Spotlight: Mitch Albom’s Book, Have a Little Faith

Well Christmas is over, and the New Year is approaching. Santa Claus was good to our family, although it was a little leaner under the tree than some years. One of the gifts I received this year was a book from my Sweetie of one of my favorite authors, Mitch Albom. (I need to list Mitch as one of my Favorites in my profile.) Mitch is a columnist for the Detroit Free Press and authors many fine books such as Tuesdays with Morrie, 5 People You Meet in Heaven, and now his latest book, Have a Little Faith.

I’m not a book worm, so in order to read with good comprehension and most importantly captivation; I need a quiet place with good light and a little white noise. Have a Little Faith, kept me wanting more from the very first page to the very end with only a few short breaks in between. The reasons it hooked me are his style and layout mostly. I love a book that has new chapters every two or three pages. Similar to a blogging style, the book left me finishing one thought, then lead me on to the next which was sometimes completely different, making me think – but not too hard.  Beyond this technical aspect is Mitch's humanness that he portrays.  His thoughts and feelings are those like I might have in similar circumstances, and his people are real - ordinary folks with extraordinary stories.  There is greatness in the ordinary - that point comes across crystal clear.

From Mitch’s site… Albom’s first nonfiction book since Tuesdays with Morrie, Have A Little Faith begins with an unusual request: an 82-year-old rabbi from Albom’s old hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy. - Feeling unworthy, Albom insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he’d left years ago. Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Albom becomes involved with a Detroit pastor – a reformed drug dealer and convict – who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.

So Mr. Gus, you may ask, What does this have to do with the outdoors? Are you rambling? - The answer is no. As I read about the Detroit pastor and his work with the homeless, I reflected upon those who live at the mercy of the outdoor elements by necessity, rather than by choice. The reason for this book review at all is because of the impression it made upon me in this way.

Here is a great follow-up article to the book in USA Today: 'Tuesdays With Morrie' author Mitch Albom keeps the 'Faith', Updated 9/29/2009 10:39 PM.

Please read my upcoming follow up: Outdoor Living, Recreation for Some, Necessity for Others, to post Dec. 30, 2009.

Sneaky Prophylactic Education

Talk about perking the ears up on the administration! Sneaky Prophylactic Education in short, in this context, is using shooting sports as the hook to grab the child’s attention, so as to be able to impart knowledge, modify behavior, and ultimately touch the life of the youngster to help them grow into a responsible caring adult. My old friend Dr. Ron Howard of Texas A&M explains it well:

I think you've heard several things. When most youth programs go out to work with shooting, what they are doing is sneaky prophylactic education.

I want you to understand what I mean. Prophylactic means preventative. Our objective through 4-H is to educate the kid. It's sneaky because we sell all of the educational package with fun. When it comes to those parents, it's doubly sneaky prophylactic education because they think that they must be there because only the kid is there.

They don't know that we're going to recruit them and put them to work at the same time. They don't know that we're going to teach them the same stuff that the kids are being taught and therefore try to recruit them as well. Being a spectator stinks. - excerpt taken from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Reaching Out to Existing Youth Organizations, 2005 by Dr. Ron Howard, Jr. Extension 4-H and Youth Development Specialist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

Make a difference in the life of a kid by taking them outdoors. They’ll benefit on many levels.