A Book Review And A Glimpse Into My Thoughts

 

Have you read this book? I just finished it last night actually. The back reads:

 

When Kathleen and her husband, Tony, pack up and fly off to New Zealand for Tony's three-month film job, Kathleen discovers more than her geography has flip-flopped. In the land down under, comfort food comes in a jar labeled "Vegemite," gardens sprout hobbit statues, and, if you're not careful you just might venture into the Chocolate Fish cafe with feathers in your hair.

Of course, the feathers could open up a conversation with fellow diner Jill, also a California girl and an instant SISTERCHICK. Together they take in a performance at the Sydney Opera House in Australia; hold "hands" with a mama kangaroo and greet her in-pocket joey; watch dolphins surf the New Zealand waves; and discover that, in a topsy-turvy land where "Bob's your uncle" is a statement that actually makes sense, one's heart is likely to fall head over heels into a deeper sense of God's love.

 

I'll be honest. This book was a slow starter for me. But to be frank, I had just received a huge blow to "my plans" and I'm not one to handle change well (like the main character of this book). I basically started the book to distract myself. But once the 'I Love Lucy' type antics started the book became a much more enjoyable read. I give it seven out of ten stars (and that's only because I reserve the higher awards for only the best of the best of the best!)

 

Robin Jones Gunn books always have some kind of 'lesson' as well (most books do I guess) and this book was no different. During her time in New Zealand Kathy (as her new SISTERCHICK renamed her) spends some time learning lessons. One of her devotions that she reads is from the book of Ephesian in chapter 5. Her version (I'm sorry not sure which one it is) reads: 'Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.' That verse gets her thinking about how she spent the previous part of her life. Had she ever truly loved anyone extravagantly; God or otherwise? And after many experiences she decides for herself that what God wants for her is to love God (extravagantly) and love people (extravagantly) and that those were the most important things in life.

 

Now that lesson was "nice" and "cutely put in fiction terms" however when I went to church on Wednesday and the verses were read for what the message was about, I had to start to wonder if God had planned this out and if it was some kind of a message for me. The verse were: Mark 12: 28-34.

 

²⁸ One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. ³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
³² The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. ³³ And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
³⁴ Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

God wants us to Love him and love people! I'm far from perfect and right now I even struggle to love people in my own family. In fact I would go so far as to say that I have been hurt so many times that it is hard for me to love others. It is hard but God still asks it of me. I guess I will have to work on it. My ramblings are done for the day. Thanks for reading.

 

-erin-