A New Beginning
Being Alice: In A World Lost In The Looking Glass by Michele Olson is a very charming Christian historical novel set in 1981 on Mackinac Island. It is the third book in the Mackinac Island series but can be read as a stand-alone.
I am enjoying reading this series in order as each book is set in the following year, starting in 1979. The reader knows the back story to the characters. Each book focuses on a new leading couple.
This is a book that tells the reader the importance of knowing Jesus and how to draw near to Him. “Their experience is not about religion, but about relationship.” Jesus is not interested in knowing how well we can follow rules. He just wants us to let Him into out hearts. “He [Jesus] asks everyone to come as you are.” We do not need to change and then come to Jesus. We need to come to Jesus and then change will follow.
We all have a Jesus-shaped hole in our heart that only He can fill. “No person can ever fill up that hole in the heart.” Stuff will never satisfy. Only Jesus satisfies.
When we know Jesus, we want to live lives that reflect His heart. “Act like people who follow Jesus and practice kindness and love in our lives.” People will be drawn to Jesus by watching how we live.
Firm foundations are needed. “I start everyday by reading… my Bible.” When we know God’s word, we are able to stand firm when life is tough, and recall His promises.
A character has fears. “I don’t think I’m important enough for God to worry about.” God loves each and everyone of us as if it was only us in the world.
“We look to the Lord for direction.” When we don’t know what to do next, we can ask God and He will answer. “When you are doing what God laid out for you to do, you have a peace through any circumstance.”
We see that true beauty is nothing to do with appearance and everything to do with the state of our hearts. “My friend Sister Mary-Margaret. She’s the one that showed me the real me, which has nothing to do withy what you look like.”
We are never too late to come to Jesus and have a new beginning.
Being Alice was such a delightful novel and full of godly truths.
JULIA WILSON
