Chasing Hope by Kathyrn Cushman | Mary-andering Creatively

A Book Review by Mary Hill

Goodreads Summary:

A talented runner fully committed to Olympic dreams, Sabrina Rice’s future was shattered by a devastating diagnosis. One forfeited scholarship and several years later, she has new goals and dreams that have nothing to do with running–something that’s become far too painful to think on. Until the day she sees Brandy Philip running across the community college campus, easily outpacing security. Sabrina immediately recognizes world-class speed, and it’s all the more painful that it belongs to a teenage graffiti artist. When a chance encounter brings the two young women together, Sabrina becomes Brandy’s best hope for staying out of juvenile hall. Soon, Sabrina begins to feel an uncomfortable nudge that her new life is just about to be toppled…that God may be calling her to minister to this talented but troubled girl.

My Thoughts and Review:

I identified with the main character, Sabrina, because of her illness. In 2010, I too had to give up a calling I thought was from God, being a school librarian. Working as a partner with classroom teachers, I helped children develop a love for reading and learning.

Ironically, my diagnosis with systemic arthritis came in 1999 just as started my librarian career. I left journalism looking for a job with more opportunities and yes, better pay. Just like Sabrina loved running and could feel the call of God in her life with every mile, I felt His calling every time I read books to my students.

Sabrina had to give up on her dream though, and so did I. The struggle to keep going overwhelmed me and by 2010 after dropping encyclopedias and overheads because my fingers just couldn’t seem to hold them; I called it quits. I was a walking bruise because I kept dropping things on my feet. After taking disability, I went through a great depression in 2010 and 2011 because I had no direction. I stayed at home by myself day in and out. I felt like a waste. My weight continued to bloom, and quite frankly, I stopped taking care of myself.

Then I found new direction. Blogging since February, I have also found a new lease on life and inspiration seems to keep coming from all directions, and I am once again “Chasing Hope.”

Sabrina found new hope too in Brandy, the juvenile delinquent who could run like the wind. They met because of their grandmothers and a court order. At first, Sabrina resented Brandy. She hated that God have given her so much talent and that Brandy wasted that talent and did not even appreciate it. It just didn’t seem fair. On top of that Sabrina illness puts her in the hospital, jeopardizing the progress that she and Brandy have made. Both have major decisions and hurdles to overcome in this story, and the question becomes will they find faith in God and in each other to find their true paths and callings?

I love a book that inspires you to think and dig deeper. This one does. It reaffirms that God has a purpose for us. He knows his thoughts toward us (Jeremiah 29: 11), and His thoughts and plans involve what is best for us: peace, good standing with Him and others, and blessings beyond compare. He wants us to experience pure love: the giving and the receiving.

Do you want to learn more about Kathyrn Cushman? Check out her Goodreads bio and page at: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/647654.Kathryn_Cushman

Disclaimer: I received no payment for this review although I did receive a free hardcopy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a good review.

Comments

Sarah Leonard says

October 2, 2013 at 1:05 pm

I love this post and it’s clear you took some solace from the book itself. It’s good to get to know a little more of your story and what brought you to blogging. I’m glad it has been a positive experience for you.

Also – is your header image new? I love your little book reading kitty and can’t imagine how I didn’t notice it before 🙂

Thanks for linking up!

Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts