The Bottle House

The roots of The Bottle House run deep into soil of human sorrow and made me wonder where God is amid tragedy and suffering. I would watch the news and often see one tragic story after another and think, "How does God feel about all the hurt, fear and chaos that happens on this earth?" I know God is love, and that He loves me so much He sent His son to die for me and yet, why does God allow these things to happen? How do I let go of the control I think I have and trust God when my life's falling apart? I have seen many people angry at God for this very thing and in writing The Bottle House, I've had to wrestle with this reality.

There is no doubt in my mind that God is not only aware of our sorrow and despair, but He is also right there with us in our pain. The three suffering characters in the novel are immersed in their individual pain, and long to have a relationship with God yet, harbor anger, fear and frustration that God allows such tragic things in His children's lives. It was while exploring these issues personally that Chaplain Miller and his collection of beautiful bottles were born. Throughout the story, each suffering character discovers little bits of information about these bottles and, though they question the chaplain, the bottles' full purpose is not quickly revealed. The mystery of the bottles becomes clearer as each character works through their personal sorrow and Chaplain Miller finally reveals their purpose in the novel's culminating chapter.