He was tall and fit, with a blond crew cut and the rough edges of a country boy. He told me stories from the war, and the conflicts he felt about fighting it, and I helped him to explore the struggles with faith that so often result from witnessing the profane effects of combat. I aspired not to be that girl, much to the chagrin of my fundamentalist Christian parents.
All of the girls wanted to claim him, but ours was a strictly platonic relationship, and we both liked it that way. He was always trying to fix me up with his friend, Garrett, who was a little bit older and a popular adjunct on campus. Finally, one day, he tagged along with Austin for lunch at our favorite rib place. I thought he was fascinating, if a bit fussy and impatient. We shared a love for travel and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, but our compatibility pretty much ended there.
He had the exact same golf shirt in every color. He was clean-cut and conservative. I loved red lipstick and Bob Dylan. I think, for his part, Garrett was drawn to me, at least initially, because of who my father was: I used to tease him that he had a man crush on Papa. He was the first to initiate any real closeness between us, always inviting me for walks through the park on Riverside, near the university, or hot-tubbing at his house nearby. We often cuddled and nuzzled and kissed. But we were in different places in our lives. He was ready to settle down and have a family.
I was a free spirit on the verge of many adventures I had planned for my future. Garrett and Austin were country boys at heart. They both grew up in small Oklahoma towns, in families with strong Christian values. While I did just about anything to distance myself from what I saw as my oppressive religious background, they were looking for ways to put their faith to work.
In fact, that was the purpose of our flight to Council Bluffs, Iowa, on that fateful day in May. I was going to get closer to my dad, to try to atone for the disappointment he felt in me for straying from my faith. I wanted to document the beginning of our big adventure. There we are, crunched together in the back of the Cessna, the boys in their golf shirts and khakis, me in my big, red sunglasses. I held out my camera and pursed my lips like a supermodel. They woke up smiling. Austin and Garrett had so much promise and so many grand intentions.
So why were they taken so young, before they had a chance to realize their dreams? Why did I live and they die? I have asked myself those very questions relentlessly over the last few months. Even when I do take something to try to numb my thoughts, the respite from feelings of guilt and remorse are fleeting.
I have felt hopelessly alone in my grief. Salvation from my dark thoughts? The field where we crashed is vast, with random clumps of oak and ash trees. Making my way through shorn stalks of corn, I am guided only by my instincts and the light of the rising, full moon. I am a diminutive girl—five feet two inches, and a hundred pounds last I checked—a mere speck in the wide-open landscape that is rolled out before me, yet rather than feeling lost or overwhelmed, I feel strangely content, the way I do when I wrap myself in the ratty black sweater I keep in my bottom dresser drawer back home, for those chilly nights when nothing else can warm me.
This is the place that changed my life and challenged who I was—a rebellious and rather cynical girl who questioned everything about her staunch Christian upbringing, even the existence of God. My hope is that I might find some answers in this lonely stretch of rural cropland. Only then can I begin to live again. The walk through the field is longer than I remember. Except for the crunch of my steps on the leftover corn stalks from the fall harvest, it is as quiet as death.
I freeze in my tracks, but something—what is it? Tentative but determined, I press on. A few minutes pass, and I know I am close to the crash site because the energy around me has come alive. My skin prickles with anticipation. I walk a few steps farther, wondering what will come next, how far I still have to go. I pull the pocket flashlight from my backpack and shine it on the spot. My heart skips and jumps. A few feet in front of me, scattered around a towering red oak, is what has to be a million bits of metal, reflecting the light from the full moon.
I pick up a handful and tuck them into my bag for safekeeping. They feel like treasure, the last vestiges of my precious friendships.
See a Problem?
The oak tree looms over me like a pair of protective arms. Its trunk is scorched and its limbs are twisted and bowed. This is where the plane stopped after it slammed into the ground and careened wildly out of control. At first I am stunned, but then lyrics my sister, Charity, wrote for me, in an attempt to lift my sagging spirits, spring to mind. I begin to sing. Their howling turns to what sounds like raucous laughter. I belong here, too. This is where I need to be.
I spread my blanket at the foot of the tree and pull the candle and matches from my backpack. As I strike a match to light the wick, I feel the presence of Garrett and Austin bearing into me. Yes, it is a physical presence, not some wanton wish, and, in spite of my doubting nature, I know it to be them. My beloved friends are as here with me as they were when we huddled under the bridge, passing a cigar and sharing a beer. She is the only survivor and works to recover physically from burns and broken bones and to recover mentally. By the end of the book, Hannah reveals that she really found herself and her faith after the crash.
A great testimony like this really puts life in perspective and teaches you to find hope in the most unlikely places. Feb 20, Ann rated it liked it. He had served in Iraq with him. I located the book for him and he told me a little bit about the book and showed me a picture of Austin. Now that I know this customer, well somewhat I feel a connection to Austin and need to read the book. Sometimes when I get done reading a book, I like it more and more a few days later after I think more about it. I hope that happens with this book since I love her ending so much. Jun 20, Nancy rated it liked it.
I've said this often and I'll say it again, I'm always hesitant to read memoirs and I really have to want to read about the person or the subject matter. I'd never heard of Hannah Luce but I have been following another airplane crash survivor, Stephanie Nielsen, as she has healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I wanted to hear Hannah's story. See the rest of this review: Oct 14, Kathleen Kat Smith rated it it was amazing Shelves: Why I am the only one left?
What Hannah shares in Fields of Grace, the book that chronicles not only what happened that fateful day that would forever change her life in more ways than she could "Why God? What Hannah shares in Fields of Grace, the book that chronicles not only what happened that fateful day that would forever change her life in more ways than she could remember but also shares how difficult her own road to discovery and faith has been being the daughter of a well known youth evangelist, Ron Luce, cofounder and CEO of Teen Mania Ministries.
This is the perfect book for anyone who is just beginning their spiritual walk or questioning where God is at in their dry moments when you wonder is this all there is in your faith walk. Hannah tells a very honest and compelling look at how she was raised and how she began at some point to wonder where God was at in all of it.
She struggles with prayer and wondering why God doesn't answer her like she believes He should. She questions everything she has been raised to believe and wonders if there is something more out there than just what her dad has been teaching her. She introduces us to Austin Anderson, the young man she meets while attending Oral Roberts University who is adored and charmed by countless women but has the most amazing friendship with Hannah because she is unlike anyone he has ever met since returning from two tours in Iraq and has been struggling to come to terms with his faith and seeing the horror of war.
He and Hannah find themselves as true soulmates in every sense of the word even though they are not romantically interested in one another. It will be that same relationship that will be tested in the truest sense when their plane crashes. Hannah tells how difficult it has been trying to find ways to reconnect with not only Austin but with Garrett Coble, the man that she believes was joining the flight that day to ask her to become part of his life, something that was shared between them but never honestly discussed until the day that would forever seal their fates and Hannah would never be able to tell Garrett her true feelings for him.
She fondly remembers Austin's favorite quote from the movie Braveheart, "Every man dies, not every man really lives," and that is just how Garrett lived every moment of his life, a true hero to the end. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars because I truly believe in all of our hearts, we have all had moments of doubt and wonder where God is in the midst of personal trials, struggles or losses we can not explain. This book helps cast aside those doubts and helps us to realize that most of the time God is simply waiting to be invited in, and not asked to prove His existence in our lives.
This book is a love story about three friends whose bond cannot be broken by death. Hannah Luce has decided to donate all proceeds of the sale of Fields of Grace to the nonprofit organization she formed Mirror Tree to aid in the research and to create opportunities for people in the United States to help rehabilitate and reintegrate female refugees and others suffering from the aftereffects of rape, genocide and the loss of identity. This was a dream Austin had and she wants to do all she can to see this dream become a reality and as a tribute to him and the work he had hoped to achieve.
Nov 07, Wendy rated it it was amazing Recommended to Wendy by: Raised in a devote Christian family, the daughter of Ron Luce a renowned youth evangelist and co-founder of Teen Mania Ministries, Hannah feels disconnected from God but after suffering the traumatic effects of a plane crash, a tragic loss and a painful recuperation, she discovers her faith renewed and a strong determination to cont "Field of Grace" by Hannah Luce which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is the most inspiring story of a young woman's journey of faith that I have read in a long time.
Raised in a devote Christian family, the daughter of Ron Luce a renowned youth evangelist and co-founder of Teen Mania Ministries, Hannah feels disconnected from God but after suffering the traumatic effects of a plane crash, a tragic loss and a painful recuperation, she discovers her faith renewed and a strong determination to continue the work of her dearest friends.
This is a story of faith, of a belief that even in our darkest hours God is near, and that if we open our eyes we can see the work of his divine presence all around us. The plot is honest and straightforward as Hannah Luce recounts her life from a faithful, unquestioning child devoted to the work of her kind and compassionate father,to seeking answers as she grows older when she feels God no longer seems a tangible force in her life.
With candid openness she reveals her feeling of being split between two people; one the Hannah obedient to her parents' strong religious beliefs, and the other stumbling in her journey to find God in her own way. With love and understanding Hannah draws a clear picture of the people in life, their personalities, weaknesses and strengths. Garrett, so very masculine in his likes and dislikes struggles for stability in his life, agonizing over his unrequited love for Hannah. He's ambitious and critical at times but warm-hearted and compassionate.
Positive, Encouraging K-LOVE
Austin, a man who has seen a lot of pain and suffering during his two tours of duty finds his faith strained, but through friendship and love finds it renewed. He's dedicated,loyal and sincere, with a strong loving heart. Ron Luce, Hannah's father is a man of unshakeable faith, wanting his daughter to follow his lead and anxious about the path she's following. Like her mother, they show unconditional love, relinquishing her into God's hands as Hannah perseveres through her mental and physical recuperation and searches for her faith.
This is a journey, of survival, of tragedy, of loss, of suffering and pain, but interwoven into all the adversity are woven elements of courage, perseverance, renewal, unquenchable faith and great love. My review cannot begin to do justice to this heartwarming, poignant story that should be read by young and old alike, and by those with faith or searching for it. I enjoyed this book immensely and pray others will take the time to read it to.
Nov 18, Karin rated it it was amazing Shelves: As I was reading this, I thought it would be very easy to review. Now having finished it, I'm at a bit of a loss. I really identified with Hannah's journey, except my plane was a car, the boys were my aunt, and my scars are not from burns. I understand the compulsion to document it, and the frustration that the world continues on, ignoring or not understanding that things will never be the same.
The PTSD struggles are all too familiar and I know that Hannah's healing process will have many more ups and downs for years to come. I could sense when she held back on something, but understand that certain parts of such an intimate experience will always be kept private.
I imagine that this would be lost on the majority of readers. I shared her frustration with the religious platitudes that people offered, and the staunch church atmosphere that continues to stifle so many people when they are searching for answers. So many times I would be reading and think, "I remember thinking that": So far, all I have felt is the torrid guilt of being alive when my friends are dead, and the acid torment of my thoughts.
What am I supposed to do now that you're not here? I don't even know how to live without suffering anymore. Part of me doesn't want to stop suffering because I'm afraid if I do, a piece of you will be gone. The other part of me can't live with this kind of pain much longer. I can't explain the feeling of powerlessness, of utter fear. There were times that the hallucinations blended with reality. It seemed as if he hit every bump in the pavement, which caused me excruciating pain. You'd be a terrible nurse! There's nowhere to go to hide from myself. I hate my skin because it reminds me. I search my mind again and again for things I could have done differently.
Would I ever heal? Would I ever enjoy my life again? Would I ever be able to look at my own body without feeling disgusted? The sight of my skin sickened me, and I continued to feel the emptiness of the hole in my heart where my friends had once been. I still can't decide if this book served to dredge up the pain or actually help a bit with the healing process, but I do really appreciate it. I appreciate it because now I have something to which I can refer people. This may be Hannah's journey, but she has spoken volumes for others.
- Menage Box Set.
- Capabilities?
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PS - I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway. Kinda feels like it was meant to be. May 19, Torie rated it it was amazing Shelves: Not only is this story "of hope, survival, and faith lost and found" but also about finding ones self. The book begins as Hannah is walking towards where her plane had crashed 6 months ago. As she is walking towards where the wreckage was she tells her story At first Hannah is compliant and does all she can from ministry work to creating a website for pre-t Not only is this story "of hope, survival, and faith lost and found" but also about finding ones self.
At first Hannah is compliant and does all she can from ministry work to creating a website for pre-teen girls but as she gets older she starts to struggle with her faith, as most do at some point in their life. She is afraid to tell her parents so she lives a lie for several years even following her to a Christian college in Oklahoma where she meets Austin and Garrett who are strong in their faith.
Austin is the typical country boy from Texas fresh from the marines. He sees Hannah is different right away and basically forces her to become one of his best friends. He then introduces her to Garrett who has always been a fan of Hannah's dad. They have an instant connection but never actually have an official relationship outside of friendship. On May 11, a plane crash took place in SE Kansas which took the lives of many heading to a teen evangelist event including Austin, Garret and two others.
Hannah tells her side of the story along with others who witnessed that day and the struggles that came after. Normally I am not a fan of non-fiction or autobiographies but this was very well written with a great pace and a fantastic insight as to the author got from one place in her life to another. This is a great book about finding your own beliefs and being who you really are. Apr 23, Pamela rated it really liked it Shelves: Written in such a simple conversational manner, I felt as if I was sitting along the banks of a river with Hannah, sharing her joys, tears, struggles, laughs, quandaries, heartaches, searing pains, and soaring triumphs.
If you or someone you know has ever: I found the first half to be thought provoking and considerably enjoyable. But the latter half — get the Kleenex ready; the "Crash" chapter and several chapters afterwards, ripped my heart out. But yet, overall, this a beautiful, honest, victorious memoir. Mar 26, Leeann rated it liked it Shelves: This book intrigued me on many levels and to be very frank, the plane crash was not the most interesting part to me. I could relate to Hannah's feelings about her father Ron Luce's evangelical faith and reaching a point in her own life when she began to question if he was missing the point, if faith was meant to be so exclusive, so black and white.
I have experienced the same realizations regarding faith versus man-made religion. This caused a rift between them and left Hannah floundering as she This book intrigued me on many levels and to be very frank, the plane crash was not the most interesting part to me. This caused a rift between them and left Hannah floundering as she tried to figure out her own beliefs and how to have them while maintaining a relationship with her parents.
The plane crash itself was utterly horrifying. I feel for Hannah, being the sole survivor of the crash and losing her friends. Survivor guilt is a powerful and horrible thing. I admire her for writing the book and even more for donating the full proceeds of the book to a nonprofit charity that she created in her friend's memory. The grit and compassion that she has will carry her far in her life. I think we will be hearing more from this young lady in the future. I wrote this honest review in exchange for reading an ARC from Netgalley.
Mar 17, Sarah rated it really liked it.
Fields of Grace
Fields of Grace is a memoir about Hannah's experience growing up with her Evangelizing Christian parents, especially her Father who founded Teen Mania, a Christian teen camp. She starts to doubt and question her parents fundamental Christian faith in her teenage years, and goes through a lot of hard times with this. I can say I understood a bit of how she feels. The last third of the book is about a plan crash she was in, and what she went through with that in coming to terms with her faith and Fields of Grace is a memoir about Hannah's experience growing up with her Evangelizing Christian parents, especially her Father who founded Teen Mania, a Christian teen camp.
The last third of the book is about a plan crash she was in, and what she went through with that in coming to terms with her faith and the feelings of being the only survivor. She's still quite young early 20s and so there's going to be a lot more of her life to figure things out, but I thought it was a good story, and I always credit people for sharing their personal experiences. I did love her quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and I love that she's found her own way to make a difference in the world with non profit organization, of which she says that the proceeds of this book will go to that.
Oct 14, Meghan rated it really liked it. I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway. While I follow the news quite closely I do not remember having heard of the plane crash involving Hannah Luce. Hannah Luce is the daughter of minister Ron Luce, who is also the founder of Teen Mania which is where she was heading with her friends when the plane they were aboard crashed. This is the story of Hannah's life thus far, as well as the plane crash she survived last year which took the life of four of her close friends. The reason I gave t I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway. The reason I gave this review 4 stars, it was written so soon after the plane crash.
This didn't allow Hannah to reflect on how it changed her beyond the immediate loss of her friends and the extensive burns she suffered. This mad the ending of the book feel quite rushed as it lacked much reflection. This book is good for anyone who may be questioning their faith as in the novel Hannah certainly questions hers. Having known friends who were the sole survivors of accident and sat there often wondering, why me, why am I the one who survived, I think Hannah's story would be told much better in a few years.
I wonder as well what her relationship is with her parents today. Jan 10, Liz Toone rated it it was amazing. I didn't expect to become so captivated by this book, but once I got going with Hannah's story, I couldn't put it down I literally read the majority of it over one morning. Hannah is so honest in her perceptions and writes in such a genuine way; you really feel she is opening up to the reader without trying to manipulate their perception of her. She communicates her faith and beliefs without being preachy, and I found her open-mindedness and curiosity refreshing and inspiring.
You can't argue I didn't expect to become so captivated by this book, but once I got going with Hannah's story, I couldn't put it down I literally read the majority of it over one morning. You can't argue the enormity of the trauma she faces as a result of her plane crash, but the sense of purpose she eventually finds cannot be argued with, and encouraged me to reflect upon my own path in life.
Her warmth towards her father despite their difference in beliefs is also worth noting; you can tell Hannah really loves and cares for her father and for all those a part of her story. Overall, I found this a remarkable read - engaging, thought-provoking and full of warmth. A fitting tribute to the friends she wishes to honour and to her family. Sep 13, Kari rated it liked it Shelves: This is the story of her life as the daughter of a very public ministry figure as well as the plane crash she survived last year which took the life of four of her friends.
An interesting and compelling story marred by a rushed ending without a lot of resolution. Dec 12, Michelle rated it it was amazing. What a beautifully , inspirational love story on so many levels. Hannah it truly was my honour to be allowed to step into your life.