Review of Chronicles Journey Toward Hope
Posted: 19 Sep 2021, 14:10
[Following is a volunteer review of "Chronicles Journey Toward Hope" by Marvin Wilmes.]
“The struggle of man begins at birth”.,(Ola Rotimi)this phrase from one of Ola Rotimi`s books gives a precise snap short of the author`s life experiences as narrated in this book.
Life’s journey comes with highs and lows that can either make or break us. The way the journey turns out or ends is dependent on the virtue you choose. Be it patience, long-suffering, or hope.
As humans, we each devise a coping mechanism that we hope is sustainable particularly when we come face to face with challenges that threaten to throw us off balance. One important factor in the survival of these struggles is subject to what you rely on to supply the reinforcement needed to carry on. The knowledge of the existence of a supernatural being that is ever-present to lead us through these hardships remains paramount as clearly depicted by the author.
Marvin Wilmes's book, Chronicles: Journey Towards Hope is an excellent reiteration of the importance and benefits of having a relationship with God, in believing and trusting his guidance and lead.
As a reader, you will be encouraged to carry on even in the midst of difficulties to trust your own strength and judgment because of the power that is backing you.
This book is a narration of Marvin Wilmes life`s experiences and challenges. To start with, was the passing of his beloved mother to Colon cancer, which he later discovered ran in his mother’s family; having lost an Aunt many years earlier as mentioned in the book. Other challenges ranged from his personal life to his family (both primary, extended, and his work life).
The loss of his mother was a big blow because it changed his life in many ways as the story progressed. He went from being a child to an adult (forcefully) because he became the caretaker of other members of his family. In the person of his father and other siblings. Though his relationship with his father wasn’t at its best, that did not stop him from carrying out his responsibilities to him until the tail end of the book, where the relationship completely broke down as a result of the change in the family dynamics brought on by the father`s marriage to Fran.
The author`s faith and relationship with God did not wane despite the continuous loss of other dear family members and his many struggles in the area of work and finding love.
Resilience is one major lesson that anyone that reads this book is sure to take with them. Loss does not stop God from carrying on with his plans and purpose for our lives, we have to align. The story confirms this when Lori came into the picture. The author had had much disappointment with women and was almost giving up when Lori came into the scene and ended been the perfect fit for him both in his business life, faith and family even though it seemed unlikely that a relationship will be birth when they first met.
The book is loaded with important lessons that are necessary for success in life and in our work with God as believers. You don’t necessarily have to have lost a loved one or be a believer in the Almighty God to benefit from this read. An interesting thing of note is how the author included phrases both from the Bible and other authors to introduce each chapter. One example of this we see in Chapter five (Jeremiah 29:11) is quoted in the book. A few of the positives to take away from this book are as follows.
The author did a good job with regards to how he points to the place of faith through the journey of a loss and in the face of uncertainties.
Another positive is that he brought to light the spiral effect of not addressing pain and grieve as required. This is an important takeaway lesson for the readers.
In totality, it is interesting how the author was able to tell his life`s story surrounding bereavement and the new beginnings that it brings. This I believe anyone with similar experience can relate with. An example is the impact the re-marrying of the author's father had on the lives of the children.
The negative that I might say about this book is the fact every chapter had an introduction of new characters, which made it a bit of a challenge keeping track of all the characters. Secondly, there wasn’t much said about how the many losses affected the wife Lori, particularly the miscarriage.
All in all, the book is a good read and brings the reader closer to the existence of God and his interest in our lives. I give a rating of 3 out of 4 for this book.
******
Chronicles Journey Toward Hope
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“The struggle of man begins at birth”.,(Ola Rotimi)this phrase from one of Ola Rotimi`s books gives a precise snap short of the author`s life experiences as narrated in this book.
Life’s journey comes with highs and lows that can either make or break us. The way the journey turns out or ends is dependent on the virtue you choose. Be it patience, long-suffering, or hope.
As humans, we each devise a coping mechanism that we hope is sustainable particularly when we come face to face with challenges that threaten to throw us off balance. One important factor in the survival of these struggles is subject to what you rely on to supply the reinforcement needed to carry on. The knowledge of the existence of a supernatural being that is ever-present to lead us through these hardships remains paramount as clearly depicted by the author.
Marvin Wilmes's book, Chronicles: Journey Towards Hope is an excellent reiteration of the importance and benefits of having a relationship with God, in believing and trusting his guidance and lead.
As a reader, you will be encouraged to carry on even in the midst of difficulties to trust your own strength and judgment because of the power that is backing you.
This book is a narration of Marvin Wilmes life`s experiences and challenges. To start with, was the passing of his beloved mother to Colon cancer, which he later discovered ran in his mother’s family; having lost an Aunt many years earlier as mentioned in the book. Other challenges ranged from his personal life to his family (both primary, extended, and his work life).
The loss of his mother was a big blow because it changed his life in many ways as the story progressed. He went from being a child to an adult (forcefully) because he became the caretaker of other members of his family. In the person of his father and other siblings. Though his relationship with his father wasn’t at its best, that did not stop him from carrying out his responsibilities to him until the tail end of the book, where the relationship completely broke down as a result of the change in the family dynamics brought on by the father`s marriage to Fran.
The author`s faith and relationship with God did not wane despite the continuous loss of other dear family members and his many struggles in the area of work and finding love.
Resilience is one major lesson that anyone that reads this book is sure to take with them. Loss does not stop God from carrying on with his plans and purpose for our lives, we have to align. The story confirms this when Lori came into the picture. The author had had much disappointment with women and was almost giving up when Lori came into the scene and ended been the perfect fit for him both in his business life, faith and family even though it seemed unlikely that a relationship will be birth when they first met.
The book is loaded with important lessons that are necessary for success in life and in our work with God as believers. You don’t necessarily have to have lost a loved one or be a believer in the Almighty God to benefit from this read. An interesting thing of note is how the author included phrases both from the Bible and other authors to introduce each chapter. One example of this we see in Chapter five (Jeremiah 29:11) is quoted in the book. A few of the positives to take away from this book are as follows.
The author did a good job with regards to how he points to the place of faith through the journey of a loss and in the face of uncertainties.
Another positive is that he brought to light the spiral effect of not addressing pain and grieve as required. This is an important takeaway lesson for the readers.
In totality, it is interesting how the author was able to tell his life`s story surrounding bereavement and the new beginnings that it brings. This I believe anyone with similar experience can relate with. An example is the impact the re-marrying of the author's father had on the lives of the children.
The negative that I might say about this book is the fact every chapter had an introduction of new characters, which made it a bit of a challenge keeping track of all the characters. Secondly, there wasn’t much said about how the many losses affected the wife Lori, particularly the miscarriage.
All in all, the book is a good read and brings the reader closer to the existence of God and his interest in our lives. I give a rating of 3 out of 4 for this book.
******
Chronicles Journey Toward Hope
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon