The Gardener Is Waiting
The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano is an enchanting Christian historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The novel is written with elements of traditional story telling interspersed with actual historical figures. Over everything, God awaits, with His love and His heart calling each and every one of us.
Much of the book revolves around a garden. The reader recalls the Garden of Eden where God walked with Adam and Eve in His creation. God lives in our hearts as we read “from somewhere deep within the core of him, where God dwelled.”
Sometimes life happens and we lose sight of God. “Regret was a poison that never left the bloodstream.” Letting regret live in our hearts is not good for us. Anything that takes our focus from God, needs to be got rid of.
When we have known God, there will always be that longing for Him. “I’d cried out to God, begged for Him, and felt nothing.” Just because we feel nothing, does not mean that God is not there. God works in our lives. He sends people across our paths to point the way to Him. “He [God] uses people at times to set things right.”
God can clearly be seen in some people. “He ushered in the presence of God wherever he went… where Gordon Makepiece was, there also was God.” We are called to preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary to use words.
Sometimes we do not recognize the longing we have for God, but others can see it in us. “You are looking for Him – God… I see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice… whether you know it or not.” We all have a God-shaped hole in our lives that only He can fill. “God has placed eternity in the hearts of men.”
Stories awaken our hearts, firing up our imaginations and providing an escape from reality. “Stories… wrapping themselves around me, muffling the hard edges of the world, enlivening my creativity.”
We need the light of God shining in our lives. “When a man is offered a small light in a pit of blackness, it becomes all he can see.” Even just a small chink of light is enough to defeat the darkness.
All the characters were well drawn and easy to imagine. I thoroughly enjoyed The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple. It was both entertaining and engaging. A good tale, through which the love of God was shining.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
