During my flight from Fargo to Chicago for Christmas vacation, I finished reading the book “Heaven is for Real” written by Todd Burpo. It’s the first book I’ve read for pleasure in a long time. College has a tendency to take the desire of pleasure reading away quite quickly; maybe not the desire, but definitely the time it takes to read a book that’s not due next Tuesday. Since I’m now a part of the less-than-MTV-glamorous “Real World: Fargo/Moorhead” cast, books have regained their appeal.

I first saw this book on Amazon. I read the summary and was intrigued. It’s a story of a four year old boy who was on his deathbed at the hospital. Miraculously, he regains his health. The next year, while on a family trip, he (nonchalantly) brings up meeting Jesus in Heaven. Yep, no big deal. Just hung out with Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, and the Grandpa he never met. WHAT? Yeah. So, I bought the book and immediately began reading.

Margot’s Faith-Journey Tangent: Growing up (and especially in High School), I was very involved in the church. I was a part of the High School choir “Eagle’s Wings”, participated in many choir and non-choir mission trips -locally and globally, mentored Jr. High kids… Basically, if I wasn’t home or in extra curricular activities, I was at church. When I went to College at Concordia, I thought my faith would be strengthened and I would continue with life as I knew it. Well, things changed, I changed. I won’t say it was for the worse or better. Life just happened to move in a different direction. I didn’t lose my faith, but I was not regularly involved in any local church or campus ministry besides Chapel Choir. Church wasn’t as easy as it once was. Life wasn’t as easy.

Finding myself in a post-college world is, in one word: interesting. I’m excited for my future. I’m unsure of my future and am okay with it. I’m figuring out who I am – now in this moment. I didn’t know it at the time of purchase, but after reading this book, my faith has been somewhat strenghtened; even if just by a tiny bit.

It was fascinating hearing from a child about the immense wonder of the after-life; how simple the answers are for some of the most challenging questions.

I’m not saying this book will bring you all the answers of life, or your world will be flipped upside down, or you will convert to Christianity in an instant. I’m simply saying, for me, this book brought some peace to my questioning soul and redirection to my wandering heart.

~Margot