Thin Places: A Memoir

Mary E. DeMuth

Jan 2010 · HarperChristian + ORM

About this ebook

In her moving spiritual memoir, Mary DeMuth traces the winding path of “thin places” in her life—places where she experienced longing and healing more intensely than before. As DeMuth writes, “Thin places are snatches of holy ground, tucked into the corners of our world, where we might just catch a glimpse of eternity. They are aha moments, beautiful realizations, when the Son of God bursts through the hazy fog of our monotony and shines on us afresh.”From losing her earthly father to discovering a heavenly Father who never leaves, from singing Olivia Newton-John songs to the sky to worshiping God under a French sun, from surviving abuse as a latchkey kid to experiencing the joy of mothering three children, DeMuth’s story calls readers to a deeper understanding of their own story. With unusual spiritual wisdom, she looks for God in the past so that she might experience him more profoundly in the present. Her powerful words invite readers to know God in a new way—a God ready to break through any ordinary day or extraordinary pain and offer a glimpse of eternity.

Ratings and reviews

I had read the first two books in Mary E. DeMuth’s Defiance, Texas series and realized that she was not your typical Christian fiction writer. They were a breath of fresh air. I was excited when I was sent a copy of her book, Thin Places: A Memoir. De Muth starts the book by explaining that she is a thin place, a Celtic term meaning “the place where heaven and the physical world collide, one of those serendipitous territories where eternity and the mundane meet”. Her story takes us to those thin places in her life, some of which are extremely painful. The kinds of things that we as Christians often do not want to talk about because we just are not sure what to say: sexual abuse, parental neglect, pornography. Mary De Muth’s life includes this issues and she tells her story through the pain but with grace. She had me in the first chapter entitled ‘Studebaker’ because my family had Studebakers and my first car was a hand me down 1960 one. Then she tells of a father that left too soon and I could relate though I was a teenager when my father died. I rejoiced when I read of her involvement with Young Life, as that was where I also became a Christian. I have not experienced the abuse she had but I felt her pain. I understood her questions, her insecurity and could relate to the frustrations as a teenager and young believer trying to understand God and his ways. De Muth is honest and though she has experienced much pain in her life the joy and comfort she finds in the Lord comes through. This is a book for anyone who has struggled with the pain of this world. It gives hope to us all that though life is hard and often we really do not understand why God has placed some experiences in our life we can rest in his grace. He meets us in those thin places.

Absolutely loved this book! She was so transparent and real. There were so many relatable experiences, feelings and thoughts. I needed this. Thank you, Mary DeMuth!

About the author

Mary DeMuth is the author of several southern novels, including A Slow Burn, Life in Defiance, and the Christy award finalists, Watching the Tree Limbs and Daisy Chain.  She’s also written four parenting books and a memoir, Thin Places. She’s passionate about the written word, teaching, and mentoring writers. Mary lives in Texas with her husband, Patrick, and their three children.