Why does God have to be so exasperatingly silent? Why can't we see him at least long enough to allay doubt? How does one grow deeper in love with God against the cultural currents of disdain and antagonism?

"Chasing Mystery" is an exploration into how the Bible negotiates the presence and absence of God in the hopes of forging a path in situations where absences often seem more pressing than presences. Amid the prevailing skepticism and restlessness, says Walsh, we must relearn the skill of trust in reading Scripture. The aim is to experience God through holy writing.

Walsh offers a work in biblical theology that explores the liveliness of the God of the Bible. She insists that the pages of the Bible do not simply "describe" divine presence; they"evoke" it in the process of reading. Not al the time, certainly not predictably, but enough to warrant a trust. Her goal is to strengthen the heart's reading competency in order to facilitate our encounter with God.

"Carey Walsh is associate professor of Old Testament at Villanova University. She is the author of"Exquisite Desire: Religion, the Erotic, and the Song of Songs" and "The Fruit of the Vine: Viticulture in Ancient Israel.