Into the Fire

Blinded written by Travis Thrasher and published circa 2006 by Moody Publishers is a very quick 224 page read. And a valuable one.

Written uniquely and perfectly from second person POV, it effectively delivers a timeless message while depicting the temptations of a 30-something married man with two young children who finds himself alone in the heart of New York City attempting to dissolve his disappointment in a few glasses of wine after the failed sale of a company—the particulars of this business deal consuming the last six months or more of his life. When he spots a younger luscious leggy blonde making eye contact with him and finally asking if she might join him, the juices of enticement flow freely.

She calls herself Jasmine, and he gives his name as Michael. She’s a free spirit who toys with him, using her charm and sexuality to maneuver him into thinking he can almost justify what he really wants to do.

Michael plays at his religion, complaining to himself that God has quit listening to him while trying to convince himself God is no longer interested in Michael’s life or his choices, plotting the hoped for deception that he’ll be alright if he indulges himself with this hot thing just this one time.

Jasmine plies him with smiles and body language, leaving her number and inviting him to call. When he joins her at one of her favorite clubs, she taunts him, urging him to loosen up and reveal his thoughts to her. The evening which proceeds, as Michael fills himself with liquor and lust, expands into a near catastrophe but results in an odd jolt of unexpected personal triumph.

Guys, this one’s for you. Especially if your faith is waning, your relationship with Jesus is in a tepid place, and/or your marriage is marching into one of those no-man’s zones. All couples go there at some point. This story captures all the rationale of a tempted individual who has lost his ability to perceive the world in its full spiritual reality. This is a perfect presentation of the battle with the flesh.

Gals, you need to read this one, too, because understanding the battle from a man’s point of view is essential to establishing a real relationship with your guy. Males and females are not the same, and, although temptations can ply both sexes in different ways, often it’s that same lustful spirit which leads to huge failures of the flesh. Neither guy nor gal is immune to sexual temptation and many don’t have the tools to see it for what it is.

Blinded gives us a character in Michael who has a basic understanding of who God is but maintains no real relationship with Jesus. Nevertheless, it is inferred that Michael was once established in his faith but has allowed all the obstacles of life to color and dissuade his interest in following a godly lifestyle, morphing it into a resentment of the pricks to his sense of right and wrong accompanying his folly with Jasmine.

This is a gut-level look at sexual temptation written very well from the second person point of view. Well done.

Father, once again I pray you would continue to provide stories for Travis to tell. Help him to bring you glory in all that he does and bless those efforts with your grace and wisdom. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.