Reach Out In Hope
Dancing In The Rain by Jennifer Slattery and Eileen Hinkle Rife is the most wonderful and heartfelt contemporary Christian romance.
The book deals with the themes of grace, forgiveness and new life. It has the motifs of darkness and light. Darkness may be literal, as the lead character is blind. Or it may be spiritual darkness as characters stumble in the darkness before coming to know Jesus, the light of the world.
In Jesus we can all have a new beginning, the old is gone, the new is here. We need to leave our past in the past in order to move forwards. “It was time to leave his past… in the past… and grab hold of the new life Christ had offered him.”
There are themes of guilt and forgiveness. Past actions may mean that we live with guilt. Guilt is unhelpful. We must forgive ourselves.
This links to grace. “His father didn’t deserve grace.” No one deserves grace. It is a gift freely given. And we should not be judging anyone, that is God’s job. Ours is to love.
Faith in God and trust in Him go hand in hand. “Oh Lord, just once, I wish you’d give me a glimpse at your five year plan.” If we knew the future, there would be no need for faith or trust.
Faith is the opposite of fear. If we have faith, we need not fear.”Faith isn’t the absence of fear but a determined trust despite it.”
Prayer is important. “Some battles could only be fought through prayer.” Prayer can accomplish more than we can imagine. ” ‘How will you find her?’… ‘I’ll pray my way to her.’ ”
The God of the Bible spoke through dreams. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The novel shows how God still speaks through dreams.
Some of the descriptions really ‘spoke’ to me, enabling me to ‘see’ the characters. “The cavernous voice, the color of wheat.” Jennifer Slattery and Eileen Hinkle Rife really are masters of the descriptive word.
There are the difficult topics of domestic abuse, alcoholism and anger. All are sensitively tackled. They all have triggers in the past and consequences in the present and future. Domestic abuse is hard to watch play out. The reader ‘understands’ where the victim is coming from, whilst realising the need to get out and get to safety.
There is also the topic of mental illness. It is briefly touched on but has far reaching consequences.
We all need a Savior. The Good News is that no one is too far from God’s reach. “Jesus is an equal opportunity Savior.”
As an animal lover, I loved the inclusion of guide dog John Thompson. He took on his own personality and found his way into my heart.
The characters were all wonderfully drawn. I really ‘felt’ that I knew them all intimately.
Dancing In The Rain had some beautiful relationships which were a joy to watch develop. It was a wonderful read and I am now missing my new found friends.
A delightful read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON