What If
Reviewing one of the latest and finest works in Christian story writing - WHAT IF by Rev. Tony Eapen Varkey
Rev. Tony’s Jesus winks at the boy who offered his lunchbox, which eventually fed five thousand. What better imagery to summarise the Gospel in a gesture? His portrayal of Jesus reflects the heart of an author who is filled with the Gospel of Good News.
What If, published by CSS Books, Tiruvalla, is the fifth book from the pen of my dear friend and colleague, Rev. Tony Eapen Varkey.
Everyone loves stories. Rev. Tony’s stories appeal to an intergenerational audience. They have the spiritual depth of a seasoned devotional while appealing even to children. My ten-year-old son read a story and was left impressed by the way the message is communicated. Rev. Tony takes his faith seriously. And that makes him take human emotions seriously. His characters feel and fall deeply. It makes the stories of hope and redemption heartfelt, with an assurance that is as warm as a blanket and a piping hot coffee on a rainy winter day.
The book falls under the genre of what could be called biblical fiction. Don’t misunderstand: this is not an attempt to fictionalise the Bible. Rather, it is fiction inspired by the messages and themes that form motifs in the biblical narrative. As a pastor who is fully in touch with all generations, including Gen Z and Gen X, Rev. Tony inspires one and all to take the biblical narrative seriously. It is “A delectable feast,” as attested by none other than the great Indian theologian Fr. K. M. George, in his eloquent foreword to the book.
When I was in college, I remember friends who devoured Harry Potter fan fiction that played around with characters and themes in the series. People who read the Potter books couldn’t get enough of them, so they wrote those fiction pieces to continue to engage with the characters. It encouraged people to stay tuned to the series. You had to know the original series to enjoy the fan fiction. On the other hand, if you read and enjoyed those stories, you would surely want to go back to the originals. It is the same with What If. Rev. Tony, as Master of Theology (MTh) student who specialises in the New Testament loves the Bible. When one keeps that in mind, this book is an invitation—a fictional portal to a historical and spiritual reality.
Rev. Tony is a storyteller who walks alongside the reader, telling stories like the companions on the road to Emmaus. Fiction is not just a medium for exercising one’s imagination. Rev. Tony uses it as a political tool too. What If gives voice to voiceless characters in the Bible. The author steps into the shoes of some of the less understood, less represented characters and their life-world. As a result, the reader returns to Scripture with renewed imagination and excitement.
The author tells the story of Noah’s Ark from the perspective of a bird that found a place in the ark (Ch. 3), based on Gen. 6:13–22. Marginalised characters—be they humans or even non-living beings such as the stone in David’s sling—become a medium for conveying biblical truths with eloquence (Ch. 7).
A stone (Ch. 7), a bird (Ch. 3), and a pride of lions (Ch. 13) all find a place in this book, offering an ecological reading of the biblical passages, where creation joins in praising the God of the Bible, as Psalm 19 testifies.
If you know Rev. Tony well, you would know that he has a pleasant sense of humour. Sometimes his tall, serious-looking figure may give you the impression that he is a serious man, but the characters in his stories let the cat out of the bag. A favourite passage of mine is in Ch. 4: the angel choir are passionately discussing which song to sing to the shepherds to proclaim the good news. An angel named Zaph suggests O Come All Ye Faithful, to which another angel quickly reminds him, “That song has not been written yet!” Rev. Tony also evokes humour in the story of Elijah, who is fed by ravens, by imagining the response of a farmer whose bread was being stolen every day by birds to feed the pious prophet. The furious farmer is in for a surprise when he finds out the reason, which the author turns into an altar call for transformative action.
Rev. Tony’s writing is in touch with contemporary realities experienced by youngsters today, evident in his narrative of Elina, oppressed by the tyranny of routines, based on the story of the burning bush in Exodus 3.
Attention to the transformative power of simple things in life—like a conversation over a cup of chai (Ch. 12)—is what makes Rev. Tony a keen observer of life. As a clergyman, he is very much in touch with the experiences of people, particularly the last, the least, and the lost. Stories of Liya (Ch. 17) and Leonidas (Ch. 15) make this observation abundantly clear.
My favourite stories were the surprise reimaginations of the Daniel story (Ch. 17)—not to be missed—and Peter’s weakest moment in his journey with Christ (Ch. 14). If you are in CSS and deciding whether to buy this book, head straight to these chapters, and then make the payment at the counter. If you are anywhere else and wondering whether to buy this book, trust me, you can order it online or by WhatsApp and send me a thank-you gift later.
Rev. Tony is an artist. His paintings and illustrations were frequently used at events when we were in seminary. In What If, Rev. Tony is an author who paints pictures with words. The rich imagery in the stories is so compelling that readers might find themselves inside the story rather than with the book in their hands. Readers of literature might bring to mind the rich descriptions of settings and characters in the works of Thomas Hardy (e.g., Tess of the D’Urbervilles), only Rev. Tony’s writing is pithier and quicker to read.
The genius of Rev. Tony unveils itself in all its glory in his reimagined rendition of the story of Jonah (Ch. 19), which weaves a creative build-up to the climax using riddles. It reminds us that the author’s future offerings will be worth the wait.
All the stories fall within a two-minute reading range of three or sometimes four pages. The 108-page book can be read in less than 60 minutes. But that’s the catch—don’t do that. Rev. Tony’s stories are meant to be read slowly, just like his popular devotional series Lenten Lifetags (two volumes). The stories are devotionals disguised in narratives, a treasure chest brimming with spiritual insight. One might instead restrain oneself to read a story and pause to reflect. Rich will be your reward. I found that every time I revisited a story, it evoked new reflections that took me back to the Bible passage it inspired, with renewed interest.
Knowing Rev. Tony from his college years, I have to take a step back and place this work in a broader time frame. Doing that, I cannot help but marvel at his consistent writing. This is because Rev. Tony the author came much later. He is already an accomplished artist, academician (currently pursuing his second master’s—an MTh in New Testament), a guitarist, composer and singer-songwriter, and an excellent opening batsman in cricket. He published two books while serving as the personal secretary to His Grace the Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
The Gospel-loving author, concludes his collection of stories with the ultimate story – the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Good Friday story, through the eyes of little Luca, moves the reader to love Jesus more. Reminded of Jesus on the cross, Luca’s tears become our tears. It is the point of the book, and I can say, as a friend, is the point of Rev. Tony’s writing ministry.
What If is the latest gift from Rev. Tony to anyone who wants a renewed encounter with the themes of Christian faith. A perfect gift for any age. A meditational resource. A creative contribution to Christian faith through the medium of stories. Surely a Marthomite C. S. Lewis in the making
What If, available at CSS Books, TVLA, or can be ordered via WhatsApp on +91 89213 80556.
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Upholding a brother for enhancing the Kingdom of God is so overwhelming!!! Grateful