This was a book written over a span of five years, the grieving process that the author walked through after the unexpected death of her husband. Heart-wrenching, raw, triumphant. She shares the lowest lows of the "Midnight Hour", but continues to take the next steps to healing and wholeness.
Although very difficult to read at times, I found myself cheering her on in the last few chapters where she again had hope to actually look forward to the future (Psalm 42:11: Hope in God for once again I will praise Him). So much of the pain and numbness were familiar to me from my "Midnight Hour", grieving the loss of my sisters after their deaths. I remember the heaviness on my chest, the deadness in my eyes, and the absence of hearing God's voice over that two year period as I tried to "climb back to the surface". It obviously wasn't near what Barranco faced in losing a spouse and having to be the sole parent to 3 teenagers, but I certainly identified with the process.
This would be a great resource to give to those grieving, as it totally turns hearts to God, but also affirms that the roller coaster emotions and things that have to be faced--are all very normal.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Musings on a Beautiful Autumn Day
I found myself sitting on a bench at Lake Macatawa awaiting the sunrise a few weekends ago. Bill and I had traveled to Holland State Park to join friends in an "end of the camping season" gathering.
Having enjoyed biking, hiking and hanging out on an absolutely gorgeous Saturday...I was determined to catch a sunrise the next morning.
Several others sat in the vicinity, but surprisingly a couple vacated the beach bench in front of me --so, I grabbed it! Quiet, dimly lit, the hush of expectancy as the colors unfolded before us in the eastern sky. What appeared to be an Egret or Heron, swooped over the water, landing to my left in a wooded area in shallow water. She positioned herself facing the east. At about the same time, a duck landed in front of me, just settling in the water -- seemingly to also face the unfolding of the morning!
I was struck with the words of Jesus, "If these people keep silent, the rocks / stones will cry out (Luke 19:40). But what was happening in front of me was not just the stones responding to the Creator's handiwork --but very Creation (the birds of the field) was relishing the rising of the Sun, which the Creator had provided for His Created to enjoy. How touched was I to be among His creation enjoying that moment. How often am I not mindful of all the beauty that has been given to us to enjoy? Am I keeping silent, or am I crying out in praise to the Maker?
Having enjoyed biking, hiking and hanging out on an absolutely gorgeous Saturday...I was determined to catch a sunrise the next morning.
Several others sat in the vicinity, but surprisingly a couple vacated the beach bench in front of me --so, I grabbed it! Quiet, dimly lit, the hush of expectancy as the colors unfolded before us in the eastern sky. What appeared to be an Egret or Heron, swooped over the water, landing to my left in a wooded area in shallow water. She positioned herself facing the east. At about the same time, a duck landed in front of me, just settling in the water -- seemingly to also face the unfolding of the morning!
I was struck with the words of Jesus, "If these people keep silent, the rocks / stones will cry out (Luke 19:40). But what was happening in front of me was not just the stones responding to the Creator's handiwork --but very Creation (the birds of the field) was relishing the rising of the Sun, which the Creator had provided for His Created to enjoy. How touched was I to be among His creation enjoying that moment. How often am I not mindful of all the beauty that has been given to us to enjoy? Am I keeping silent, or am I crying out in praise to the Maker?
Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
I have to be in the right frame of mind to read Picoult because she throws curves that disturb me. This one kept my interest due to its subject matter of "hearing God".
Mariah, the mom, is swirling in an emotional battle due to her husband's infidelity when her 7 year old daughter begins quoting Bible verses and explaining to her mom what "God" said to her. Faith had rarely been in synagogue (her Jewish heritage), let alone in a Christian church; so this is puzzling to her mom and grandmom. As the story unfolds, other strange phenomenon occurs: healings by Faith, bleeding hands, Hebrew words spoken. When the media become aware of this, the circus begins....destination: Mariah's country home where hundreds of news agencies gather to follow the story, as well as hundreds of sick and infirm settle, to beg for healing.
This was a fast moving story that captures all of the craziness of our world: the naysayers, the believers, the cynics and the merely curious. It begs for the answers to "Who is God in our world?" and "How does He work?". I loved that the clergy, priests and rabbis were all portrayed on many different parts of the spectrum, as far as their beliefs about how God could possibly work in a little girl. Of course, in true Picoult fashion, she throws her curve at the end, but it was a good read despite that....and caused me to affirm my position that God is bigger than all of our ideas and explanations, and He can do amazing things in any way that He chooses.
Mariah, the mom, is swirling in an emotional battle due to her husband's infidelity when her 7 year old daughter begins quoting Bible verses and explaining to her mom what "God" said to her. Faith had rarely been in synagogue (her Jewish heritage), let alone in a Christian church; so this is puzzling to her mom and grandmom. As the story unfolds, other strange phenomenon occurs: healings by Faith, bleeding hands, Hebrew words spoken. When the media become aware of this, the circus begins....destination: Mariah's country home where hundreds of news agencies gather to follow the story, as well as hundreds of sick and infirm settle, to beg for healing.
This was a fast moving story that captures all of the craziness of our world: the naysayers, the believers, the cynics and the merely curious. It begs for the answers to "Who is God in our world?" and "How does He work?". I loved that the clergy, priests and rabbis were all portrayed on many different parts of the spectrum, as far as their beliefs about how God could possibly work in a little girl. Of course, in true Picoult fashion, she throws her curve at the end, but it was a good read despite that....and caused me to affirm my position that God is bigger than all of our ideas and explanations, and He can do amazing things in any way that He chooses.
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