"Life is Messy" Book Review by Tim Hansen
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February 14, 2022Matthew Kelly’s Life Is Messy (2021) reads quickly and has some very practical advice on increasing consciousness, taking a moral inventory, and living a good life. But, there are six main questions cleverly inserted into this book that stands out almost like speed bumps amidst the many quotes from Dante to James Taylor. Early in the book, Kelly asks, “Can something that has been broken be put back together in a way that makes it more beautiful than before?” He points out how practitioners of the Japanese ceramic art form of Kintsugi use glue and gold dust to bond the pieces of a broken vase or bowl, resulting in something that is profoundly stronger and more beautiful. Perhaps waxing poetic, Kelly sees each of us as a Kintsugi artist, using glue and gold dust to heal the wounds of our broken bodies and make us whole again. He then moves to his next question, “Why is life messy?” This question takes aim at our desire to control and our loss of perspective when in the heat of the moment. From out of life’s chaos, Kelly asks, “What inspires you?” He believes inspiration stimulates creativity, but how do we keep a steady stream of inspiration flowing into our lives? Next he asks, “When was the last time you felt amazing? This question packs a punch, but Kelly uncovers our need to flourish with this question and the fact that those who truly care about us want us to flourish as well. Kelly then takes a philosophical angle and asks, “What is the meaning of your life?” The intent of this “central question” is to help lead us to a healthier relationship with our own brokenness and our belief in healing and growing stronger. Finally, Kelly asks, “How would your life change if your only goal was to do as much good as possible?” His recommendation: Reach out for the gold dust and take advantage of every opportunity to make it a reality.
