Mindful of Him by Hollis Hughes - REVIEWED

About the Book:

Mindful of Him is a tale of heartbreak and triumph set in the 1950s. Separated from his young wife, and with both of his parents recently deceased, Rob McLain sets off on an adventure for which he has longed since childhood. Travel with Rob as his journey not only takes him to beautiful places, but also crosses his path with influential men who help him through his loneliness. Five months into the trip, Rob has a moonlight encounter that changes his life forever and overwhelmingly convinces this young skeptic that God is indeed mindful of him!
Through it all, he receives answers to life's deepest questions. What does he learn? What happens to his wife? Do they get back together? Does he make it back safely?

Find the answers to these questions and others dealing with faith, creation, nature, and more in Mindful of Him, which will keep you reading long after you had planned to turn out the lights. Mindful of Him was inspired by the writings of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, the giant of 20th Century Christian philosophers.
My Thoughts:

“When all we can imagine are grief and loneliness, looking so far ahead can be very frightening. When our right-nows are far more than we can handle, looking down the long road of the future can be terribly overwhelming.  Don’t try to take on a lifetime of despair all in one day – each day in its trun has enough of its own.  Try asking God to give you the strength to get through this day…tomorrow, ask Him to help you get through that day.”  (p. 243)

These words were meant for me, and I found them near the end of Hollis Hughes novel, Mindful of Him.  This is a story set amid the Depression, and the young couple at the center of an emotional, spiritual storm must find their way, day by day, through some very trying circumstances.  What do they discover? Ultimately, that God is with us, making Himself known to us, in very personal, intimate ways no matter how far and fast we try to run from Him.  I am so thankful for His patience, mercy and grace in my own life, that I was immediately drawn to these two young people trying to sort out some very trying circumstances.

I believe every young couple must sort through these very universal truths at some point in their marriage.  They must all face a time of decision, of trusting God instead of their own meager strength. I could really relate to the characters in this novel, and while the plot was not as complex as some I’ve encountered, the truth rings true and it touched me deeply.  How wonderful to be so loved, so pursued by God!  I hope you will enjoy this story as much as I did.

I am compelled to warn readers that there is some language that peppers the story. Not gratuitous, but it’s there.

About the Author:

On a cold February day in 1928, Hollis Hughes was born in a ramshackle house with no insulation, plumbing, or electricity. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression, Hollis spent his youth chopping wood, tending the family farm, milking cows, and tending to livestock. Following college graduation, Hollis worked as a high school teacher and counselor for 38 years, and operated a successful rhododendron nursery.
When Hollis’ wife developed Alzheimer’s disease in 1988, he spent the next twelve years taking care of her. Today, Hollis is retired from education. He is a fly fisherman, hiker, and gardener. He is a member of the American Camellia Society, and a lifetime member of the Birmingham Botanical Society. Hollis and his wife, Lera, make their home in Alabama.

Learn more about Hollis by visiting http://www.winepresspublishing.com/authors/hollis-hughes