Emphasis Preaching Journal

In The Beauty Of The Lilies John Updike tells the story of four generations of the Wilmot family beginning with the Reverend Clarence Wilmot's loss of faith in 1910. The fall from being a respected Presbyterian pastor to an unsuccessful encyclopedia salesperson becomes the principal event in this family's history that influences much of what is to follow. Years later Clarence's son Teddy is talking with his grandson Clark about issues of faith. Clark asks about church, "How come you never went?" Teddy responds, "Never seemed to need it. Stopped dead after Dad died ...