Recently I read this book, “Snow Falling on Cedars” by David Guterson. This novel was a winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the American Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award. With these awards in hand, I was quite sure this volume carried some weight. Frankly I seldom read fictional novels nowadays because I tend to be more practical. I would read Christian books or books that are helpful and insightful for upcoming preaching and teaching needs. But somehow that day, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I had no books beside me except that one, so I picked it up to read.
It was not very interesting at first. It took almost one third of the book to catch my attention, from then on, it was captivating and there was no turning back. The last line of the book actually touched the core of my soul. Hugging the book, I had to walk a few circles around my house to meditate and let the words sink in.
In summary, the story line of the book revolves around a murder case in a small town. The suspect was actually innocent, but because of his race and tensions in the town, everybody believed that he was the culprit. One reporter accidentally found some evidence proving that it was an accident. However, because he and the wife of the suspect were lovers before and he still had feelings for her, he thought perhaps if he kept quiet… Finally he decided to let the truth be known, so that the suspect was freed from any charges.
While this reporter was summing up the story, he wrote this line: “that accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart.” (p. 460) This was the line that threw me off and I completely agree with it. How true it is! Our heart is capable of doing all kinds of evil. We can plot and plan and conspire; we can do things with hidden agendas and evil intentions. The character in the novel definitely went through all kinds of thoughts in his heart and his decision was not by accident. Eventually he was an overcomer.
What a great lesson from an award winning novel.