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Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite
The Healing of Windwalker by Donald L. Chadd begins with Richard Bishop coming across a sick and dying Native American in the mesas/mountainous regions of Colorado. Walker is an orphaned boy who had been taken in by a church-going couple, Buddy and Kathy. He loved his new family and their other son, Robbie, and embarked on a new life of school, friendships and church. But Walker’s relatives and tribe of origin wanted him back. Walker, a young man, recounts his life story to Bishop and an extraordinary and heart-breaking tale unfolds. Walker has had spiritual guidance steering him from wrong, and his struggles have caused him to develop into a spiritually attuned young man who believes his purpose is to teach his people that they must give up their bondage to the false traditions of their fathers i.e. forgive and be free.
The Healing of Windwalker is a poignant tale that describes the tribulations and nitty gritty of how life really was for main character, Walker. The story is nicely told from two different perspectives, Bishop’s and Walker’s, and alternates between the present and Walker’s past. Both characters are well depicted and I found both very believable and intriguing. Donald L. Chadd weaves the theologies and beliefs of both the Christian Bible and The Book of Mormon into his story as Walker finds understanding and purpose through his research and search for spiritual truths and meaning.
I loved the way Walker discovers (through his end of life visions and time spent in ‘spirit prison’ before entering Paradise) that unseen forces have always been at work in his life – the good guiding him to defeat the temptations of Satan. There is a lovely message in this book about freeing ourselves from the hang-ups and limiting beliefs and behaviors of our ancestors; and that when we understand the causes of others’ behaviors we cease to judge or respond in negative ways. Walker’s and then Bishop’s mission to show people the way of forgiveness, and so a happy life, is a liberating and hopeful theme that will resonate with readers. A unique, well-crafted story about fear, hatred, purpose, healing, and forgiveness that combines adventure with spiritual quest.