Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers
Francine Rivers is an author in a league of her own. Rivers takes excerpts of Scripture and writes a parable. Bridge to Haven is another to add to her stellar list of God-honoring, well-written works.
Abra is abandoned within minutes of her birth. The newborn is left under a bridge in the town of Haven. Pastor Ezekiel Freeman discovers her during his early morning prayer trek through town. Despite his wife's delicate health, the Freemans adopt Abra. Until Abra is five she knows nothing outside of having loving parents and a brother, Joshua. When Marianne Freeman dies, Pastor Zeke is forced to make the hardest decision of his life. He asks Priscilla and Peter to adopt her. Suddenly Abra has two parents and now a sister, yet her five year old mind can't understand what she did wrong to make Zeke not want her anymore.
Thus begins a pattern in young Abra's life or so she sees. Penny, her newly adopted sister, soon becomes jealous of her. Zeke pulls himself farther away in order to make the transition easier for Abra. She only sees Josh on Sundays, and then he's drafted and away for three years. Despite the leading of the adults in her life, Abra can't understand why God would or should care about her. Her heart becomes ripe for the enemy's picking as her fears of abandonment blossom.
Cue Dylan. Dylan is the extremely handsome new boyfriend of Penny. Abra takes one look and she's both jealous and intrigued. It isn't long before Dylan drops Penny and challenges Abra to leave Haven behind. Her desire to be wanted and Dylan's smooth ways soon have her visiting the worst places California has to offer. Dylan keeps her around longer than he has any of his other conquests, but it more the challenge because Abra never adopts the attitude of worshiping Dylan. Eventually he does want to trade her out so she's passed over to another man.
Franklin Moss has other intentions for Abra besides the sexual pleasure Dylan sought. He sees potential in her to make money. Soon Abra Freeman is gone and Lena Scott is born. Her beauty captivates audiences as she begins making movies. However, Franklin's motives turn more selfish and he eventually marries her to control her.
After years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; Abra is ready to resurface. The foundation laid by Pastor Zeke and the people of Haven is still strong. Abra eventually leaves Hollywood behind with no destination in mind. A series of hardships fall on her and she ends up in the same town as Joshua Freeman who has spent five years praying she'd return to him. In a desperate attempt to get Josh to leave her alone, she confesses all her sins and only finds forgiveness. His forgiveness becomes the bridge to Haven.
Bridge to Haven is a masterful tale of the power of forgiveness and the lesson faithfulness. God's timing isn't always our and we can't always see His plan, but it is there and we need to trust. No matter how much sin separates us from God, the bridge to Him is the length of the cross. Always the length of the cross. The cross is never too short nor is it too long. It bridges the gap to His loving presence.
