Book Of Days_ A Novel Part 46

"What does that mean?"

"Scrooge changed things after his visit from the three ghosts, didn't he?"

"Ah yes." Cameron slid his arm around her and pulled her into his chest.

"So the future is fluid."

"If you like those words, yes."

"In this fluid future, if we both choose the way you'd like us to, where would we end up?"

Time for his final confession.

"I had hoped G.o.d would cure me at the lake. I have no idea if He did. It feels like something has changed, but that could be only my imagination." He took her hands in his. "I never thought I could let Jessie go." He reached for the familiar sensation of the stone around his neck, but his fingers found nothing. "But I have. And even though my mind might be gone in a month or a year, whatever time I have left, I want to spend it with you."

Ann didn't respond for a long time. When she did, she stood, pulled him up, and held both his hands in hers. "Do you regret the years you spent with Jessie? Even if you'd known the future, would you have pushed her out of your life, or would you have still savored every moment?"

She gazed toward Three Peaks in the distance. "I met a guy once who had a near-death experience. He was a white-water rafting guide on the Rogue River in southern Oregon. Going through Blossom Bar, he made a rookie mistake and ended up underwater for five minutes. They revived him and now he goes around speaking about living life to the full today because tomorrow it could be gone."

Ann slid her hands up Cameron's arms. "At the time I wrote it off. Carpe diem Carpe diem and all that has always seemed like a cliche to me. But it changed when you and I were on the side of that cliff dancing with death. and all that has always seemed like a cliche to me. But it changed when you and I were on the side of that cliff dancing with death.

"I have no idea if we'll be dead tomorrow. We could die tonight. But I do know every moment we don't live to the full now, will be a moment we regret for the rest of our lives; however short that might be. So let's live, Cameron. While we have today-let's live."

Cameron smiled. "That's a good speech. Maybe just a hint of melodrama, but overall an excellent speech."

Ann whacked him on the head, and he pulled her in tight.

Wind whipped through his hair as he lifted her chin and kissed her for a long time. A very long time.

"Ann Banister, let's go record an amazing life together."

Dear Reader, Why do we take hundreds of pictures of our spouses, kids, and friends?

I believe it's because of a universal desire to record our lives, to somehow keep the ravages of time from eroding our most treasured moments.

It was around 2000 that my family realized my dad had started losing his most treasured memories. As parts of his mind slipped away, it only caused the joy inside him to be released in fuller measure-that part was a gift. Even so, the pain of watching him walk down the path of the long good-bye was wrenching.

As the disease progressed, I started to wonder where my dad's memories were going. Were they mist? Or could G.o.d somehow, someday restore them? When I found Psalm 139:16, it was a huge comfort. I knew that his memories would be returned to him when he crossed over into eternity. G.o.d had recorded them in His book.

Then I thought, what if G.o.d's book could be found on Earth? From that question Book of Days Book of Days was born. was born.

If the mind of someone you loved or love is melting away, my desire is you find hope in this story, that you will embrace the idea that not one of the treasured moments you shared together is lost.

In the age to come G.o.d will restore memories and relations.h.i.+ps, and He will revive the most joyful events of our lives to be celebrated again and again.

With great antic.i.p.ation of reading His Book of Days in eternity,

James L. Rubart www.jimrubart.com

Discussion Questions

1. What character in the book can you relate to most? Why?

2. Which character in Book of Days Book of Days most surprised you? most surprised you?

3. What themes did you see in the novel?

4. Cameron is losing his memories of Jessie and it terrifies him. Do you worry about losing some of your memories? Read Psalm 139:16. What does that say to you about memories in light of eternity?

5. If G.o.d has forgiven our sins, do you think those parts of our lives will be edited out of G.o.d's Book of Days? (See Psalm 103:12.)

6. Both Cameron and Taylor Stone have to let go of their late wives to be free. Why do we hold on to things from our past that weigh us down? Is there anything or anyone you've been holding on to that you need to let go of?

7. Taylor Stone likes Cameron from the start, but he tries to push him away because of the memories that are stirred up. Have you ever shunned a friends.h.i.+p because of a painful memory it reminds you of? What keeps you from dealing with painful memories?

8. Have you ever had a Jason Judah in your life? How did you deal with them? What did it teach you about other people? About yourself?

9. We tend to be harder on ourselves and offer far less forgiveness than other people give us. Why do you think that is? Are there areas of your life you need to forgive yourself for? (See Col. 1:1314.)

10. Ann has to choose to be with Cameron or not be with him even though his mind might slip further away and their days together might be few. What would you do in such a situation?

11. Do you think Jessie made the right choice by trying to tell Cameron about the Book of Days and her future slowly? Or should she have told him all at once in clear language?

12. If Jessie had told Cameron bluntly, do you think he would have believed her? Why or why not?

13. Do you think the future is fluid, as Book of Days Book of Days implies? Can we change the future by our choices, or is the future already set? implies? Can we change the future by our choices, or is the future already set?

14. Were you surprised when you found out what the Book of Days really is? Why or why not? Did you like or not like what it turned out to be?

15. Have you thought about the idea of recording a life? What kind of life do you think you're recording? (See Eph. 2:10.) On a scale of 1 to 10, is it the life you had hoped to record?

16. What do you need to change to record a life you'd be more proud of? (See Matt. 25:1430.) In light of this parable, consider what one thing you would like to do differently from this moment on.