Sometimes you come across a book that reads like butter. Whether it’s the language, the plot, the style, or a combination of any of those qualities, every now and then a book will speak to you. One Night in a Thousand Years by local author Craig Cunningham does just that. (Cunningham is a Waco native, a Baylor grad, and former editor of the Baylor Line magazine.)
Craig has a poet's soul. I have known the author for years, and his gentle, inquisitive, creative style and his ability to use words to create a depth of introspection absolutely translates here in this novella. Billed as "Dead Poets Society" meets "Friday Night Lights", this story is autobiographical-adjacent--stemming from events in Cunningham's own past while taking on a life of its own.
Picture this: Senior year, small-town Texas. Colt is supposed to be living the dream, but a football injury sidelines him and forces him to reevaluate all his priorities. When most of Colt’s friends abandon him, an invitation to join a guy's group called the "sacred circle" intrigues him. The group is led by slightly older and extremely enigmatic Lucas, and it provides Colt with the awakening he didn't know he needed. Through their year of fellowship and discipleship, this unlikely group of friends deals with many challenges and victories (Colt's relationship with girl-next-door Noa and his best friend Wayne's struggle with grades and some vindictive school authority figures are particularly compelling). During the year, the guys desire to get closer to Lucas, but he holds them at arm's length, all the while still guiding them in their faith and self confidence. There's an ending you may see coming but which will tug on your heartstrings all the same.
This is a literal coming-of-age story about self-discovery, about bucking the system, about evaluating your beliefs. And while books where religion and faith take a central focus can turn maudlin or preachy, Cunningham never veers into the cliched. He keeps you engaged with a true human interest story that is authentic, humorous, weighty, and unique.
The title comes from a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”
If you're local to Waco, you'll love the nods to landmarks the characters frequent--Tonkawa Falls, Oakwood Cemetery, Valley Mills Drive, just to name a few. A bonus: the audio version is narrated by THE James van der Beek, a current Austin resident who perfectly embodies Colt with his gravelly Southern drawl. The book was an Audi award finalist for this audio performance. Read this story to be inspired, enjoy it for the beautiful language and the message, and share it with your friends like I often do.
