Formed Together – Review
What does it mean to be a Christian caregiver? What does it mean to be a caregiver of a person with intellectual disabilities, and to do it in a theologically informed manner? Keith Dow answers this in his book, Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving (Amazon affiliate link).
One might assume it just takes a person with a big heart and plenty of patience who is willing to do a lot of work for not much recognition.
While there is some truth in that statement, it is so much more than that. Keith Dow is the Manager of Organizational and Spiritual Life at Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons).
Keith shares from his own experience and those of others, the complexities of caregiving. He shares the ups and downs of what this looks like in real life.
But beyond just personal experience, Keith brings to bear a carefully thought out Christian critique of how caregiving is often lived out, even by some people we have put on pedastals.
The title of the book helps to explain what Christian caregiving is supposed to be like. It is not about a whole person caring for a broken person. It is about being formed together, a relationship of mutuality.
There is so much that is good in this book. I especially appreciated the deep dive into the meaning of vocation. A vocation is not just another word for a career, it is something more.
Keith also takes us through the various interpretations of the image of God. How we see this will help shape how we see others, especially those who are significantly different from us.
Formed Together is a deeply theological book, but it is one that is also practical. It is a book that those involved in or interested in caregiving will want to return to regularly to help realign with the Christian vision for caregiving.
