Foreword Woven throughout this book, you’ll find Rachel’s heart for people, love of words, and the solace she discovered in the unknown.
It was March of 2019 when she started outlining and writing drafts of children’s books. As new parents, Rachel and I were in a fresh chapter of life. Our son, Henry, had just turned three, and our daughter, Harper, was still a baby. Rachel was excited to write stories they could enjoy. We had big plans and were building a house.
But the crushing reality is that life doesn’t always go according to our plans. Rachel wasn’t able to finish the ideas for all her books. She got sick in April and passed away on May 4, 2019, two weeks before Harper’s first birthday.
Matthew Paul Turner was often with me at Rachel’s hospital bedside in the days before her death. His personal connection to Rachel and her words permeates the poetic fabric of art and text that you now hold. It’s an honor to work with Matthew, who has championed Rachel and her work from the beginning of her career, before
New York Times bestseller lists, before media appearances, and before he was known as a children’s book author.
It’s also a privilege to work with Ying Hui Tan, who ensures with breathtaking beauty that the ideas of Rachel and Matthew are seen. I’m grateful to Rachel, Ying Hui, Matthew, and the team at Convergent for their hard work. And I’m excited to share the collaboration of these artists with you.
We are all fellow travelers through this life. Together, we learn to care for one another. Join me in these pages to discover ancient imagery, history, love, dedication to what’s good, and acceptance of all people. Together, we wonder how we’re simultaneously insignificant and grand in this vast universe. Together, let’s explore the question:
What is God like? Daniel Jonce Evans
Copyright © 2021 by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
