I love reading. This shouldn’t surprise you considering the
times I’ve talked about some of the books I’ve read. As a personal challenge
however, I had an idea. Several people I know also enjoy reading so I thought
we’d swap books. That is, the challenge is they would give me a book that they’d
like to see me read, and I would, in turn do the same.
It’s a good idea for a couple of reasons. One it helps you
to broaden your horizons, and two, it provides others with an insight into the
things that you find interesting or fascinating. Late last year, I exchanged
books with my aunt. I gave her one of my favorites, which was a biography on
Johnny Cash, and in exchange, she gave me an account of life in Holland during
World War II called The Hiding Place.
To begin, it took me several months to read this book. Not
because it was difficult to read mind you. Actually, if a person were to really
dig in, they would be able to read it in a couple of days, if that. But, given
how my mind works, I wasn’t really in the best frame of mind over the winter to
really dig into it, and given the account, you really had to be. My fault, to
be sure, but I did finish it, and highly recommend it to you.
The
Hiding Place is an account of life in Holland just prior
to, and during World War II. It’s told from the perspective of Corrie ten Boom,
a middle aged woman living with her family and extended family. Corrie
discusses life in the town she lives in Haarlem, and her family runs a watch
shop. There, her aged father builds but mostly maintains watches for the people
of the town. They are a Christian family, and throughout the whole ordeal,
Corrie makes many references to their devout faith, which is found especially
in her younger sister, Bestie.
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| The ten Boom family |
Eventually, the Nazi’s invade, and life in Haarlem isn’t
the same as it used to be. Certain people (feeble minded and Jews) are rounded
up on a daily basis and others are threatened to toe the line as it were.
However, the ten Boom family will not turn anyone away from their door,
regardless of their religious beliefs. This action causes some issues down the
line, and eventually they are recruited to work for the resistance. The watch
shop (and home which is above it) become a place for people to hide from the
SS.
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| The actual Hiding Place, located in the ten Boom home which is now a museum. |
The family manages to get away with this for a long period
of time before the Nazi’s come. They arrest the family and take them to several
prisons, both in Holland and later, in Germany.
What I found most fascinating about the story was the
descriptions of the times. Obviously, life was much different but still, it was
possible to make comparisons to life today, and when doing so, I found that,
even in that context, I was making comparisons to some things I was dealing
with.
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| Corrie and Bestie ten Boom. |
Likewise, the descriptions of the atrocities of the Nazi’s
and man’s inhumanity to their fellow men were powerful. Throughout the course,
Corrie finds her faith is tested; I would even go as far as to say well past
the breaking point. And yet, throughout it all, her sister Bestie carries on an
unwavering faith that is almost unbelievable. Strong faith, when put through
such horrific conditions is something that is hard to imagine. Bestie’s faith
in God and her Christian belief’s do not waver for even a second. At times, it
seems as though that is the only thing that keeps Corrie going on, especially
through their ordeals in the Nazi prisons.
Imagines of Schindler's List were going through
my mind while I read the account, and while I was in the middle of it, I was
watching the miniseries Band of Brothers. I had to stop
watching for a bit because the story was so powerful, so vivid, and so
compelling.
While it has many lighter moments, and bits of humor
throughout, The Hiding Place is a very powerful account of life under the Nazi regime
and a very memorable account of the power that having faith can do for people
who are under such circumstances.
If you get a chance, I would highly recommend it.
