more so, the work I had yet to do on my own heart.”… (mer)