As someone who has walked with the Lord for three decades, navigated profound personal transitions, and treasures music as a form of emotional expression, I am drawn to stories that explore identity, transformation, and resilience. Recently, I found myself captivated by the prospect of reading “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, a book that feels tailor-made for someone like me—a genderqueer pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), seeking to embrace my authentic self in every aspect of life.
In Untamed, Doyle chronicles her journey of breaking free from societal expectations to lead a life of authenticity and love. The book intertwines her personal experiences with reflections on faith, relationships, and identity. Her honesty in questioning long-held beliefs resonates deeply with me, as I’ve spent years balancing traditional structures and my evolving understanding of who God calls me to be.
Doyle’s metaphor of the “caged cheetah” resonates deeply with me. The cheetah, trained to move within the confines of its enclosure, powerfully symbolizes how we often suppress our true selves to conform to the roles expected of us by others. I have also felt the weight of those societal and institutional cages. The church has been my home and calling for decades; however, navigating it as someone who is both deeply committed to my faith and authentically living as a genderqueer individual has required a delicate balance. Doyle’s words remind me that I am not alone in this struggle and that breaking free—though messy and uncertain—is the path to spiritual and emotional liberation.
What I particularly admire about Doyle’s writing is how she weaves her spirituality into her narrative. Her relationship with God evolves in ways that challenge traditional notions of faith, yet it remains deeply rooted in love and grace. This reflects my own journey as a pastor. My sermons and writing have long aimed to affirm that God’s love is boundless and that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. Reading Doyle’s unapologetic embrace of her spiritual growth feels like discovering a kindred spirit who understands the beautiful complexity of faith.
Beyond its spiritual resonance, *Untamed* also speaks to my love of music and creative expression. Doyle’s poetic prose flows like a melody, with each chapter serving as a lyric in a song about courage and freedom. Just as Elton John and Annie Lennox invest their souls into their music, Doyle pours her heart onto the page, crafting something raw and transformative.
Ultimately, *Untamed* is more than just a book—it’s an invitation to live boldly and unapologetically. It serves as a reminder that breaking free from our cages isn’t just an act of rebellion; it’s a form of worship. For someone like me, who aims to lead others in faith while embracing the fullness of my own identity, this book feels like a sacred text, urging me to step into the wild and trust that God walks with me, no matter how untamed the path may seem.
Anyway, I want to read books like that.
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