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A contemporary take on the lesson of The Good Samaritan, this excellent work is primarily the tale of Mireya, a Honduran immigrant, who risks her own safety to come to the aid of a man, Arlen, who has been attacked by robbers, and whose trauma changes his spiritual perspective. The story unfolds when an elderly man, who is a church member, takes a younger man, who is a church elder, to coffee after the younger man has expressed negative feelings about Mexican-Americans and others who do not conform to the latter's concept of people who are acceptable.
Associate Pastor Abel Decker knows that he lacks a deep spiritual connection and commitment. His lack of faith troubles him. However, he is able to assuage his self-doubts with ego panaceas of day-to-day work coupled with the social rewards of dating and the diversion of entertainment. Delbert, a lawyer who believes in an adherence to rules and protocols, is, like Abel, substituting function, rationalizations, and—particularly for Delbert—convenient prejudices for his lack of faith. Arlen, himself, is a businessman who has felt a lack of spiritual development in his life.
In contrast, the author depicts Mireya as a person whose faith guides her actions. Although she has far fewer material advantages than the men—and practically no safety nets—she is shown as having true and deep spirituality, bravery, and a well-defined social conscience. Her actions to save Arlen open the injured man to the concept of "neighbor" as one of all of God's children. With the support of his new awareness and family, Arlen sheds the misconceptions that he has carried throughout his life. Spiritual growth and faith are the focus of this inspiring modern-day retelling of the ancient story.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review