Have a Little Faith: A True Story

Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mitch Albom is a good writer. All of the books I have read by him have been very interesting. This book is really about three people. First there is Mitch who interacts with the only two people. The first person Mitch introduces the reader to is a Jewish Rabbi named Henry Covington. Henry asks Mitch to do his eulogy. Henry was Mitch's Rabbi when Mitch was growing up, in fact he was the family's Rabbi for years. Henry has retired and is getting on in years. Mitch finally agrees to do the eulogy but says he needs to get to know Henry a lot better. HE then other the course of a few years meets with Henry several times a month. He finds Henry to be a man like other man but a man that loves God. The other person Mitch introduces the reader to is Albert Lewis. Albert grew up in a baptist home but quickly decided that was not the life he wanted to live. Mitch tells all about the trouble Albert was involved with including: drinking, selling and taking drugs, robbery, and other not so nice things. Mitch ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit. He finally turns his life other to God and God directs him to a run down church where he ministers to the homeless and those that live a lifestyle like the old Albert lived.

It is very interesting to see how Mitch (a non practicing Jew) learns from both men. If you enjoy interesting stories you will enjoy this easy read. I hope you enjoy the following  sermon preached by the Rabbi in 1975:

"A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. It reads simply, 'He sleeps in a storm.'
The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man.  Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley. Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly. So he dashes off to the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed. He runs out to the field. He sees the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in tarpaulins. He races to the silo. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry. And then he understands. 'He sleeps in a storm.

My friends, if we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We can sleep in a storm. And when it's time, our good-byes will be complete."


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