Discussion Questions

1. The novel opens with heart surgeon Jace Rawlings in strange territory: a world hinting at reality beyond what he can see, feel, and quantify. He is challenged with the thought that a spiritual battle is present and may be reflected in the physical. While Jace’s circumstances certainly are extraordinary and not typical, in what ways have you seen evidence of spiritual reality beyond this visible world? Can you think of biblical accounts where a spiritual battle was raging while people remained innocent and unaware?

2. As a fiction writer, I love using memory loss as a way to create mystery, and suspicious circumstances that look one way on the surface, yet are revealed to be something else entirely. But what we love in fiction can be disastrous for intimate relationships! Misunderstanding, jealousy, and suspicion were key elements that drove a wedge between Heather and Jace. If you had a chance to sit with them as a marriage counselor, are there ways you would suggest to regain a pathway to trust? In what areas did Jace fail as a husband to protect his marriage? Heather?

3.  When Jace’s self-sufficient world begins to implode, he finds himself searching for the truth at his boyhood home of Kenya. Although he seems to have rejected the religion of his parents, when times get tough, Jace runs to the familiar. In spite of his search for his own way, Jace ends up looking a lot like his earthly father. Can you think of similarities?

Why does Jace return? Do you believe that the “cry” from his dead sister was spiritual? Psychological projection based on some inner need? Misunderstanding orchestrated by God to bring Jace back to faith?

4. To some degree, Jace was on the run from a host of real miseries. Are you like Jace? Do you have a tendency to run from pain, while all the while telling yourself that you are really running toward answers?

5. I’m currently working at Kijabe Hospital, just like Jace. I used the example of a decision not to stock snakebite antivenom to represent the reality and complexity of decisions we face here. In fact, we’ve decided not to stock life-saving antivenom here because of the expense and infrequency of use. That means someone may die someday. But we can treat so many cases of malaria successfully because of our decision to save money. Put yourself in my shoes (or the shoes of Jace’s father). What would you do? Can you justify putting a snakebite victim at risk just because of money?

6. Jace ends up in the middle of Africa, and right in the center of God’s plan. But he got there for a variety of reasons, none of which could be considered particularly noble. Do you think God can use our less-than-noble motivations (guilt, fear, desire to run away from difficulty) to help steer us toward faith? Again, imagine that you are Jace’s counselor back in Virginia and he asked for your advice after telling you of his desire to return to Kenya. Once he explained his honest motivation, what would your counsel have been? Would you have been correct?

7. Jace and Heather grew up as “third-culture kids.” These are citizens of one nation who have grown up in a foreign country. They are often caught in the middle, unsure where they fit. In a sense, that describes all Christians. We find ourselves in this world, but longing for a heavenly home. We don’t “fit” here. Can you relate to this longing or this kind of identify confusion? Do you ever have a sense that you just don’t belong?

8. While this story is fictional, I pulled from research into actual witchcraft practices in this country, some of which are very mysterious and colorful. For some reason, things that would be laughed at in American culture are accepted here. Post-Christian America is in some way becoming more “spiritual” while at the same time, less Christian. Do you see evidence of this? Why do you think witchcraft flourishes in a place like my home in Kenya?

9. What do you think about modern nonfictional accounts of experiences beyond the grave, either in heaven or hell? Are these real? Psychological projections? Spiritual … demonic perhaps? What’s your explanation? Are you a scientific skeptic like Jace?

10. In the end, Jace makes this statement: “Kenya can be a scary place if you don’t know the Savior.” Do you agree? If you were advising me on writing the sequel to this novel, what should be the next challenge for Jace and Heather?