Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer’s 1996 non-fiction best seller Into The Wild tells the story of Chris McCandless.  He graduates from a good college in the East of the U.S.  He changes his name, gives the entire balance of his $24,000 savings account to charity, and invents a new life for himself.  His family has no idea where he is or what has become of him until his remains turn up in Alaska. Into the Wild is definitely worth a read and is better than the movie. 

During his travels, Chris meets an old man who lives in seclusion in the western US desert.  "Ron" is a devout Christian.   He takes a shine to Chris, partly because he lost his own son years earlier.  He even asks Chris to become his adopted grandson, and Chris assures him they’ll talk about it when he returns. 

But Chris never returned.  His starved body was found in an anomaly streetcar that had been hauled into the Alaska backcountry.  When he heard of Chris' death, Ron said, “When Chris left for Alaska, I prayed.  I asked God to keep his finger on the shoulder of that one.  I told him the boy was special.  But God let him die.  So on December 26, when I learned what happened, I renounced the Lord.  I withdrew my church membership and became an atheist.  I decided I couldn’t believe in a God who would let something that terrible happen to a boy like him.” 

Ever feel that way?  Ever feel as if this time God has gone too far?  Kristy, Stanley, Bill, Darryl, Sebastian, Dixie… Each of us can think of a deeply personal struggle we have experienced:  a loss, a betrayal, an horrific injustice.  How will we respond?  Adversity, trials, sometimes tragic loss is an unhappy reality.  We can’t avoid it; we can’t side-step it.  It never feels natural, especially when it strikes at the youngest among us. 

The Old Testament book of Ruth is a story for people like us.  It acknowledges the reality of suffering and loss, but demonstrates the relentless love of the God who can redeem your circumstances.  In this life, bad things will happen.  But they never have to have the last word.  

Ruth is for you and me.