The River

It’s not often I come across a book highly recommended by both Andy Andrews and John C. Maxwell—authors I have learned a great deal from—so when I see that they mutually agree that a certain book will transform the reader’s perspective on life, I take note! Having finished reading The River by Michael Neale about a week ago, I concur with their predictions that this book would have an impact on me. Already I’ve seen that where I previously was more or less complacent I am now pursuing positive change. I am further developing God-given talents through music, meeting and interacting with new people, and taking big next steps in securing a more satisfying job. Is all this due to reading one little book? I’m not sure, but let me tell you about it.

Gabriel Clarke lived his childhood scared of The River and anything to do with water. Perhaps that’s because of the memory of a day he could not get out of his mind—the day he last saw his father, who saved the life of a kayaker at the expense of his own life. Young Gabriel was mad, “Wasn’t I more important than that reckless kayaker? Didn’t he deserve what was coming?” These thoughts plagued him and caused him to live in a shell for most of his childhood. His heart slowly changed over time, and one day Gabriel decided to accept a friend’s invitation to go on a rafting trip in Colorado—on the same river he and his dad had loved many years ago. It was there that he realized he was made for The River. It didn’t take much to convince him that his dead-end job of cleaning the Five and Dime store back in Kansas should not and could not hold him back from fulfilling his destiny at The River. Throughout his experiences that summer interacting with The River and the people who were also called to The River, Gabriel became a new man—a man who took hold of not who he was, but who he was destined to become.

While I enjoyed this novel at face value due to the gripping story that kept me up late at night and wishing my lunch break were longer, there is another level to this novel. In the narrative, the author stays away from most religiosity in the story, but when viewed as an allegory comparing The River to God and His ways, a lot of spiritual insight can be found. In fact, during the month leading up to the world-wide release of his book, Michael co-hosted a four-part sermon series at his church in Florida about the deeper meaning of what The River is. He reveals that “The River [God] is shaping everything in its path.” “The River [God] is alive and is moving all over the world.” “The world will not be the same because of [God] The River.” “When we’re with The River [God], we know it’s where we’re meant to be.” Gabriel truly found his life when he encountered The River. The same can ring true for you; just get in…all the way in!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “The River” through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.

Rudy—My Story

To get myself back in the practice of reading, I decided to pick a story that I could really get in to…one that I knew I would have a hard time putting it down. What better type of book than one about sports—particularly one about football?! The book I just read is more than the story of a kid who played football for one of the greatest collegiate teams ever, but about the determination that brought him to the point of getting to take the field…for all of 27 seconds in the final game of his senior season! The story is none other than Rudy Reuttiger, the dreamer who found a way into Notre Dame and whose hard work carried him to a place where people told him he would never get to go.

Daniel “Rudy” Reuttiger was one of 14 kids growing up in an industrial town outside Chicago in the 1950s. Nothing came easy for him, but Rudy was not a quitter. Despite his undiagnosed dyslexia, Rudy graduated from high school, completed a tour of duty in the Navy, and worked several jobs back at the power plant. His deep desire, however, was to attend Notre Dame and play on the football team. Through the help of key individuals and the determination to do his best, Rudy was able to fulfill his dreams. The book could have ended as he was carried off the field on his teammates’ shoulders (as it does in the movie version), but the real Rudy has more to tell. In “Rudy—My Story,” he talks about how the same persistence that was the backbone in his early life was essential years later in getting the blockbuster movie created. It’s actually quite remarkable that the film actually did get off the ground, considering how many obstacles had to be cleared away.

If you’re looking for a motivational read that inspires you to dream big and have faith that your dreams can happen, Rudy is proof positive that it doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “Rudy—My Story” through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.