Defending Jacob by William Landay

Our book club reading for March -- Bill also read this with me, so had a good discussion with him. The internal conflicts of a family with a 14 year old son convicted of murder. Delves into the background of the father who a history of pathological males in his family. His own father in jail, he never brought himself to tell his wife of this family "heritage". When the attorney father has to face this charge, all of the history pours back in. Denying that it could be an inherited anger/sociopathic "tendency" -- because he has never had that inclination to kill or to be aloof to others' suffering, the father desperately believes in his son; however the mother questions because she has been aware of the psychological leanings (acting out/ aggression) of her son since he has been small. A complicated book as you doubt the boy, but hope for the best. Because another suspect steps up out of the blue to admit his guilt (coerced by a gangster thug who is friends with the jailed grandfather) -- the charges are dropped. The family starts to get their lives back in order, but another incident sets off alarms in the mother and she chooses the ultimate sacrifice. Ending was hard to read. As I get older, I realize that I love happy endings; in movies and books. The optimist in me believes that the "goodness" in people and in God's ability to "turn our failures into good" -- should win out. Reality is that it does not always work that way.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch was a gifted educator -- raised by parents who assisted him in believing that dreams are possible, he proceeds through life, continually checking off those dreams as they are attained. At 39,he marries and has 3 kids, while teaching computer science at Carnegie Mellon. He appears to have loved this position, and the opportunities it afforded him to "help" students achieve their dreams and believe in themselves. Diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2007, he faces the next months with courage and wit -attacking the disease with all that he has. This memoir was poignant because of Amy and Arlene, and my friend Lynne who battled the same disease for less than a year. Randy wrote this book in conjunction with his "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon, saying good-bye to over 400 people crowded into the small auditorium. He emphasized then that he did it to leave a legacy with his small kids of who he was and that he loved life; he wanted them to know him, but he also wanted to make sure they knew that he loved them. Many themes come through, but the most consistent is his encouragement to stay positive and enjoy the time that is given. He doesn't mention faith or heaven, and it makes me wonder that such a courageous, loving, and positive man could remain so in his situation without faith. The Last Lecture was given in April 2008. Randy Pausch died in August 2008.

Firstlights by Sue Monk Kidd

Short devotional thoughts, compiled from early writings in Guidepost, the author struck a chord in me. As I have been studying rest and contemplation, my desire to listen in silence has increased over the past year. Sue Monk's experiences validate what God has been teaching me on my journey. I didn't always agree with her theology, but her musings and illustrations were good and have caused me to think about looking for daily "moments" from God, that I can write about. Lord, give me those thoughts.

Unbroken by Laura Hilldenbrand

Difficult read. Story of Louie Zamperini, almost Olympian, who was drafted into the army for World War II. The main gist of the story was that he had an infectious joy for living and an indomitable spirit that never quit. He faced so many unimaginable sufferings as he not only went down with a plane and lived over 40 days on a raft in the middle of the Pacific with 2 others, but also endured all of the atrocities of Japanese POW camps. So intense, I was happy for the end; Loved that the author included all of the PTS that Louie was suffering and the amazing "healing" (alcoholism/ rages/ broken marriage/ chronic nightmares)that he experienced after giving his life to the Lord at a Billy Graham revival. Immediately, he never wanted another drink nor had another nightmare. How God bestows miracles in the most awful circumstances-- Praise Him.

February Snow

While enjoying a walk through our neighborhood in the umpteenth blizzard of the year, I looked up from my plodding and "safe" baby steps in the unplowed street --and saw God! As Psalm 29 reminded me in my reading that morning, "God sits ENTHRONED over the flood" (of snow!) just as He sits enthroned over the drought in CA or the ice in GA. God is in the mounds, the unrelenting winds of white, the pristine pureness, the clogged roads that impatient humans want to conquer. The activities that seemed important fade as we sit by the fire, we gaze out the window into the vast whiteness, we bake, we take slow walks going nowhere, and our hearts and souls rest from the ever frenetic pace that is our life. God is in the snow --He calls us to sit & listen, to reflect on our lives, to hear for the next steps that He is directing. Thankful.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

I picked this up on a trip to the library with Azi --in the juvenile area, but always remember liking Caldecott or other award winning books. It did not disappoint! Toby and Cal are neighbors in a small TX town, best buds who ride their bikes all over town and are known by everyone. Enter Zachary Beaver, the largest boy they have ever met @ almost 600 pounds! He arrives in a trailer pulled by his agent, and the whole town comes out to parade past his trailer door to get a glimpse--at a cost of 50 cents. When his agent leaves, the 2 boys determine to find out more about Zachary; thus begins a series of small incidents of kindness towards this young man of 15 who has been living behind the mask of loneliness and sadness over his mother's death. Throughout, other hard issues are being dealt with in both Cal's & Toby's lives. There is healing and grace in community, in being involved in other people's lives by giving and receiving. A great look at diversity, judging, appearances, and friendship.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

A really imaginative story! A couple settles in the barren cold of Alaska, trying to ease the pain of losing a child and the realization that their dream of having children will never happen. Mabel and Jack love each other but lose sight of that as Mabel grieves. One evening in a moment of happiness together, they build a snow-child. The next day, the melted snow figure has disappeared -even the mittens and hat. A slight wisp of a girl begins visiting their home, Mabel convinced that this is the snow-child they had built. Faina comes in and out of their lives, on her own terms for many years--away to the mountains in the summer heat, re-appearing in the coldest blizzards. Mabel and Jack forge a strong partnership in the hardships of farming in the Alaskan wilderness, and find Faina to be the child they never had. The ending is strange but not unexpected, but left me with a lot of questions --did she slip away on her own, what about the wolverine, was she dissatisfied with her new life, or really ill?

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg

Since our Israel trip in April, I am trying to be more aware of Jewish thought and background as I read the words of Jesus. Lots of "hidden" meanings, from the Jewish culture that are a little harder for Christian/Westerners to understand. Lois hits several of Jesus' parables and responses to the Sanhedrin to help us "get" where Jesus was coming from. She begins with the Shema-what we recited with our fellow travelers every morning before hitting the various sites. LOVE:"ahavah" is the Hebrew word that goes beyond emotions and mental thought-loving is action. Loving our enemies isn't just attempting to feel better about them, it is DOING for them."Hessed" is to love as God loved -eternal/enduring/forgiving. She interestingly also developed what Jesus meant in Mt 6:22-23 about "healthy eyes" or having a "good eye" -- it is in passage about money and God's provision. She believes it means "what is your primary motivation in life?" To have a bad eye is to cling to the little that we have, a good eye is to be radically convinced that God will provide, thus the fruit is a generous attitude- a "good eye" towards others. Another great chapter was on judging, something that I struggle with --but in Jewish thought, Jesus taught in Luke 6:38 that we should let our scales of justice fall past the balance point, bestowing on others a little more than they deserve. Wow -- Christians really miss that. I personally see this in judging drivers (jerk)/ slow clerks/ people who make stupid choices/etc. -- The idea is extending grace --"making excuses" for bad behavior, judging in their favor. One last Jewish word "lashon hara" is vices of the tongue- gossip/slander/ malicious speech. Yikes --we commit this even when we don't speak - the rolling of our eyes. The practice of telling negatives about others that are unnecessary and damaging/bullying/humiliating others. Good read, lots to ponder.

Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly

The author did a great job of re-telling the Kennedy story. Starting at the inauguration in 1960, he weaves between the journey of John Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald, until their paths collide in November 1963. Lots of photos and reminders of that day so well remembered when I was in 7th grade English class. So many details that I was not aware of: that Kennedy faced major issues in his 3 years (Bay of Pigs/ Vietnam War heating up/ beginning of racial tensions), that LBJ was not a favorite of John nor Bobby, that Jackie crawled on the back of the sedan to gather fragments of her husband's shattered skull, that the president was held up by a stiff back brace (had he not worn that,he may have not been hit by the second bullet), that Jackie visited Onassis's boat shortly after her baby died (and married him a few years later), that the President was warned not to visit Dallas by MANY people, that the motorcade route disregarded all the rules previously set by the Secret Service. Book Club had an extensive discussion, very enjoyable. This was a much easier read than Killing Lincoln, and extremely interesting.

The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen

Quite a unique main character, based off a true re-telling of Daniel's life. Raised in a strict Christian home, he heads to the university and begins to connect with others who have totally different backgrounds and philosophies. For a time, he pours himself into agencies that work with the homeless and poor. He travels many places to assist others, all the while mulling over the inequities in our government systems and wondering how he can truly live in harmony with his developing beliefs. At almost 50 years of age, he finds a place to live in Colorado, among other like-minded people who want to live without government interference. He determines that to really be like Jesus, he needs to quit the whole commercial/consumer dependence on financial institutions. The story reviews his past, his unique ways of living--in a cave, dumpster diving, off the land, off people who gift him with goods & rides. Many parts of the book were so unusual that it was difficult to understand his deep felt passion to not get caught up in the success, "desire for more" mentality that plagues America. Though he thinks he is being true to Jesus in this area, other parts of his life do not reflect what it means to be a true follower of Christ (stealing-begging) yet there is a part of me that admires how he continually strives to live off the land, not to leave a "footprint", and to help others like him. In many conversations, he has blended several religious leaders (Buddha/ Daly Lama/Mother Teresa) into his new way of thinking. Interesting and thought provoking.