The four chapters of
this short book are:
1. Peace by Pretending
2. Like Father, Like
God
3. Learning to Love
4. The Only Thing That
Counts
The basic
premise is that our emotional history affects what we
think about ourselves, what
we think about God, and how we relate to others. Our
“tigers in the basement” are those unresolved
conflicts many of us carry from childhood that are
submerged in our subconscious and adversely affect
our lives as adults. By “going on safari”, we can
identify those family-of-origin issues and remove their
power to inflict pain and detract from the wholeness God
would have us experience.
The book, then,
is one of healing – both emotional and relational.
Though the case study is about me, I think others can
draw analogies to their situations and benefit. The
often-difficult journey, I should note, requires
honesty and humility, but the reward
can be a softened heart. Here’s how I
expressed the process in a song lyric:
He binds up the
brokenhearted,
sets us free at last;
the healing of his
love
overcomes our past.
Beauty for ashes
is what he freely
gives;
be his new creation
so you can finally
live.
Come on safari with
me. God wants us to go forth in peace, not pieces.