North of Hope by Shannon Polson

North of Hope by Shannon Polson

“I’m sorry to tell you this,” said the voice, “but a bear came into their campsite last night…”  These are the words that told her that her father and step-mother, who had left not long ago for an adventure in Alaska, would never return.

The grief and the loss led to trip to Alaska with her brother and his girlfriend, all done to try to relive what was experienced in their dad’s last days, as well as come to an understanding to explain this sudden and permanent separation.

Leaning on her memories, and looking at her dad’s life and her own life, she somehow feels that walking their steps, traveling down the same river, and visiting the campsite that became so final for her dad and his wife, will bring her peace.

Through the pain and loss, this book deals with one person’s difficult wrestling with the death of a loved one.  Her travels through Alaska paint a lovely picture of the surrounding nature, the people and their history, and the coming to terms with the relationships in her life. 

While her faith doesn’t play a large part in the story, I feel as though the author’s participation in a Mass where she performs Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D must have fed her spirit, or she would not have focused on it as a part of the story.  God uses many things in our lives to help us through the loss of one we love.  These are the things that helped Ms. Polson through hers.

Book Review

I prayed a lot while reading Bold as Love, by Pastor Bob Roberts.  When I saw that the book was dealing with loving your neighbor, I thought it would be a simple adjustment, such as praying for our enemies as we are also told to do.  But what I found was a challenge I was not ready to deal with and I planted my feet firmly in the dirt and said, "No way."

We can all admit that 9/11 changed our lives.  It has made us more fearful of what tomorrow may bring, or even moreso, what our unknown neighbors might bring.  As a Christian, I have never had a problem accepting the Jewish faith and/or praying for them and for Jerusalem.  But Pastor Bob Roberts has challenged me more.  He wants me to love my Muslim neighbors.  What???  He can't be serious!!  They killed people, husbands, fathers, mothers, daughters, etc., and I watched them dancing in the streets cheering and happy that it had been done.  Okay, I'll pray for them, but love them????  Wow!!!  He can't mean it.

But as I continued to read, I saw that his heart was truly in showing Christ's love to these people who had NOT brought that pain upon us and who were willing to open up to the Christian leadership and allow themselves to be loved by us.  And he took it one step further...he brought in the Jewish faith also.  There they were in one place, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, together, in love.  And as I felt touched by this accomplishment, I was able to admit that he was right and I asked for forgiveness for my stubbornness.

To not love them means I live in judgment and, even more, in fear.  So this book has shown me how to throw the judgment aside and face the fear head on.  If everyone who reads this book will implement just one thing that Pastor Roberts has demonstrated in this book, the world will be one step closer to showing the love of Christ to our neighbors.  The rest will happen according to God's will for us.  After all, we are told that to obey is better than sacrifice.  So now I will take that first step toward completely loving my neighbor.  Pray for me as I do so, that my old feelings will not creep in and that the love of Christ will be all that they see.  And I will pray for you.  God Bless You as you go forth in love.