A Smile on the Face of God (by Adrian Plass)

(Amazon UK link)

Adrian Plass is one of my top favourite Christian writers. He's best known, of course, for his 'Sacred Diary' trilogy; one of the few sets of books that makes me laugh out loud even on the second or third re-read.

But Plass doesn't just write humour. 'A Smile on the Face of God' is the warm and moving biography of Philip Ilott. Have you ever heard of Philip Ilott? I hadn't. Apparently he appeared for a while on a television programme called 'Company', but I'm not much of a TV-watcher and had never heard of that either.

Philip Ilott was born in 1936 to a rather weak father, and an obsessive-compulsive mother who didn't want him at all. His earliest memories consist of hearing terrible rows between his parents, and of trying to be good so that his mother didn't get angry with him.

When World War II started, and his father had to join the army, things got worse rather than better. He was confined to a garden shed every day after school, before his mother got home to let him into the house. She wouldn't let him in by himself in case he made it untidy. She never hugged him or gave him any form of affection, yet when his father was away she abused her her son sexually at night.

The one bright spark in Philip's week was his regular visit to his grandmother, his mother's mother, who loved her grandson and gave him the cuddles and attention that he needed. His grandmother was a devout Christian, and as a result of her influence, Philip - who had a good singing voice - managed to join the local Cathedral choir. It was the only thing he ever did which made his mother proud, yet even then she never went to hear him sing. All his life he battled with his longing to be loved by his mother.

When Philip left school he went into the army for a few years, and in that unlikely place he met a few Christians who stood out as 'different' and who invited him to Bible studies. One of them knelt to pray at his bedside every night and was bullied constantly, but never retaliated. This made such an impression on Philip that - after much soul-searching and discussion - he too decided to become a follower of Jesus. This was no crutch for the weak! Life became a great deal more difficult for him once he'd made his commitment, but it was unquestionably the turning point of his life.

The rest of the book shows Philip's gradual maturity from a confused young man to a wise and caring priest in the Anglican Church. Along the way he meets and marries a very supportive girl, and they have two children - one naturally, one adopted. But whereas stories like this are often rather triumphalistic, Philip's is a mixture of sadness and joy. Sometimes he seems to go backwards rather than forwards as he tries to follow his vocation, and continues to battle with the many problems stemming from his childhood. 

The book explores Philip's feelings and fears, particularly when he faces serious illnesses that threaten his ministry. It also looks with honesty at his stormy relationship with his adopted daughter once she becomes a teenager.

Adrian Plass - as always - writes with sensitivity and compassion, describing events without any form of preaching or judgement. It's a thought-provoking book, which could be read by Christians and non-Christians alike, although a little suspension of belief would perhaps be needed for atheists, since God is an inevitable part of the story as a significant character in Philip's life.

For myself, as a low-church Anglican, it's quite engrossing to read about Philip's return to his Anglo-Catholic roots after experimenting with evangelicalism in his twenties. For him, the rituals of high Anglicanism, and the sensory experiences - incense, images, chanting of ancient liturgy - are part of the mystery of God. 

 At the same time I think the book could equally be challenging for many in more formal traditions of worship, since Philip has an increasing experience with the charismatic movement of the church, specifically involving the ministry of divine healing.

All these things and much more are described in such a natural, low-key way that it's hard to imagine anyone being offended by them. Philip comes across as a very likeable man, whose longing for love is gradually brought to fulfilment. Along the way he finds not just healing from some of his illnesses, but healing from his past, including some painful repressed memories that come to the fore without any help from a psychiatrist.

I would recommend this book to anyone, whatever their spiritual beliefs. It's gentle and yet very moving; it shows inordinate courage and conviction from a deeply hurt man, and it's a great antidote to the many negative things written about (and by!) Christians.

(You can also read my more recent review of 'A Smile on the Face of God' written on re-reading nearly six years later)