The tapestry: The life and times of Francis and Edith Schaeffer

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is influenced by the writings of Francis and Edith Schaeffer. It isn't a "fluff" autobiography for she is quite honest about their trials and tribulations. However, it is a fascinating story of how L'Abri came to be formed. It reads like a good novel, which happens to be a true story.

The Tapestry is an extended autobiography of how the family of Francis and Edith Schaeffer came to be and grew over time. It starts with select ancestors, moves to their childhood time, the meeting and marriage of Francis and Edith, goes through their time in St. Louis, founding L'Abri, international ministry, up to shortly before Francis passed away in 1984. Edith goes through major events and relates many of the little episodes in their lives that shaped them. For me, having read some of Francis Schaeffer's books, it was eye-opening to see the events that shaped his life and the trials and struggles their family went through. It's so easy to put these well-known Christians on a pedestal, but reading about the outbursts of temper and deep doubts of Francis Schaeffer reminded me that his fallen humanity went along with his keen mind. Not every little story is as interesting to the reader as they are to Edith. One may also be sorry that there are so few photographs in the book of things we might like to see. The books of Francis Schaeffer are seemingly mentioned in passing, though they have been a major influence to many. Nor is L'Abri a supreme over-riding theme. What the book is about, and does well, is show the theme of the "Tapestry" of their family that God wove together over time. I highly recommend this book for those with any interest in the Schaeffer family as it goes through their personal background and development that drove much of their work.

Walking through Francis and Edith Schaeffer's lives via this book is challenging, encouraging, and edifying. Edith Schaeffer does an excellent job showing God at work in their own lives and through them in others. Definitely worth the effort to find a copy!