Synopsis:
The prison writings of Ferenc Visky, a Reformed minister who spent seven years in the Gherla prison after the 1956 Hungarian revolution.

Review:
“He who does not believe in miracles is not a realist.” The Foolishness of God is a slim volume packed with deep wisdom from a man who suffered more than most. Joy beams from every page, a hard-won thanksgiving for a God who justifies and sanctifies through mysterious ways. I love the irony that Ferenc Visky employs in showing how foolish our responses to suffering can seem, when our aim is to glorify God. I smiled and wept and loved every word, translated with care by Visky’s son, playwright Andras Visky.

In prison, Visky’s closest friend was Richard Wurmbrand, a converted Jew who became a Lutheran priest. Wurmbrand fearlessly embraced suffering his whole life, with a humor and passion that really inspired me. Here’s a brief glimpse:

Acceptance of suffering, taught Richard, gives power to endure.

When he was for years in solitary confinement, there was room for him to take just three steps for his daily walk. He would take only two, so as not to adapt his movements to the cell, to his want of freedom.

Please surf on over to Lulu.com and buy The Foolishness of God. I wish it were available more widely–it really deserves the deluxe treatment by a real publisher, with more of a biography on both Visky and Wurmbrand. This gem would be a great addition to any Christian library.