Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere

“Forward. That’s a good word. That’s how it strikes me to be writing a book, well, about anything, let alone faith. It is a bit…forward. A bit bold, a bit audacious, a bit terrifying, a lot bit intimidating.”

Guthrie employs repetition and parallelism to emphasize the sense of audacity and boldness associated with the act of writing about faith. The repetition of the word “forward” and the phrases “a bit” and “a lot bit” enhances the impact of the adjectives that follow, creating a rhythmic and emphatic effect. The use of ellipses introduces a pause, adding a contemplative tone to the statement.

“What are the six foundational aspects of a connection to God? Here is what I came up with: Love. Presence. Praise. Grace. Hope. Purpose.”

The list format serves as a rhetorical device, presenting a clear and organized enumeration of the foundational aspects. Each word stands alone, emphasizing its importance and creating a sense of completeness and balance. The list also exemplifies asyndeton, the omission of conjunctions, which gives the quote a rhythmic, impactful quality. This list also alerts the reader to the book’s organizational structure, which is divided into these foundational aspects.

“Blank space. Quiet. Nothingness. This is where God has the greatest opportunity to do his thing.”

The parallel structure here conveys a sense of serenity and openness. The short, simple sentences create a contemplative rhythm, while the repetition of abstract concepts like “blank space,” “quiet,” and “nothingness” underscores the idea that divine action often occurs in moments of stillness and absence.