“Adorning the Dark” by Andrew Peterson is a captivating book that I unexpectedly came across. I’m a new fan of Andrew Peterson and his work in both writing and music. Peterson has years of experience, including lots of failed attempts and rough seasons, but you will have read this book to get all those details.

The thing I liked about this book is that it’s for everyone, not just “creatives” or “musicians” …but truly for anyone who would call themselves one who longs to live in this world with purpose. (Yet I would particularly recommend this book for my “creative”-type friends out there, because I’m sure you would appreciate his story in a deeper way than I can.)

Throughout the book he tells of his journey in the music and writing world, as a Christian who is just trying to live out true calling and identity. And Peterson is honest. I appreciate that a lot… and I learned a whole lot about a subject (the music industry) that I had no clue about previously. Sometimes it’s good to put down your typical book, genre, or area of expertise to learn something new!

Peterson tells about how the calling of the Christian is to proclaim the goodness and grace of God throughout all the world. We see this idea throughout all scripture. And the thing that Peterson is getting at in the whole book is that God chooses to invite us into this! He has given us gifts and talents and resources, and placed us in locations and communities and families, just so that His glory would be spread out to each corner of the earth.

“I’m pleasantly expendable, delightfully unnecessary. We’re not invited into this because God needs us, but because he wants us.”

Andrew Peterson, Adorning the Dark (33)

Some of his key themes include: community, identity, and calling. He talks about these three things all throughout the book and it’s evident that Andrew Peterson not only writes about these things well, but also lives them out.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those looking for something different, even if it’s just a different type of subject than you may normally read. Peterson is inviting you in to consider how you can join the God of the Universe in proclaiming His glory and fame in your corner of the earth. So pick up the book and join all of creation in waiting for our return to our true Home.

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson