Pray for Me: Finding Faith in a Crisis by Rick Hamlin (Faithwords; 2017) is a recounting of a medical crisis by a longtime editor of "Guideposts" magazine. Hamlin, who also posts blogs mainly on the topic of prayer, received a master lesson on the topic of prayer when, in the autumn of 2016, he came down with a catastrophic illness that left him unable to breathe and pondering the end of life. In the manner of a diary or journal, Hamlin goes day-by-day through his two-week medical ordeal to expound on the feelings of isolation and helplessness he and his family struggled through as the medical team fought to first stabilize him, and then to try to diagnose and properly treat him.

As a generally healthy man in his early 60's, Hamlin did not have many physical problems of his own to contend with, and so this rapid deterioration of his physical well-being brought about by something like an intense autoimmune or allergic reaction was considerably disorienting and disconcerting to him. Through the course of the book, the author candidly shares his fears and frustrations, and apparent lack of clear communication from God about what exactly was going on. Much like peering into the entries of someone's personal journal, Hamlin uses this particular episode in his life to reflect on another health crisis in the life of he and his family --- when one of his infant sons had a severe leg fracture that required a number of days of hospitalization, while the other young son was also dealing with a serious case of chicken pox. Hamlin then touches on other significant episodes in his life to demonstrate how when one is completely out of control of one's circumstances, this is when prayer and trust in the character of God come into play.

Hamlin shares his lessons learned in offhanded and disarmingly honest and self-deprecating ways that make this a most enjoyable read. And just as Hamlin was able to learn that the prayers of others --- as well as whatever feeble attempts one can muster in the midst of a crisis --- God is always working and always listening. Looking back on his experiences --- and Hamlin did fully recover from what was later found to be a severe allergic reaction to drugs taken previously for a serious boil --- he came away with an attitude of gratitude for the grace and love of God shown through the prayers and tangible acts of love from family and friends during the ordeal. This would make an excellent book for anyone who finds themselves in a crisis and is worrying that maybe God has failed to notice their plight. God is always answering prayer in one shape or another.

I enjoyed this book and read it pretty quickly. I bumped it down one star because it was written in a somewhat pretentious tone at times (you could definitely tell him and his wife went to Princeton and live in NYC), and it felt a bit melancholy. Rick and his wife belong to the Episcopal Church, so there were some different spiritual references and practices mentioned than those I'm familiar with (I'm Baptist). However, I did enjoy reading Rick's story.

Pray for Me

Finding Faith in a Crisis



by Rick Hamlin

FaithWords / Center Street

FaithWords



Christian

Pub Date 19 Sep 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Pray For Me through FaithWords/Center Street and Netgalley:

This book reminds us that it is not what we do, but what God does. The author points out too that prayer feels good, because in prayer we not only get in touch with the Lord, but a larger part of yourself as well.

In this book Rock Hamlin talks about when he was rushed to the hospital, for two weeks the doctors struggled to keep his body alive. But more than that this is a story of a spiritual odyssey of a man learning to trust God when he is at his weakest.

I give Pray For Me five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

It’s intensely personal. You really feel for him as he struggles through horrible health issues. He is so open about both physical and spiritual struggles. As his life hung in the balance so did his faith. It’s wonderful to read of God’s healing in his life.
It’s not just the story of his illness and healing. It’s the story of his life. Each chapter covers roughly a day in the hospital and one other life changing event so there are lots of flashbacks. He is a good writer. He takes a trial and turned it into a time of warm remembrance of friends and family. He handled the flashbacks very well. Never did I feel confused about the timeline.
Hamlin is an Episcopalian. I’m a Baptist. My understanding of Biblical doctrines and his are very different. From here on out my review is going to cover those differences.
For a book about prayer, his idea, or the idea conveyed in the book, about prayer is rather vague. It’s something he does and tries not to get distracted from. The best I can gather is that the prayer in this book is a contemplative, mystic emptying of the mind. He asserts many things about what prayer is such as actions, paintings, work, yoga style meditation; but never a mention that it is a direct conversation with our Creator and Savior.
Any other issue of faith is handled in a very ecumenical, vague way. It’s Christian, but only in the broadest sense. Not that anything was taught on specifically, but there were lots of allusion to and mentions of practices that are not Biblical. Some of them are women pastors, monks, drinking, and of course certain prayer practices. They just come up in the way he lives his life. Because of them, I cannot recommend this book.
I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley and Faithworks. No positive review was required and all opinions are mine.