Miracle at Angels Bend by R. Christian Bohlen
Consider these words: Sin masquerades as freedom until the consequences come.
It’s a telling quote often attributed to Billy Graham but a sentiment preached by many for generations. It also underscores a key theme in R. Christian Bohlen’s Miracle at Angels Bend.
In this tale of sin and redemption, Bohlen gathers a cast of varied characters, each struggling with their own choices and the consequences of these choices. For all of their differences, one thing unites them: they have been recruited as beta readers for a mysterious book — an account of the life and teachings of Jesus that will change the trajectories of their lives.
Lost Characters in Search of a Miracle
Consider the main players, all residents of Angels Bend:
Hannah, who someday wants to be a missionary, resorts to drugs to muffle the pain caused by her car accident that killed her father and brother. And she is torn by a past relationship with Josh.
Josh, who wants to be a musician, needs to ward off bad influences, including his brother, that could shatter his dream.
Dave struggles with his wife’s mental illness, which wreaks havoc with his emotions. And he lives with the guilt of not reporting a seriously damaging fire that he inadvertently started years ago.
Larina is a promising journalist falling in love with her boss, a married man.
They are all in need of some sort of “miracle” to snap them out of their dilemmas and get their lives back on course. And the stakes are high. To quote from the mysterious book: “The scriptures warn us that if we continue in sin, our conscience will numb … To get past the numb, we may seek the excitement of more serious deeper sins.”
“It’s a gripping spiral downward.” And that spiral has trapped Bohlen’s central characters. So much so that one of them laments: “That’s what I want. A miracle. I want my life back.”
Reconnecting with What Is Truly Important
Somehow, miracles find the people who need them.
The motley crew is asked to read the mysterious book independently and meet at Dave’s house every few weeks for a group discussion that will provide the (unnamed) author with helpful feedback. In addition to having very different lives and worries, they have varying degrees of Christian influence and background.
But somehow, the book has exactly what each of them needs. It forces them to reflect on their lives as they confront their current-day issues, garner wisdom from passages in the book, and find guidance in the lessons of Jesus.
It’s a journey that unfolds as the story progresses. The author quotes Marcel Proust in saying, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
What we discover is a group of modern-day people living in a “hurry culture,” in a world full of distractions — everything from the internet to social media to art to music — all potentially positive influences that can work against us and take our eye off the ball.
These distractions nudge people away from faith at a time when they could use it more than ever. Bohlen’s message? It’s time to slow down and reconnect with what is truly important in life.
A Mission to Reclaim Their Souls — and Their Faith
And it comes not a moment too soon for the characters; each has come to a critical crossroads. “Sometimes,” says Dave’s ministry leader Ramon, “when we think we can do life on our own, He allows us to drive into a wall, so we look for Him. Tough love, you know.”
In reading Miracle at Angels Bend, I am reminded of what one critic described as one of the key themes surrounding Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz:
Her unusual journey, along with that of her friends, through the pull of conflict and evil, serves as a metaphor for the path of self-discovery, commitment in faith and what is true, and personal growth that we all experience in our lives.
Far more than finding courage, a heart and a brain, like the Oz characters do, this book is on a mission to help people find the root of their being — their souls, their faith. And it’s hardly a casual exercise. Miracle at Angels Bend demonstrates that no matter your circumstances, the teachings of Christ offer answers and guidance — even in today’s modern world.
Wisdom to Change Readers’ Lives for the Better
The mysterious book and Miracle at Angels Bend share one key attribute: they hold seeds of wisdom that have the power to change readers’ lives for the better. Bohlen’s work holds great value to the curious, the new and the practiced followers of Christianity. He relays lessons derived from a deep spiritual and religious conviction that will have you see your life with new eyes — if you are open to a new perspective.
As the mysterious book notes, “It is much more of a commitment than we typically attribute to it. It is jumping in with full trust, both feet, cannonball.”
Amen.
About the Author:
R. Christian Bohlen is a bestselling author and an award-winning consultant to Fortune 500 companies, providing instructional design services and developing human performance improvement programs. He has been involved in ministry and church leadership for more than 30 years and worked for over a decade with juvenile offenders as an educator. He’s enjoyed a successful career in corporate training, resulting in prestigious personal and team awards including the 2023 Brandon Hall Gold award for blended learning design and the 2015 ISPI Outstanding Human Performance Improvement award. He holds a Master of Science degree in Communications. His interest in writing Christian learning materials developed 30 years ago as he looked for simple resources to help youth understand the Bible and find Christ.
