The chapter, “When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll” in Peace
Like A River, explained an instant that occurred in the past of Reuben’s
dad. He was being fired and
humiliated in front of his son and other children in the elementary
school. By reading this chapter,
we can tell that Reuben dislikes Mr. Holgren (dad’s boss) and believes that he
is an injustice of a man. Mr.
Holgren accused Reuben’s dad of being drunk at work which sounds very opposite
of anything he would do. After Mr.
Holgren was done accusing him and firing him, dad went right up to Mr.
Holgren’s face and slapped it.
Reuben saw it. His dad had
healed Mr. Holgren’s face into a beautiful, young, radiant looking person. Dad had healed the man that fired him
and treated him so poorly. Reuben
did not think it was fair.
This
chapter confirmed a few thoughts I had towards the dad. As the book is being read, I am
starting to see many instances in which dad performs miracles and am seeing
that he has a deep relationship with God by his actions and his character. This particular instance in this
chapter really shows an act of love.
Not only did he forgive his boss for treating him so poorly, he healed
his face into a “skin of a healthy tan, a hale blush spread over cheekbones
that suddenly held definition; above his eyes the shine of constant seepage had
vanished, and light lay at rest upon his brow.” This really relates to me personally in the way I want to
view my “enemies.” I should not
only love them, but also offer them something that they do not have.
It
is interesting to me the way Reuben responds to the miracle. He does not believe that the way dad
acted towards his enemy showed justice.
Why would Reuben even care so much when this was really nothing to do
with him personally? This was his
dad’s issue and his choice to respond back to Mr. Holgren in love. I think that this made me reflect on
the way I sometimes get upset when people are doing well when they do not seem
to even have a good relationship with God. It just does not seem fair. My mindset needs to keep away from myself and always look
for the best in the other person.
