Pursuit of Happiness

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Encounter

Book Review
The past often holds secrets that are too painful to be revealed, too deep to confess. A wealthy businessman travels to Fairbanks, Alaska, to learn why his mother abandoned him when he was a child, and in the process learns that not everything is as it appears to be.
The Encounter, the unique new book from best-selling author and counselor Stephen Arterburn, is a moving parable involving Jonathan Rush, a wealthy and famous entrepreneur, who is tortured by bitterness toward his mother who abandoned him when he was four. He travels to Alaska to find her but instead meets an enigmatic old woman known only as Mercy. Mercy has the information he needs but is strangely reluctant to talk to him. Somehow Jonathan must find a way to persuade a frightened woman to unlock the secrets of his past.
The book includes an invitation to the readers to verify the facts of their own stories, to accept the reality of their existence, especially the most painful ones, and to live in forgiveness. The end result is a healthy new way to look at life with an ability to share hope with others for the future. Healing is possible but requires truth, acceptance, and forgiveness, including of oneself.

My Review
The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn is a Christian fiction short story that takes place in modern day Alaska that teaches Jonathan "Gold" Rush the power of forgiveness. Jonathan never knew his mother who had abandoned him at age 4. Since then he had built up a resentment to her that had cost him many marriages and a happy life. He heads to his home town in Fairbanks to try and solve the mystery of who his mother is and heal the hurt that he suffered.
The book's narrative alternates between Jonathan and Ada Guthrie, Jonathan's mother who is struggling with the decision she made of abandoning her son. As I read this book, I found myself sympathizing with both Jonathan and Ada.

I would recommend this book to any book lover!

I received this book from BookSneeze for free in exchange for an honest review.