Hope Unseen: The Truimphant Faith of Scotty Smiley - eBook
5
5
7
7
Powerful, real
I am not usually a big fan of books about people who lived through a traumatic event, and IâÂÂll tell you why. Some books tell readers everything about a personâÂÂs life, when really, we just want to know about the traumatic event and recovery, with enough backstory to make it meaningful. But please, donâÂÂt tell me about your sixth grade dance. Other books about traumatic events either donâÂÂt feel authentic, as in, the author doesnâÂÂt really let us see the ugly side of their journey because he/she doesnâÂÂt want to seem unspiritual. Still other books are interesting enough but fail to inspire because itâÂÂs difficult to translate the lessons into the readerâÂÂs life.
None of the above were true of Unseen Hope. I truly loved this book. ItâÂÂs well-written, to the point, and painfully, satisfyingly honest. What happens when a man of God loses his sight? Well, in Capt. SmileyâÂÂs case, he didnâÂÂt kumbayah-away the pain. He didnâÂÂt want to pray. He didnâÂÂt even want others to pray for him. This is tough stuff.
But his journey didnâÂÂt end there. He overcame so much, it was just jaw-dropping mind-boggling to read about. His wife Tiffany played an incredible role in her husbandâÂÂs life. They had been married sixteen months before his injury, only four months of which were spent together.
In his book, Capt. Smiley says:
âÂÂâÂÂThe me who could see was used to climbing mountains and thanking God for coming along. The me who could not see was totally dependent. âÂÂYou need to trust Me, Scotty,â I sensed God telling me âÂÂAnd you need to depend on others.â I can do all things. There is nothing in the Bible that qualifies that statement, nothing that says I need eyes. It says only that I need Christ. It was a truth that my blindness was going to help me see. My confidence was being moved away from selfâÂÂfrom my own ability to see and controlâÂÂto a new hope, a hope unseen.âÂÂâ (p. 148)
His story is truly inspirational. If you get a chance, read it. YouâÂÂll be so glad you did.
April 7, 2013
Powerful, real
I am not usually a big fan of books about people who lived through a traumatic event, and IâÂÂll tell you why. Some books tell readers everything about a personâÂÂs life, when really, we just want to know about the traumatic event and recovery, with enough backstory to make it meaningful. But please, donâÂÂt tell me about your sixth grade dance. Other books about traumatic events either donâÂÂt feel authentic, as in, the author doesnâÂÂt really let us see the ugly side of their journey because he/she doesnâÂÂt want to seem unspiritual. Still other books are interesting enough but fail to inspire because itâÂÂs difficult to translate the lessons into the readerâÂÂs life.
None of the above were true of Unseen Hope. I truly loved this book. ItâÂÂs well-written, to the point, and painfully, satisfyingly honest. What happens when a man of God loses his sight? Well, in Capt. SmileyâÂÂs case, he didnâÂÂt kumbayah-away the pain. He didnâÂÂt want to pray. He didnâÂÂt even want others to pray for him. This is tough stuff.
But his journey didnâÂÂt end there. He overcame so much, it was just jaw-dropping mind-boggling to read about. His wife Tiffany played an incredible role in her husbandâÂÂs life. They had been married sixteen months before his injury, only four months of which were spent together.
In his book, Capt. Smiley says:
âÂÂâÂÂThe me who could see was used to climbing mountains and thanking God for coming along. The me who could not see was totally dependent. âÂÂYou need to trust Me, Scotty,â I sensed God telling me âÂÂAnd you need to depend on others.â I can do all things. There is nothing in the Bible that qualifies that statement, nothing that says I need eyes. It says only that I need Christ. It was a truth that my blindness was going to help me see. My confidence was being moved away from selfâÂÂfrom my own ability to see and controlâÂÂto a new hope, a hope unseen.âÂÂâ (p. 148)
His story is truly inspirational. If you get a chance, read it. YouâÂÂll be so glad you did.
April 7, 2013
Change how you SEE your own life!!!
Captain Scotty Smiley, might not see things like we do, but it doesn't mean he doesn't see what is important and how to live his life despite seemingly difficult circumstances. While serving in Mosul in Iraq he became the target of a suicide bomber and subsequently lost his eyesight. He could have dealt with things as most of us would have and simply come home and attempt to live a life as best as he could now being completely blind, but he didn't. He did things most of us only imagine. He scaled the heights of Mt. Rainer, served as the army's first action-duty blind officer and its first blind company commander.
He continues to inspire countless numbers of people including myself to stop feeling sorry for what life has dealt you and instead move forward in the grace and strength that God has given us all. In each chapter, you see how difficult things are for Scotty to pick up the pieces and simply do what all of us with sight can do. Perhaps we are the ones who are truly blind and Scotty has been given a different set of eyes to see the possibilities in life, if we are only willing to take a step of faith and move forward. I truly believe that this book is a great inspirational story and the perfect gift for those facing their own set of unique circumstances that are attempting to hold them back. It will hopefully provide them with enough hope that they don't have to settle for anything less than what God has in store for them. The possibilities are truly endless.
I received Hope Unseen by Captain Scotty Smiley compliments of Howard Books, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I truly value my gift of sight, and wouldn't know where to begin to do even some of the things that Scotty did. I could never imagine in my wildest dreams, taking on a mountain climb to a 14,000 foot summit, across endless ice bridges only strong enough to support one man, and knowing you must walk it alone with only words and a rope as your guide. Just closing my eyes and attempting to navigate a sidewalk is challenging enough for me. Scotty Smiley is a true inspiration to those of us that often wonder where the heroes are in this world. In my book, he is one of the greatest. I easily rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend this one if you are feeling with no hope in your life. Perhaps it might change how you "see" your life!
November 7, 2012
This is a very moving story about an officer in the Army who loses his sight while serving in Iraq. You will follow him on his journey through the loss of his sight to accomplishing goals he never thought possible.
This book is not about the tragedy of something lost but about the hope for a future. From mountain climbing to surfing you will follow this brave man as he conquers adventures even a man with sight may find hard.
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how it showed the positive and negative of having a disability. I was encouraged by how the family relied on the Lord and how He never forgot them.
The book was well written and easy to read. Definitely worth your time, especially if you enjoy stories of triumph over adversity!
I was given this book by christianreviewofbooks.com to review
March 30, 2011
Welcome to Christianbook.com! Sign in or create an account
Cart
0 items
Checkout
We now accept PayPalfor ALL orders
