BEND: When Life Dares You to Break {Book Review}

At this very moment, many people feel bent by the pressures of this world. Some hear the cracks and feel the splinters as a breaking point threatens. International journalist, Beth Leuders, has gathered stories from nine people who have weathered overwhelming situations and compiled them in a book, BEND: When Life Dares You to Break.

The Author of BEND

Beth Leuders (pronounced Lee-ders), founder of MacBeth Communications, writes and edits for several companies, ministries, and non-profits. She’s authored and co-authored several books including Lifting Our Eyes: Finding God’s Grace through the Virginia Tech Tragedy.

An award-winning journalist, she’s traveled across the world as an investigative reporter. Interviewing thousands of people, she has honed her ability to ask difficult questions about some of life’s most challenging moments.  For this book, she wanted to understand what enabled people to bend rather than break when tragedies occurred.

Writing Style

BEND is written in an unusual investigative reporting style. The chapters are not woven into one story but rather each chapter contains a unique, stand-alone interview Leuders conducted with an individual or a specific group of people. However, unlike investigative reporting, the chapters have interjections throughout from the author about her own life and thoughts.

The Purpose of BEND

The author’s purpose is to “introduce you to courageous sojourners—a wounded veteran, a Wiccan devotee, mothers of children with profound disabilities, and more—who’ve uncovered secrets to resilience through the unimaginable.” In each interview, Leuders eventually asks each person what their thoughts were about God during their ordeals. The answers vary greatly.

Stories

People from all backgrounds and beliefs are interviewed. Some stories are difficult to read, especially if you’re a Christian. Because even though the stories are promoted as inspiration for resilience, several show only the ability to survive, not thrive. I found the story of the Holocaust survivor/war veteran depressing. Perhaps that was the intent of the author. Even though she commends his resilience, and even shares with readers his exact curse words towards God, she ends the chapter sharing with readers about her own tears after she finished the interview.

Each story walks readers through depression, agony, anger, pain, and seemingly unbearable situations. Some folks exit the storms stronger than others—ready to thrive. Others think the only way to survive is to harden their hearts.

Reflection Points

At the end of the book, Leuders includes additional chapters with insights and reflections that correlate to the interview stories. Sometimes, the reflection point deals directly with the chapter’s interview story. Other times it includes a whole new story about resilience. I was delighted to see Martin Pistorious mentioned in one of those.

The reflection chapters are short, usually two or three pages in length. Each reflection chapter begins with a quote from individuals such as Blaise Pascal, Martin Luther King, Jr., Hellen Keller, Ovid, and Herbert Hoover.

It is in the reflection pages where you’ll find a Bible verse mentioned. The Bible versions used in BEND are:  NET, NASB, NIV, NLT, the Living Bible, the Message, and the Passion Translation.

This section of the book is where the author expounds more about God and his presence in our lives.

What I Liked and What I Would’ve Liked

I liked how Leuders models how to conduct a non-judgmental dialogue. She skillfully, yet compassionately addresses people’s toughest challenges and heartaches. Not many people are brave enough to initiate conversations with people who have vastly different backgrounds and beliefs than their own.

I would’ve liked to have seen the reflection chapters immediately following the stories they corresponded with rather than pushed to the back of the book.

Also, I personally did not like reading the quoted cursing, especially of God. My sensitive spirit prefers you just tell me someone cursed God and spare me the horrible atrocity of words.

I thought I was receiving a Christian inspirational book to review. BEND is not that kind of book. Not all, but most of the stories are lacking Jesus Christ.

However, the follow up story about the Wiccan will surprise readers. Also, the story about the veteran with PTSD definitely shows hope and salvation. Although the bittersweet story relays the enormous challenges the veteran and his wife have faced, it is my favorite story in the book.  It shows just how far Jesus bends to reach you where you are.

This book could serve as a conversation starter with unbelievers who are struggling under the pressures of the world. They may notice the differences in the people’s stories based on who they attribute their ability to persevere.

You can find more information about this book and the author at BethLeuders.com.

I received a FREE copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.