Gift of the Red Bird: The Story of a Divine Encounter [Paperback]

Paula D'Arcy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

When Paula D'Arcy lost her husband and baby in a car crash, she began an inner search for a faith that was stronger than fear. She tells her story of spiritual exhaustion, her journey alone into the wilderness for three days, and the renewal she was blessed to experience. Now with reflection guide for reading groups.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In Song for Sarah (1979), D'Arcy captured the primal pain of loss, and, since its publication, she has become a popular lecturer and workshop leader in the burgeoning field of grief counseling. Grief, she shows us in this new book, is an ongoing, never-completed process, one that becomes woven into the fabric of the grieving person's spiritual life. Now in midlife, D'Arcy realized that she must move yet further on her journey toward trusting the divine plan. A three-day solitary wilderness trip tested that faith, especially when a massive storm tore through her canyon home. But a red bird that miraculously survived the storm taught her to laud the tiny miracles of our earthly lives. Readers of the quarter-million copies of Song for Sarah will want to make this spiritual encounter with her. Patricia Monaghan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

I was deeply moved by this beautiful true story, and you will be too. --Madeleine L Engle

A powerful testimony of how the Divine woos the soul into a sacred embrace. --Joyce Rupp, author of Your Sorrow is My Sorrow and Praying Our Goodbyes

A story full of hope, reminding us not only of our need to learn and relearn certain basic truths, but of God s patience in guiding us. --Spiritual Book News

A powerful testimony of how the Divine woos the soul into a sacred embrace. --Joyce Rupp, author of Your Sorrow is My Sorrow and Praying Our Goodbyes

A story full of hope, reminding us not only of our need to learn and relearn certain basic truths, but of God s patience in guiding us. --Spiritual Book News --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Crossroad Publishing (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824519566
• ISBN-13: 978-0824519568
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Death & Grief > Grief & Bereavement

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, extremely touching book of the soul., June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gift of the Red Bird: A Spiritual Encounter (Hardcover)

Gift of the Red Bird, a Spiritual Encounter, reads like a journal from Paula D'Arcy's life. On August 18, 1975, on a return trip home to Connecticut, Paula's car was struck by a drunk motorist. Her daughter, Sarah, died of head injuries on August 20, and her husband died three days later from a ruptured spleen. Paula was alive and three months pregnant with her second baby daughter, Beth. For this reason, she went on living.

Gift of the Red Bird tells of a story of extreme loss and ache, of searching for answers, of making sense out of the pain, and of looking for some light in the darkness.

This is Paula's journey, and when she goes on a wilderness retreat -- where it's just her, God, and nature -- she begins to get some comfort for her wounds.

A deeply moving narrative, this book may be short, but the message is deep and lasting. It's a journey well worth taking for anyone who has ever had a tragedy hit their lives where they've had the same questions.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overcoming the fear of being alone with God, January 31, 2000

By 

Jackie M. Sthilaire "Memere Jackie" (Manchester, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gift of the Red Bird: A Spiritual Encounter (Hardcover)

Paula's loss of husband and child brought her into a spiritual wilderness, a void deeper than can ever be explained. Paula shares with us her inner struggles, her ability to let go and go so deep as to be given amazing grace. This search is not easy, it seems when one is ready to give up on oneself, at that very second something/someone transcends us and grace is welcomed and received. Another author who shares with us her insights is Kathleen Norris in her book Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific for those who need to wrestle with God, January 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gift of the Red Bird: A Spiritual Encounter (Hardcover)

Like the first reviewer, I found Paula's book at Laity Lodge during a retreat. I was at a time in my life where I was mourning the stage of life I was in. Somehow, I was able to strangely relate to Paula's experience. I couldn't put the book down and it now holds a very special place in my heart. I am glad Paula had the courage to spend three days alone in the wilderness with nothing to distract her but the voice of God. Now, I hear God in a little different way as well.