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Author McGee combines lively memoir and Christian mysticism in this look at life and its possibilities. As a young child, the author didn’t realize what an abusive father he’d had, but he does have memories of the stepfathers who followed and their more subtle forms of disdain. He notes that at all ages, one can have fears; and though one may outgrow some of them, fears are part of the human psyche that, as he learned, can be relieved by one’s closeness to God. Part of that process entails the willingness to forgive even the worst of one’s enemies, like remodeling a house, in which advice will be needed and major changes affected.
A destructive storm and a godly supervisor at McGee’s college job taught him that “almost anything can be repaired or replaced.” Following a failed marriage and the love he sustained for his three children, McGee began his healing journey, overcoming highly negative, self-abnegating thoughts and even a wish to end his life. He was urged by a Christian mentor to totally forgive those who had done him wrong. It became for him a “rainbow experience” that he wishes to share with others.
McGee, a Texas businessman, has a true talent for weaving words, mining often traumatic examples from his experience to produce straightforward, spiritually based advice to readers. As told from a Christian standpoint, his childhood was one of abuse and confusion, his adulthood one of achievement mixed with emotional chaos and often extremely grim, self-destructive imagery. Yet the narrative clearly shows that these times of darkness, mingled with his personal determination and vibrant faith, have brought him to a place of peace. His autobiographical, philosophical viewpoint work can provide an engaging focus for group discussion and individual contemplation for those seeking to understand themselves more deeply and improve relationships with others.