I really like a little book called This Blessed Mess by Patricia H. Livingston. It is my go to book when my stomach is tied up in knots, and I am having trouble sleeping. I open it up to a random chapter, and tend to find a story that makes me laugh or sometimes to cry a little. Then I can sleep in peace.

Livingston describes how life can be chaotic and uncertain, but how there is goodness throughout. She describes how turmoil in her life forced her to challenge her ideas of God and the world. The science of chaos theory gave her a fresh perspective to appreciate the unpredictable nature of our lives and to make sense of where God is in all of the mess. Her personal stories make these ideas relatable and alive.

I find Livingston’s story to be hopeful and inspiring. Faith and science are both really important to me, so I love it when Livingston talks about faith in a way that takes science seriously. Chaos theory is great too; learning about it in college was part of what inspired me to go to grad school and study soft matter physics. I find chaos theory to be attractive because it shows that life can not be predicted. There is something wild and free about that. Livingston helps me to remember that I am not alone in the wilderness, but God is mysteriously there with me, ready to create something wonderful and new.