Amazing, Engaging Read

Seven years ago I signed up for my first marathon. While training for this marathon, I found a lot of correlation between a Christian walk and training. You can plan for something to go one way (in life or a training run) but once you get there, it may be completely different. Will you give up or push through. I will never forget our first ten mile training run. Every Saturday we had a group run but three of us came an hour after the rest of the team because of a scheduling issue with one of us. Our ten mile run was at the end of July or first of August in Tennessee and we decided that instead of doing an out and back course we were going to park a second car at the ten mile point and run a point to point run. We got out and started the run and things went pretty well for the first half of the run but then we got out of the shade and into the direct sunlight. Because we were running a point to point, after mile 5 we also lost our water stops. It was a tough second five miles. We were all struggling but we pushed through and we made it. Then we got to the car that we had parked and found the keys had been locked inside (thankfully we had someone who had an extra set of keys who could come let us in). Yes life gets rough but are you going to throw in the towel and quit or are you going to press towards the finish line and meeting your goals.

In Chasing Hope, author Kathryn Cushman uses one of her main character’s shattered dreams as a platform for overcoming disappointment. Sabrina Rice knew at a young age that her goal in life was to be a runner and for six years she did exactly that. Then a life changing health problem made it impossible for her to run. Ten years later, as Sabrina is finishing her final year of college, she sees Brandy Phillip running away from a security officer on campus. She hasn’t seen anyone run like that in a while. Through a series of circumstances, Sabrina is asked to coach Brandy who has a history of problems. Sabrina doesn’t want to do and is certain that Brandy will disappoint her.

Chasing Hope is a story of second chances. It’s the story of letting go of the past and looking to God for His future plans for you. It’s a story of redemption and a story of friendship. It’s a story of finishing what you started no matter how you may falter along the way. I had tears in my eyes during parts of this book but they were good tears. I highly recommend this beautiful book.

I would give this book 4.5 out 5 stars

****Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free eCopy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. I was not compensated in any way for either a positive or a negative review