Have a little faith by Mitch Albom

In the midst of a busy month for work and fun, I found time to read Albom’s latest book and read it in under a week. Have a little faith tells two stories, in two different worlds about two different religions that come together in the end as our author writes about his own struggle with his faith.

One is the story of Albom and his beloved 82-year old Rabbi, Albert Lewis (a rarity to have one Rabbi in your congregation for your whole life), who asks of him to deliver his eulogy. Such a request is astounding to Albom as he has looked up to his “Reb” his whole life and cannot imagine such an enormous task of eulogizing someone so highly regarded in his hometown community.

To be able to give the Reb the eulogy Albom felt he deserved, Albom spent many hours with him in his office and home. Keep in mind that the Reb was living in Albom’s hometown in New Jersey while he currently lives in Detroit. In one discussion when the Reb’s health has begun to decline he states, “ ‘Getting old, we can deal with. Being old is the problem.” (p.125) When talking with the Reb another time about war and its’ existence because of religious beliefs, the Reb responds, “ ‘That is not faith, that is hate.” He sighed. “And if you ask me, God sits up there and cries when that happens.” (p.161) Many similar conversations are help between the pair as Albom continually inquires more about Rabbi Lewis as his health begins to fail.

The second story is that of a man Albom meets in his hometown, a man who was once a convicted drug dealer that is now the preacher of a struggling local church known as Henry. The preacher’s church has a decaying roof that eventually becomes a large hole in the roof and ceiling of the chapel. For a time being as well, the heat is shut off in the church.

Albom learns of Henry’s faith bringing him back to reality after several drug related altercations that began to impact the safety of his family, his wife and child. Despite disparaging conditions at the church and the members’ inability to help financially, Henry never loses hope or faith that his church will not survive. Instead, Henry continues to take in many homeless people to provide them shelter and food that they need to survive. Henry strives to offer them a place of safety, one he could have used himself earlier in life.

As a reader this book will take you on an incredible journey – one that links two different religions, two different ethnicities and two different men to one common belief, their faith.