Stumbling on Open Ground

Having a close family member who is now battling cancer made this book appealing to me from the beginning. I wanted to know more about what the day to day life is like from another Christian who has gone through these battles and has come out triumphant, both in his health and in his spiritual walk. This is what this book captures - Ken Mansfield had not one, but two horrific struggles with cancer, and each time, his personal relationship with the Lord was strengthened even as his faith was tested to the limits. Ken is an incredible writer, with an amazing gift to communitcate personal details of his life in a way that helps the reader walk with him through the recollection of each stage of his battle. This God given gift of writing made the personal account come alive in a way that was both awe-inspiring and incredibly scary. He was brutally honest in the times that he questioned his faith and even wanted to relive in his mind past times of success that weren't in Gods plan, but then he kept coming back to his trust in the Lord and that God's will would be done no matter what. One of the most moving parts of the book was near the end when he stated that he almost missed those most difficult times because it was then that his relationship with the Lord was the sweetest. How amazing! Even though, he was in such physical pain, the precious relationship and personal walk with God at that time was even better because of his complete reliance on him when those horrific things happened. The book helps give an overall better understanding of the complete physical, emotional and even spiritual battle that people who are battling cancer go through. His honesty of each stage was so important because it showed his real and genuine spiritual transformation through it all. His accounts of his walks and talks with the Lord on the beach or in the woods and his longing for those quiet times with the Lord was inspirational for me and I think would be for many others. It was so inspirational to see his love for the Lord deepen even as the symptoms became increasingly severe and his future was definitely unknown. I think the great take away from this book is for us to love the Lord with an even greater passion no matter what we are personally battling, because He is always there for us with outstretched hands.