The Impact of Stories

I firmly believe that a good novel can impact people more deeply than the most well articulated theology. Recently I read just such a novel, one that caused me to think about my life and faith in a very different way. “Blessed Child”, co-authored by Ted Dekker and Dr. Bill Bright.

The story of “Blessed Child” is centered around the story of a mysterious young boy, Caleb. Caleb is a ten year old boy with mysterious origins and strange abilities. After being rescued from a surprise attack on his home in Ethiopia, Caleb is taken to America where he encounters a greedy cleric, a burned out Special Forces soldier and a nation that doesn’t care to understand nor care to pursue a meaningful life of faith.

A Legendary Collaboration

“Blessed Child” is a unique book from Ted Dekker, some of it owing to the influence of Dr. Bill Bright (rest in peace) who shares in the novel how he wanted readers to have a story that would powerfully illustrate the power of God in the life of a believer, leading to his collaboration with Dekker. As I read through this novel, there were several surprises. This is a novel that is ultimately about the Christian life, and whether we are really certain that we are experiencing the Christian life to the fullest. As I read this novel I was moved in a way that very few stories have. The most remarkable thing is that this all came from a story that was remarkably, well, ordinary.

What if God’s Power Was Manifest in Our Lives Today?

As I read through the story, I thought about my own life. The book is filled with miracles and healings, but that isn’t all. There are many conversations with the characters as they wrestle with witnessing the power of God right before their eyes. I wonder if we as Western Christians have’t lost sight of how powerful God truly is. It’s almost as if we have become content with less. As I read through the book I reflected on the book of Acts, questioning whether we haven’t lost sight of what it means to be a Christian.

“It’s always amazed me how so many of my fellow humans manage to live their entire lives without ever seeing the vacation by the sea … That was how C. S. Lewis put it, and I can hardly do better. He compared us to children busily making mud pies in the slums, unaware that just beyond the horizon there waited a stunning vacation by the sea. But the children never go to this paradise by the sea, because they either don’t know about it, or they don’t believe it’s possible.”

Blessed Child

My favorite aspect would be how the authors don’t merely focus on incredible miracles and amazing manifestations of God’s power, the power of God to change our lives is thrust front and center. Often we speak of ‘testimonials’ in such bland ways, it makes me wonder if we don’t sometimes forget just how incredible it is when God brings change into a persons life. In other words, the ultimate theme of “Blessed Child” is that God is always at work all around us, and yet we just aren’t seeing it. We’re blinded to the miracles that take place around us every single day.

“Miraculous or not, walking in the Spirit means stepping into the kingdom of God, and most Christians aren’t willing to walk there. They enter the kingdom at their rebirth but they take few steps … Those who do walk in the kingdom have far more power than you would ever guess. It might not be the straightening of bent spines; you may not even see it here among the mud pies, but believe me, the power of the Spirit-filled man is quite stunning. Whoever said that a straightened hand was more dramatic than a healed heart anyway? Caleb may be a vessel of God’s spectacular power, but he’s not as unique as you think. Not at all. You’re just not seeing the rest of it with your eyes—the fruits of the Spirit, the power of love, the color of peace. What you need is to have your eyes opened.“

Blessed Child

As great as it’s message was, I was equally touched by how well the characters were drawn. While the story revolves around Caleb and his incredible abilities, Dekker also introduces Jason Marker and Leigh. Jason is a relief worker with the Peace Corps, whose faith has burned out. Struggling with questions he can’t seem to answer, Jason has long ago decided that attempting to pursue faith is futile. Leiah is a nurse suffering from trauma and a horribly disfigured body, and isn’t so much antagonistic towards faith, but believes that no one could possibly love her, including God. Yet as they both witness God working through Caleb, their lives are forever changed. When it comes to Christian fiction of this type, ordinarily this would be predictable, yet in this book it was emotionally moving and authentic. It didn’t feel like it was thrown in to appease the Christian market.

“You’ve seen a few acts of God’s power. But you haven’t begun to see the power of the healed heart. Not with the eyes of faith, you haven’t. Whoever said that a straightened hand was more spectacular than a healed heart”

Blessed Child

“Blessed Child” is one of the most powerful novels I have ever read, and I don’t say this lightly. Although this lacks the adrenaline of some of Dekkers other works, the sheer passion with which he writes makes up for it in a big way. It would be accurate to say I enjoyed this novel immensely, yet more than just enjoyment this book caused me to think in profound ways. I recommend anyone and everyone to read this outstanding novel, and notonly read it, but really think about it’s life changing message. An absolute 10/10.