"Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story"
Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my heroes, in music as well as faith. Through this autobiography, SCC (as he is referred to in my house) opens his life in its triumphs, failures, and tragedies, letting the stories of his music and family point the way ultimately to his faith in Jesus. It is an easy read, meant, I think, for an average reader, with many relatable anecdotes to balance the occasional step into slightly more technical musical jargon (of which there are only a few). It is only focused on his music in that it has been one of the centerpieces of his life, as his job and ministry; SCC speaks as much, or more, about his journey as a man, a son, a husband, a father, all which resonate deeply with me as I begin to experience my own path in these areas. Then, of course, are the stories of the songs that I've known my whole life, the albums that have been with me since I was a boy, and the circumstances that surround many of them. I was surprised, a little, that a few albums were mentioned only in passing. I expected a more detailed look at each and every one, though perhaps because there are so many there simply wasn't enough time or room. I'm not sure about that, but what is there is insightful and enlightening. Finally, reading about the faith journey that SCC has gone through is truly inspiring and has, I dare to say, lit a mini-revival in my own life, both spiritually and musically. He doesn't pretend to be perfect or to know all the answers; indeed, he writes again and again that being hyper-spiritual has proven to be one of his weaknesses and failing points. Seeing this transparency and honesty combined with the humility of one of the great songwriters of all Christian history is humbling and inspiring.
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