The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn

“How do you tear down a wall you’ve been building for most of your life? One brick at a time.”  In The Encounter, Stephen Arterburn shares a touching story about betrayal and forgiveness. Although this book is fiction, it was based off of real life events witnessed by the author himself. 

This story is about Jonathan “Gold” Rush; talented, successful, wealthy, but inside something is not right.  After three failed marriages and a suicide attempt, Jonathan goes and speaks with his pastor. The advice he was given; forgive his mother that abandoned him at the age of four. For Jonathan Rush, that was impossible, but something had to change or the hate and anger was going to destroy his life. So at his pastor’s request he travels home to Fairbanks, Alaska to try to locate his mother and somehow understand why she had abandoned him. He learns, in this search for someone he barely knew, that sometimes the things we remember are not exactly how things happened.  With the help of a humble lady named Mercy, Jonathan finds the courage to forgive and make things right with his mother.

Not only is this book about forgiving those that have hurt you; it is also about making amends and forgiving yourself for hurting others.

In many places while reading this book, it could have been me in these situations.  But when someone hurts us, we have to forgive and understand why they did what they did.  Only through forgiveness can we get past the hurt and lead a normal life where the anger and bitterness doesn’t rear up at inopportune times. 

As the author points out, maybe you are rich, able to give blessings to others or maybe you are the poor and can only receive another’s kindness.  But it is possible that you are the person in the middle of the chain of giving. Nobody knows your name but you are being used by God to channel blessings to his most loved children.  God is no respecter of persons, so no matter which one you are; you will be blessed as long as you follow God’s assignment for your life. Always remember to be quick to forgive and slow to anger. You are forgiving not as much for the other person as for your own well being.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has been hurt in the past.  It serves as a good reminder to all of us.  You can buy this book here.