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Book
Review |
What
if God were the Sun?
By
Debbie Ellison
“What
if God Were the Sun?” is the
haunting question asked by John Edward in
his fictional account of the life of Timothy
Callahan, an Italian-American from a close-knit
family who struggles with living and dying.
The author of What if God Were the
Sun?, John Edward, is a psychic
medium and the host of the television series
“Crossing Over With John Edward”
on the Sci-Fi Channel. Although Edward
claims to communicate with those who have
crossed over, there is controversy in the
mainstream media over whether his claims
are legitimate.
Edward's
first novel reflects his beliefs about dying
that he has learned through his work, and
is worth reading. If you're looking for
compelling writing, find another author,
but if you're ready to embark on a heartwarming
spiritual encounter with a man searching
for the meaning of God, the message is worth
hearing.
The
book explores the life of the main character,
Tim Callahan, from his eighth birthday to
his death. As a child, he struggles with
the reality of death versus his fear and
confusion about what death really is. When
he is eight years old, several close family
members die, his Grandma Rosie, his Uncle
Clyde, and his beloved Golden Retriever
Chester. His grandmother always told him,
“God is the Sun, Timmy,” but she
never explained what she meant. She simply
told him that she had discussed it with
his mother, and when the time was right,
his mother would discuss it with him.
That
“time” arrives the night before
his ninth birthday party. When his mother
has a heart-to-heart talk with him, he tells
her how much he misses his loved ones who
have died and how he often dreams of them.
His mother tells him that dreaming of them
is a gift from God. He then asks his mother
the long-anticipated question, what did
his grandmother mean when she said, “God
is the Sun.”
His
mother explains Grandma's secret, why God
is the Sun, a beautiful explanation of God's
goodness, magnitude, and presence in our
lives, how God watches over us and is always
with us.
When
describing nighttime, his mother tells him
not to be afraid of the darkness. “You
see, when God, the Sun, is shining His warmth
on the other parts of our planet, the gift
He gives us is the moon. God leaves it there
as a placeholder, a reminder, a way to let
us know that He's still present, watching
over us and protecting us while we sleep
- and most important, to remind us that
He'll be back the next day.”
The
book takes the reader on Tim's spiritual
journey from childhood through his own death,
a moving account of Edward's spiritual
beliefs and explorations. At his death,
Tim confirms, “It was my time to leave,
to go home.”
The
book explores loving and living as well
as grieving and dying. It offers us hope
that our loved ones are never lost to us,
that they and God are always with us. And
in the end, Tim realizes that what his mother
and grandmother taught him about dying is
indeed true, as he experiences the spiritual
bliss of his own death.
What
If God Were the Sun? is a quick
read and well worth a few hours of your
time. After all, finding out why God is
the Sun will move as well as inspire you.
Tim and his family know. Now, it's time
for you to find out.
Debbie
Ellison is a freelance writer and owner
of Write-On Word Processing & Transcription
in Roswell, GA. She can be reached at 770.641.6564,
write-on@mindspring.com. |