For our church book club discussion this month, we chose Todd Burpo's book, Heaven Is For Real. I've seen interviews with Burpo and his son several times. First when the original book came out and then when the children's version was published. The interviews left me wondering. Could this be truly what it is portrayed to be? Did four year old Colton truly visit heaven or at least have a vision of it?
The book came out in 2010 and immediately began creating a chasm between those who would believe it wholeheartedly and those who would dismiss it as bunk and a cheap way to make a buck. I put off reading it--actually probably would not have read it had our book club not picked it. Now that I have read it, I'm caught somewhere in between the two sides.
The experiences related by Colton's father as he retells his son's story are "backed up" by scripture. Too often I find that one can bend the scripture to the situation. On the other hand, some of the events Colton tells, like meeting a sister he didn't know he had (a baby that was miscarried), makes you want to believe. And then there's the possibility that a precocious young child could have absorbed much of his information of heaven and the other tales from adults who didn't know he was taking in their conversation. Yet, how did he know some of the details that seemingly would not have been talked about?
So you see, as far as believability, my jury is still out. If you are looking for an easy read, something that will touch your heart, and you want to believe in it, then by all means, take this book along and read it as you travel. It is a good read and will certainly have you thinking about more than just making that next connection at the airport.
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