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Autobiography inspirational

Henry C. Born

The Lord’s Donkey: The Autobiography of John M. Schmidt John M. Schmidt. Winnipeg, Man.: Windflower Communications, 2001. 179 pp.

A biography (autobiography) can have an inspirational and challenging influence upon the reader. Schmidt’s story is no exception. It will force the reader to grapple with involvement in God’s kingdom. Admittedly, Schmidt is a champion of integrity, a person of strong initiative and deep concern for non-Christian folk, with a faith that is woven into all of life.

Editorially, the book has a number of flaws: picture pages are not numbered, some pictures are without a caption, some names have no identification cues, and some sentences are unclear. A careful editing by an accomplished journalist would have been helpful.

One can empathize with the author in deciding what to include in a biography. The question is: What readership is one writing for? Will details be appreciated/understood by other than family members? Do they add anything to the thrust of the book? Some things in life’s attic do not need to be dusted off for the reading public. It is also advisable not to mention names of persons whose impact was deemed to be negative, especially if that person’s kin have access to the book.

The strongest contribution of the book is presenting a life that is irrevocably committed to Jesus and the Bible, a commitment so often sadly lacking today. The author is an example of a person making the best possible use of his giftedness (evangelism), knowing that blessings will follow such commitment.

Readers will be encouraged by the author’s challenges, victories and miscues.

Henry C. Born is a member of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C.

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Last modified October 3, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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