{"id":35235,"date":"2018-08-17T22:35:48","date_gmt":"2018-08-18T02:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=35235"},"modified":"2018-08-17T22:35:48","modified_gmt":"2018-08-18T02:35:48","slug":"review-of-everything-happens-for-a-reason-and-other-lies-ive-loved-by-kate-bowler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=35235","title":{"rendered":"Review of Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved, by Kate Bowler"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Everything Happens for a Reason<\/p>\n

And Other Lies I\u2019ve Loved<\/em><\/p>\n

by Kate Bowler<\/p>\n

Random House, 2018. 178 pages.<\/p>\n

I approached this book with some trepidation. Although I do not, in fact, believe that \u201ceverything happens for a reason\u201d \u2013 I do believe that \u201cAll things work for the good of those who love God.\u201d I believe tthat God can and will bring good out of even terrible things. So would my faith be shaken by reading this book?<\/p>\n

No, my faith was not shaken. But I got a lesson in what not to say to someone going through a terrible trial.<\/p>\n

Kate Bowler wrote this book while undergoing treatments for stage IV colon cancer at thirty-five years old. She was supposed to die very soon after diagnosis \u2013 but ended up in the 3% who have a type that was being studied for a new treatment. (I checked \u2013 She is still alive in August 2018. Though she does say that the doctors were not expecting to cure her.)<\/p>\n

Kate is a historian who studies the prosperity gospel in America. So she has a lot to say about getting cancer in that setting.<\/p>\n

She takes the reader with her on her journey of trying to live with this. I liked the part where she explained that she took up swearing for Lent. She tells what various people say to her \u2013 most of it unhelpful but also about friends who come alongside.<\/p>\n

I also liked the part where she explained that at the worst time, she felt God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n

It seemed too odd and too simplistic to say what I knew to be true \u2013 that when I was sure I was going to die, I didn\u2019t feel angry. I felt loved.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reading this, I was struck that we each have our own story. Yes, we can find meaning in our story \u2013 but we\u2019re being presumptuous to try to explain to someone else the meaning in their story.<\/p>\n

Her two appendices in the back are especially helpful. The first is things not to say to people experiencing terrible times. The second is things you might try saying (such as, May I bring you a meal?<\/em>). Here\u2019s how she feels about being told, \u201cEverything happens for a reason\u201d:<\/p>\n

The only thing worse than saying this is pretending that you know the reason. I\u2019ve had hundreds of people tell me the reason for my cancer. Because of my sin. Because of my unfaithfulness. Because God is fair. Because God is unfair. Because of my aversion to Brussel sprouts. I mean, no one is short of reasons. So if people tell you this, make sure you are there when they go through the cruelest moments of their lives, and start offering your own. When someone is drowning, the only thing worse than failing to throw them a life preserver is handing them a reason.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

katebowler.com<\/a>
\nrandomhousebooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Nonfiction\/everything_happens_for_a_reason.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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