It wasn't Eric Metaxas' idea to write a book on miracles.
The author and radio host was hesitant about the idea when it was brought up during a lunch with an editor in New York. Metaxas said Saturday night that he had described to the editor a couple of life experiences that were "simply staggering," which resulted in the editor pushing him to write a book about them.
After a year of requests from the editor, Metaxas relented.
The result was his best-seller, Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen and How They Can Change Your Life. Metaxas talked about his book Saturday night at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock as part of the "Insights" lecture series.
The book focuses on miracles but aims for a more balanced approach that looks at the topic critically, while avoiding sneering or wide acceptance of the highly improbable events that can occur in life, he said.
Metaxas, who also has written Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy; a biography of William Wilberforce titled Amazing Grace; and more than 30 children's books, spoke about science and faith. He occasionally had those seated in the pews laughing in the process.
Metaxas talked about his journey of faith. After growing up in the Greek Orthodox Church and then attending Yale University, Metaxas said he felt confused about religion. That changed, in part, after he experienced his own miracle, Metaxas said.
"It was the kind of thing you read about in a book but doesn't happen to you," Metaxas said about the event that brought God into his life.
Metaxas also talked about an opinion article he wrote that was published in The Wall Street Journal last Christmas with the headline "Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God: The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?"
As of Saturday night, the piece had 9,359 comments, had been shared 476,267 times on Facebook and had spurred other articles in news outlets that both rebuffed it and supported it.
Or as Metaxas described it, "This article just went crazy."
"People in America have a great hunger for science and faith," Metaxas said. "People want to know 'is my faith something I have to put aside to be a rational individual?'"
Metaxas also talked about when miracles don't happen and when prayers go unanswered.
"God does not present himself as a candy machine," Metaxas said. "It does not work that way. If you have a little kid asking you for cotton candy every day, you say no because you love your child."
Upcoming speakers in the Insights series are Diana Butler Bass on Feb. 28; Elaine Pagels, April 2; and Glennon Doyle Melton on April 28. Tickets are available at www.trinitylittlerock.org.
Metro on 11/08/2015