The Lilies of the Field

I love the movie with Sidney Poitier, and of course it was running through my head all the time I was reading this book. But Barrett's Homer Smith is not the one played by Sidney Portier. I think I like Barrett's better. And the book ending is very satisfying. I won't stop watching the movie, but the book is a real treasure.

If the final words had not already been in CK I would have added them.

Homer Smith is a black man in the early 1960s, living a nomadic life out of his station wagon, working when he finds work, and then moving on. Traveling the Southwest, he encounters five German nuns, who have moved to America, and plan to build a chapel and a home for wayward boys. The Mother superior among the nuns immediately announces that God has sent "Schmidt" to build their chapel. Homer is deeply offended by the Mother's assumption that he will just do whatever she wants, and without pay even. But he is simultaneously moved and fascinated by the nun's unquestioning faith in both God, and himself. And so he does set out to single-handedly build their chapel.
A beautiful, short tale about faith in God and man, doing the right show more thing, and learning from the people around you.
As good as this little book is, I found it one of those rare instances when a movie version was even better than the book. show less

5582. the lilies of the field, by William E. Barrett (read 17 Sep 2018) This 1962 novel is only 92 pages but is a sweet story which I found strangely poignant. It tells of a black man who after service in he Army is roaming the country and somehow comes upon a group of five Geman sisters who are running a farm and hoping to establish a home for wayward boys in a community mostly populated by Spanish speaking people. The sisters somehow get him to build a simple church for them. The story I suppose is improbable but is simply told and moving and one has a good feeling at the end of the story, even though the church builder resumes his wandering. I know I saw the movie, starring Sidney Poitior, I suppose 50 years ago but I had forgotten show more the story line but reading the book brought it back to me. show less

The Lilies of the Field by William E. Barett. Age: teen-adult. Library section: 10 C: youth, grades 6-8, Fiction. This very easy-to-read book has a profound message for both kids and adults about how God’s Holy Spirit works through average people to create God’s kingdom right here, right now, whoever we are, wherever we are.
Its main character, an African-American war veteran named Homer Smith, is drifting around the American southwest on his small military savings, living out of his car, looking for laboring work. He comes across a determined, small group of nuns who are attempting to build an adobe church in the middle of nowhere, to serve the far-flung local population of Hispanics. These nuns don’t have building skills, but show more Homer does. They don’t have strong backs, but Homer does. They only speak German, but Homer speaks English. They are Catholics, and Homer has no idea about Catholic doctrine, though he knows they are religious women of some sort, so he respects them. But they so obviously need help. He cannot believe how unprepared they are to do their jobs.
What first seems like a mismatch becomes a match as Homer begins to help them, gets exasperated by their lack of English skills and their meager diet, resolves to leave them for good several times, yet returns to their compound again and again with better food, and more building tools and supplies. He also begins to teach them English - - a very funny portion of the book.
I will not spoil the book’s ending for you. Just let me say that the Holy Spirit works in Homer and these nuns to create a miracle of sharing, caring, and faith. If you are older like me, you might remember the splendid film adaptation of this novel, starring Sidney Poitier as Homer. It is a black-and-white gem of a film. It affected me in profound ways as an adolescent and I began to listen for the Holy Spirit’s nudges in my own life after seeing this film. You will never forget this book OR the film. They are perfect little jewels, unpretentious but profound as all great literature and film-making are. show less

I hadn't read this book in many many years. I enjoyed it even more this time. I love how this book deals gracefully with the issues of freedom, religion, race, and basic human decency. A very short book, it can be enjoyed in one extended sitting.

This is a quick but pleasant read, of faith, and humor, of people, and of determination. Not a religious book, not a Christian book, this is about us, about people, and what we do to help others, not necessarily with gain in mind. Recommended.

Just a short, simple book about a man who stops to help some German nuns, in the American southwest (maybe in the 1950's or 60's?) and stays to build a chapel for them. They feel that God has sent him to do this. He disagrees. He says he's not here to stay, he's a Baptist, and he has no idea how to do this by himself and has no materials -- yet he does it! He just keeps feeling compelled to stay and do a little more, he enjoys getting to know the nuns and helping them learn English. He becomes a legend, after he leaves, as the man who Mother Maria Marthe has prayed for to build their church. It is a very inspirational story. I enjoyed it a lot! Sidney Poitier plays the main character in the 1963 movie. I can see that he would do a very show more good job portraying this man. show less