Angel Song (35 page)
He smiled. “That’s a garbage can.” Keith pointed at the cylinder. “And that’s a bird, and that’s the angel. His name is Uriel. He watches out for you.”
“Why am I handing a bird to an angel?” Then Annie felt her mouth go dry. “Did you say Uriel? As in Uri—the homeless guy?” She remembered the night she’d handed him the food from her dinner with Patrick Stinson. Her leftovers, wrapped in foil, shaped like a swan.
Keith smiled.
Annie remembered the Bible verse she’d learned from the other homeless man, the one with dreadlocks. She hadn’t believed him. She
wouldn’t
believe him. But now . . .
“You know, Keith, I think you’re right.”
“Of course I am. Me and Ethan, we’re always right. Right, Ethan?”
“You got it, buddy.”
“Sure you are.” Tammy laughed as she pinned the hem of the new living room drapes. “I think I could offer a few examples that would prove otherwise.”
“There’s no reason to get nitpicky. We’re right about the important stuff anyway. Keith knows about homeless angels named Uriel, and I know about beautiful women named Annie. Far as I’m concerned, that’s all that matters.”
“Oh really?” Annie walked over and sat in his lap. “Tell me more about that.”
“Ew, gross,” Keith said and snickered from somewhere behind them, but Annie didn’t care.
Ethan kissed her lightly. “Hope you’ve got awhile, because I have lots to say on the subject.”
“Take all the time you need.” She buried her head on his shoulder. “I’ve got all day.”
“I’m thinking something longer term might be necessary.”
Annie raised her head.
“Come on, Ethan,” Keith broke in. “Let’s go play football. This is getting way too mushy.” He pulled on Ethan’s arm.
“Keith, you may always be right, but your sense of timing could definitely use a little work.” He and Annie stood. She watched him start out the door with Keith, but then he turned and looked at her. “Conversation to be continued.”
“I’m counting on it.”
S
HEILA
W
OULD
L
IKE TO
T
HANK THE
F
OLLOWING
P
EOPLE:
Rick Christian: You are so much more than a wonderful literary agent. You are a dear friend and a funny man. It’s great to be a part of the “Alive” family.
Lee Hough: I’m so grateful that you are my book agent. You shepherded this project on every level, as a dream became reality. Thank you.
Allen Arnold and the Thomas Nelson Fiction Team: It has been such an amazing experience to work with each one of you. You are truly the best at what you do. You faithfully steward the place of honor and respect that God has given you and it is a joy to be part of your family.
Ami McConnell: You poured yourself tirelessly into this book and your attention to every tiny detail is just one of the reasons that you are so brilliant at what you do. Thank you for a listening ear and an open heart.
Jen Deshler, Natalie Hanemann, and Katie Bond: Thank you for your giftedness, wisdom, care and encouragement.
Mary Graham and the Women of Faith team: Thank you for giving me a platform to share my passion and my call and your forever friendship as we share this journey to the hearts of women.
Barry Walsh: You caught this vision right away and have walked it out with me step by step. Thank you for the hours you spent pouring over the manuscript and keeping us true to Charleston, your home. You and our darling son, Christian, have put a song in this girl’s heart!
F
ROM
K
ATHRYN
C
USHMAN:
Lee Cushman—I don’t know how I would have survived this past year without your love and support. Thank you for being the man God called you to be.
Melanie Cushman—During the writing of this book I’ve spent thirty-two days at your hospital bedside, and dozens more days in various doctors’ offices, watching you endure more than any sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. Your courage and upbeat attitude never fail to amaze me.
Carl Parrish—Your courage and sense of humor in the face of cancer give me one more reason to be proud to call you Daddy. Your granddaughter gets it from you.
Ora Parrish—Mom, you’ve always been my biggest fan, supporter, and best friend. I love you.
Carl, Alisa, Leah, Katy, Lisa—I have the best family in the world.
Gary and Carolyn, Kathleen, Brenna, Kristyn, Judy, Carol, Denice—for the love and support during the darkest of times.
Lori Baur—Friend, neighbor, PR manager.
Carrie Padgett, Julie Carobini, Michael Berrier, and Shawn Grady—my writing and prayer partners.
Jim Rubart, John Olson, Katie Vorreiter, and Jenn Doucette—the Winklings.
Ami McConnell—You are an amazing editor. I don’t how we would have pulled all these divergent ideas into one cohesive story without your guidance.
Jenny Baumgartner—Your attention to detail amazes and inspires me. Thanks for the prayer support, and for all those pats on the back which always seemed to come at just the right time.
Lee Hough—You truly are the ideal agent! You are the calm voice of reason in every situation.
Bill Hogan—Thank you for walking me through the world of Charleston surfing.
1.
Angel Song
is a story of contrasts: North and South, old and new, life and death, natural and manmade, honesty and deceit, weak and strong. How do the authors use these contrasts to deliver the message of the book? Can you think of examples of each?
2. Throughout the book, Ann hears music no one else can hear, while Keith sees beings no one else can see—specifically angels. Have you ever had such an experience? Have you ever sensed the nearness of God or His angels through one of the five senses? What happened?
3. “Eleanor moved closer to the painting of Sodom and Gomorrah. ‘Interesting, isn’t it, the different jobs that angels have? This one is destroying a city; this one is helping an outcast in the wilderness. A rather diverse job description.’” These are only two descriptions of what angels do. What does the Bible tells us about the nature—and usefulness—of angels?
4. There are many instances when God, through His angels, reaches out to Ann. What do you think was the breaking point for Ann, when she decided to believe what the angels were telling her?
5. When Keith accidentally breaks Sarah’s valuable pitcher, she tells him, “I’ve been thinking for a long time now that something so beautiful shouldn’t be kept up on a shelf where no one ever sees it . . . I’ve been thinking about breaking it and taking it to an artist friend of mine who makes mosaic tiles. That way I could put it somewhere that I’d see it all the time. It could make me happy every day.” This vignette is a parable for what often happens in life: something that seems like a disaster at the time ends up being just the thing we needed to make us see our lives differently. Can you think of a disaster in your own life that was actually a blessing in disguise?
6. Another message is at play when Sarah tells Ethan, “Even something that appears broken, in the hands of a master artist, can be made into something more beautiful than the original.” What is the message? Which characters benefit when they learn this message?
7. Eleanor appears at key moments throughout the story: she is at the scene of the wreck, for example, and at the museum in New York. She appears at opportune moments with words of wisdom that make Ann think. What role do you think she plays? Do you think that Eleanor may have been an angel? Why?
8. In a chance meeting on her own street, Eleanor tells Ann, “If there’s something you don’t want to face, the sooner you get to it, the better . . . And if it looks to be too big to handle, I break it up into smaller pieces . . . But I don’t let myself avoid the goal altogether.” If you believe Eleanor was an angel, what do you think she was trying to tell Ann?
9. In the hospital, Ethan tells Ann that he just felt in his spirit that he was supposed to help her. He didn’t know why, but he felt it so strongly that he kept after her even though she rebuffed him. Have you had a feeling like this? What did you do? What was the outcome?
10. Reading the words “
make a clean break”
in her mother’s letter, Ann is startled to see her own thoughts mirrored by the woman who’d abandoned her.
Funny how it felt so much nobler
when she [herself ] was the one making the clean break
, and begins to reconsider her plans. What’s the difference between a clean break and quitting? Have you ever felt you were making a clean break—but then others have accused you of being a quitter? How did you handle that?
11. Arguing with Ethan, Ann says, “See, this is your problem. You’re stuck in the old. Old houses, old floors, old ways of doing things. Take a look at what’s new around you; it’s so much more freeing to be able to live in the moment.” Ethan begins to reply, “There’s where you’re dead wrong. We need the old to—” but he is cut off. What do you think he would have said? Do you agree with him, or disagree? Why?
12. Ethan tells Ann, “Tearing out the old, icky stuff is hard, it’s messy . . . And at times it’s downright painful. But you’ve got to be willing to go through the process if you really want to see a true change. Anything less is just a cover-up.” He’s talking about remodeling homes, but he could just as easily be talking about changing one’s life. Do you agree with him? Which characters in
Angel Song
were willing to go through the awkward process of change?
13. A homeless man near her apartment introduces Ann to Hebrews 13:2: “Don’t forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” This concept adds to her understanding of angels—and she begins to reconsider everything that’s happened to her. How many strangers has Ann met? How many might have been angels? Have you ever met a stranger that, in retrospect, you believe may have been an angel?
14. About her son, Keith, Tammy thinks,
If only everyone could see,
they would realize that the one they thought weak was actually the strongest
one among them.
What does she mean? What does the Bible say about situations like this?
15. When Ann sees a painting of the dismissal of Hagar, the slave woman who bore Abraham’s first son, she is shocked that a young mother would be turned out into the desert wilderness—although the experience of having to make do alone is not unlike her own. Then she notices an angel in the painting. As Ann learns more about Hagar—and angels—she begins to understand the nature of God for the first time. Have you had an experience when you felt completely alone? Looking back, can you say when you realized God had been with you all along?
16. Ann says, “If there is a God, why wouldn’t He take better care of the people who actually believe in Him?” This raises the age-old question: why do bad things happen to Christians? Do you think
Angel Song
answers this question for Ann? For you?
I have always been fascinated by the power of a good story. Sometimes when it is told just right, you forget that it is a story at all. It’s as if you know the characters so well that they have become friends. In those stories, you laugh and cry and feel a little less alone. A good story will do that for you as will a circle of friends. Let me introduce you to my circle.
Over the past fifteen years I have had the privilege of being a part of a team called, “Women Of Faith”. As we have travelled from coast to coast, meeting over four million woman one thing had become crystal clear; we all have a story to tell. Each weekend I watch something take place, which is still a mystery to me. As each of my friends gets up on stage to sing or speak or perform a piece of drama I feel the audience lean in and listen. At times you could hear a pin drop, at times the laughter is so intense it rolls in waves. Sometimes as tears flow you know that healing is taking place.
I’d love to invite you to join us one weekend and experience this for yourself. The most common response from women coming for the first time is, “I had no idea!” I understand that sentiment, as that’s how I felt after my first weekend in 1997. So check your schedule and gather up some of your circle and join us. I think I’m fairly safe saying, it will be life changing . . . and when you come, find me and let me know what you thought of
Angel Song
, I’d love to know!
Your friend,
Sheila
Inspiration for Women
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The music was incredible and each speaker’s message either brought me to tears, laughing, or both! I have never had a more fulfilling, uplifting experience! You rehabilitated my soul!
”
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Debbie
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