I got to meet Dr. Keller the other night. He was at UC Berkeley as part of a promotions tour for his new book, The Reason for God, Belief in an Age of Skepticism. You can read more about the book and the tour here. I’m working my way through it as I write, but as usual that is in addition to a plethora of other material I’m also reading. He is easy to read, though you do stop often to ponder what he has written. Good stuff so far. (Who is Tim Keller, you might ask? Go here for more details, but here’s what the presenters of the Veritas Forum wrote about him in their handout:
Timothy Keller is a Christian author and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NY, which he started in 1989 and where he speaks every week to a congregation of over 5,000. Touted by some as the new millennium’s C.S. Lewis and know for his trademark style of "cogent, literary sermons," he was listed in 2006 by New York Magazine as one of its seven "Influentials in Religion."
Dr. Keller has also taught as a professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, where he received is D.Min in 1981. He is the author of The Reason for God and Ministries of Mercy and lives with his wife Kathy and their three sons in New York City.
After the talk and Q&A session, he came out to the book table where he signed copies of his book. I had the forethought to bring my book along hoping for such an opportunity. We spoke briefly about his book, being parents, and how his book would be another tool that would allow this parent to again be able to speak into the lives of the young people she comes in contact with through church and family and friends. And, of course, he signed my book. That’s how the evening ended. Or rather, it ended with a long ride made short with conversation about the evening’s talk and movies and the odd assortment of topics that arise after a long day. That’s how it ended.
It began, though, with thoughts of what needed to be accomplished at work before I rushed out the door to meet up with the others who would be going to hear Dr. Keller speak. If I go back even further, I can say that I read about Dr. Keller’s book a while back, can’t remember which blog, but there was definitely a buzz. Many were looking forward to it and I resolved to look for it. I was at Barnes and Noble for the ladies community group a few weeks back and afterward, I went to customer service and asked if the book was in stock yet. It was. I bought it. I can say that I’ve read about half and am working on the other half. It’s easy enough to read, but come on… I’m supposed to be memorizing lines for Arsenic.
I got to the Starbucks at Sisk and Pelandale early. So early, in fact, that no one else was there yet. I got a coffee (double tall, skinny cinnamon dolce latte) and went back to my car to wait. I waited some more and then began to wonder if I mis-read Paul’s post. Did he say Starbucks… or was it In-n-Out…? Was there another Starbucks…? Suddenly, Chris and Melanie drove up and I saw Derk walking over. Whew! More arrived and we gathered, chatted, discussed who was going with whom and two vehicles were loaded up and we were off. The long trip was made short with conversation about work and computers and Ipods. We were in Berkeley in no time and then splitting off to go eat, some to Indian, others to more blah fare.
Naan ‘n’ Curry was tasty and we then headed over to Wheeler where we regrouped and waited in line until they opened the doors. On the way in, I almost ran into and actually touched Dr. Keller on the sleeve as he was headed in to the Hall (no miraculous healing…). But he was busy talking to other people and didn’t turn around. He’s tall!
Once in the auditorium, I sat next to Michelle, from San Francisco. She had heard about the event from friends in her small group which is part of Great Exchange Covenant Church in the Mission Delores district. We chatted briefly as the place filled and then it was full and they were turning people away. Wow.
At 7:40pm, Dr. Keller was introduced. I loved how he qualified why he could speak to this group. He’s a parent of young people the same age as most in the audience. Being a parent of someone in that same age group, I felt encouraged and included.
He talked for almost an hour and then the floor was opened for questions. I have to say, I’ve never seen a more amenable, personable, humble respondent to questions that were submitted. Sometimes the questions weren’t really questions, but he tried hard to understand what the person was saying, to reply to what they were attempting to articulate.
Then it was over. The crowd dispersed and people got in line to buy books or have them signed. And I got to meet Dr. Keller the other night.
All Things Elda 