Into the Fire

Stacy Hawkins Adams tackles some heavy issues in what starts out as a somewhat typical dilemma-laced group of young ambitious adults determined to live out their dreams with little interference. Our attractive heroine Indigo Burns is pressured by her future Navy pilot boyfriend Brian into engagement before he takes off for Officer Candidate School along with their mutual best friend Shelby. Brian’s got it in his head that their wedding needs to be sooner rather than later, and Indigo is struggling with the timeframe because she’s got a scholarship to an elite grad school to perfect her photography skills.

Okay, so I’m not the target audience for this novel because I am long past the challenges I faced at this young age when everything claims priority in one’s life, and love seems like it’s either fanning the flames of passion or getting in the way of personal achievement. Stacy captures the angst, the drama, and the confusion of being young and determined but not quite adept at following the will of God instead of one’s own directions and desires.

The novel moves along in the lives of these young people and their families with little distraction until suddenly four gut-wrenching episodes erupt, causing pain, shock, fear, and indecision. The reader might not react to all of them, but at least one of them will probably shake up or affect everyone who picks up the book in some way.

Make no mistake: this is a Christian novel. The characters face difficult and potentially life changing decisions, and there are no easy answers available, so each one must look for God’s leading if they intend to walk their talk. Due to the ages of the main characters in this novel, we watch some diva-like behavior from Indigo and some serious confusion from Brian which I think the author captures well at the surface level. Due to the length and style of the novel, the trials aren’t examined with much depth.

My personal opinion as to the target audience for this novel is probably around the 20-something women seeking careers, real love, the marriage option, and a deeper walk with the Lord. It’s about people who are challenged by these kinds of decisions but unsure of what exactly God desires of them in certain areas. The stresses of wanting things to fall into place without a hitch force each of them to look inside themselves to find who they truly are and what will be required of them. Life is not lived without sacrifice of some kind, and in this story there are some major levels demanded.

I liked Stacy’s approach to the skin color of her characters, treating the observance of their skin tones with appreciation and lovely imagery. Although her characters are African-American for the most part, they are really any of us, young and old, seeking answers to humbling and difficult questions, and pressing on in spite of all life’s varied opportunities, distractions, sufferings, and confrontations. The author makes it clear that the only way for anyone to do this successfully is to be fully in tune with and in submission to the Lord. Published by Revell, a division of Baker Books, Worth A Thousand Words is a good title, and a meaningful story for the younger crowd.

Father, please continue to bring forth meaningful stories from Stacy’s repertoire of knowledge and experience. Watch over her and keep her safe and continue to inspire in her in every endeavor done in service to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.