A Monster Calls

Dear Beloveds,

I rarely read fictional books—I am much more captivated by non-fiction readings, but if I see a movie and find out that it was based on a book, then I will try to find the original story to read it. To this end, I am currently reading a children’s book by Patrick Ness called A Monster Calls. This book was recently made into a movie starring Liam Neeson (one of my favorite actors) and is a stirring exploration of loss and grief. The story revolves around a young boy named Conor, who is struggling with the impending death of his beloved mother from cancer.

Conor deals with the deep pain and fear he is experiencing by creating in his mind—or is it real??—a monster that is in the shape of a great yew tree that grows in his home’s yard. The monster tells him that he has come to tell Conor three stories, which will in turn tell him the truth about a recurring nightmare that he is having.

I won’t spoil the book and the movie for you, but it is a poignant tale of someone who is trying to process deep sadness, fear, and grief; something that all of us have had to grapple with in our lives as well. It is a story about the human condition and the emotions that we are faced with in all our lives.

I love this story for so many reasons; I think it is deeply theological, as it helps us to confront death and suffering, and how we respond to these things of life. It highlights stories like Job, Hannah, and even Jesus, as we learn to embrace everything in life—the good and the scary things alike.

In the end, Conor is able to reach a truth, and it sets him free. We can understand that when we can accept truth in our lives, we achieve the same freedom. We hear these words from John 8, “then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…” Accepting difficult truths in our lives is hard—and will always be. But God can teach us through these truths to be stronger, wiser, and more resilient people who rely on God whenever we pass through painful times.

I highly recommend this book and movie—as I said, it is a children’s book and a fun entertaining movie, but underneath, they both deal with the realities of life, giving us invaluable insight about the nature of suffering, the power of accepting truth, and the deep need to rely on one another.

With great love for you,

Pastor Grace