When my wife and I shop at our local Costco warehouse store, our routine is always the same; Penny takes the cart and gathers up what we need while I adjourn to the book tables to look over what new titles have arrived.
On two recent trips I came across two paperback releases that caught my eye. Both books deal with spiritual topics which I find myself drawn to more and more after spending a few years as an active daily family caregiver.
The first book was written by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent entitled, Heaven is for Real. It was published and released late in 2010 by Thomas Nelson of Nashville, Tennessee. As of early May 2011, this book has remained upon the New York Times Best Seller list for 25 weeks.
This book will have appeal to all of those of us who believe in a supreme creator, of the hereafter, forgiveness and redemption and the eternal longevity of spiritual love.
It is a true story based upon the near death experiences of a 4 year old boy named Colton Burpo, the son of the author, Todd Burpo. While undergoing an emergency operation for a ruptured appendix, Colton later reported to his stunned parents of his visit to heaven including the spirits he met of family members past, angels, Jesus and God. Over the weeks and months following Colton’s surgery, Colton disclosed to his parents bits and pieces of the wonders and joys that he witnessed and experienced.
Colton’s story will definitely change the way some folks have thought about dying, eternity and our spiritual Source. For others, it will reinforce and reinvigorate the beliefs they have always held about heaven, the teachings of the Bible and the spiritual joy that awaits them.
The second book, written by William Paul Young, is entitled, The Shack. It’s available in paperback and is a steal at $4.49 a copy. Released in 2007, and intended to be shared originally just among the author’s children, word of it’s prayer like message spread prompting a growing grassfire demand for copies of it. As of June 2011, The Shack has sold over 10 million copies and made it to #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. I remember seeing and hearing all the buzz about The Shack when it first came out in hardcover but paid no attention to it until now.
The Shack, a work of fiction, is a story about Mackenzie Allen Phillips and his family; the loss of one of his children to a violent crime, his own depressed and demoralized health as a result of the incident and the eventual spiritual healing and redemption that awaits him for his sins, judgments and behavior.
Both books served to validate my own long held beliefs in a spiritual Source, of life after our time has been spent here in “Earth School” and of a loving and inspiring Creator waiting to become reacquainted with us all.
Both books provided comfort and reinforcement in my work as a caregiver. Though caregiving requires a substantial amount of selfless giving of your time to another person, it is the very doing of this kind of work that will eventually bring grace and a purpose fulfilled in your life.
I recommend that you get down to Costco, Border’s Books or Amazon.com to purchase a copy of each of these books.
Jeff Dodson
June 29th 2011
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