Have a Little Faith: A True Story

"Have a Little Faith", by Mitch Albom, is basically two different stories about three men, two religious leaders from different faiths; Albom's childhood Rabbi (Reb), Henry a Christian Pastor from the inner city of Detroit and the author Mitch Albom. The story places Albom into two different religions, two different cultures and the worlds of those who have and those who have not. It is the tale of his encounters with these men and his skepticism of all religions.The story starts with Mitch Albom's childhood Rabbi asking him the favor of writing and delivering his eulogy when he passes after service one day. He is caught off guard by rabbi's request because he no longer lives in the area and is not a regular participant at services. Finally he agrees to the request with the condition that he gets to know him better as a man. Reb agrees to his condition and this makes Mitch a bit uncomfortable because he know it will put him back into his synagogue and faith he left behind years ago.He begins his weekly trips back and forth from Detroit to visit the Reb, with many health scares over the years and learns the life story of Reb and the strength of his faith thru many of life's trials. He nick names him the `singing rabbi' because of his love for song. Mitch begins to develop a relationship with Reb that becomes unexpected to him and it opens his eyes to his upbringing and the faith he never understand.Closer to home in Detroit, Albom is looking for an organization to support and encounters Henry a Christian Pastor, a reformed drug dealer and convict. Henry, the leader for "I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries" preaches to the poor, cares for the homeless, criminals, addicts and anyone who needs him, for free because his church comes first. With any religion Albom is skeptic, but he is very skeptical about Henry's motives and his faith. After several meetings Albom finally decides to visit Henry's church without telling him and he discovers that even with a hole in the decaying church's roof Henry stays positive and faithful that God with take care of it when the time is right. Obstacles will not stop him for caring for the needy and doing the job he promised God he would do in His name.As he goes between the worlds of these two men he knows how different each is yet he sees how similar they are in their survival, faith and trust in God. Reb embraces his retirement, health issues and his own death as it approaches and Pastor Henry trusts that his mission for the needy will be met and his church will remain open. He doesn't understand it and is suspicious at times but as the years go on he sees how their faith transforms their lives.The ending is exactly what is expected, Mitch Albom giving Reb's eulogy, but what isn't expected is how the lives of these two different men change how Mitch Albom sees his own upbringing, his faith and the trust people place in God. It transformed him and fulfilled a part of his life that was empty.This is an easy read book and not a religious book by any means. It is the true, honest story of Mitch Albom's journey of regaining his faith and losing his cynical outlook on religion. It is the touching story of an ex-convict who changed his ways to help others and the story of a rabbi who enjoyed his life to the fullest to the very end. It is a book of experiences.Mitch Albom did a wonderful job with this story and I highly recommend it. Once you start reading you won't put it down and it will make you think once you begin to close the cover on the final page.

I have read some of Mitch's other books (Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven) and this is another great read. His writing is so wonderful - you feel as if you're right there in the story with him. This book will certainly enhance your faith - both in other people and of course in God. Loved it!

Mitch Albom wrote one of my favorite books of the past 15 years, TUESDAYSWITH MORRIE . . . I don't know if his latest effort, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH (see alsoSections 2, 4C, 10 and 11), tops it . . . but it is definitely up there with any list of currentbooks that I'd strongly recommend.FAITH begins when Albom is summoned to deliver the eulogy of the rabbi fromhis New Jersey hometown . . . though the rabbi is still living, he has chosen the author asthe man to do the job in the future . . . Albom accepts, but only on the conditionthat he gets to conduct a series of interviews with the rabbi to get to know him better.Around the same, Albom also becomes involved with a Detroit pastor who also happensto be a reformed drug dealer and convict . . . his church has its own problems; i.e., itis decaying and there's a hole in its roof.The writing repeatedly moved me . . . to cite one such passage where that was the case:* . . . and I am in my religious high school. The subject is the parting of the Red Sea. I yawn.What is left to learn about this? I've heard it a million times. I look across the room to a girlI like and contemplate how hard it would be to get her attention."There is a Talmudic commentary here," the teacher says.Oh, great I figure. This means translation, which is slow and painful. But as the story unfolds,I begin to pay attention.After the Israelites safely crossed the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after them and were drowned. God's angels wanted to celebrate the enemy's demise.According to the commentary, God saw this and grew angry. He said, in essence: "Stop celebrating. For those were my children, too."Those were my children, too."What do you think of that?" the teacher asks us.Someone else answers. But I know what I think. I think it is the first time I've heard that God might love the "enemy" as well as us.Years later, I will forget the class, forget the teacher's name, forget the girl across the room. But I will remember that story.In addition, I liked the several stories that were interspersed throughout, includingthis one:* A man buried his wife. At the gravesite he stood by the Reb, tears falling down his face."I loved her," he whispered.The Reb nodded."I mean . . . I really loved her." The man broke down."And...I almost told her once."The Reb looked at me sadly. "Nothing haunts like the things we don't say."Lastly, the book got me viewing life through a different framework--somethingI like to do from time to time . . . here Albom describes a realization thathe came to while driving home one night:* That I am neither better nor smarter, only luckier. And I should be ashamed of thinkingI knew everything, because you can know the whole world and still feel lost in it. So manypeople are in pain--no matter how smart or accomplished--they cry, they yearn, they hurt.But instead of looking down on things, they look up, which is where I should have beenlooking, too. Because when the world quiets to the sound of your own breathing, we all wantthe same things: comfort, love, and a peaceful heart.Even though the holiday gift-giving season will have passed by the time you readthis review, I still recommend you purchase HAVE A LITTLE FAITH . . . not justfor you; it also makes the ideal gift for any man or woman of the cloth that you know.