What would Jesus read?
“Thin Places” by Mary Treacy O’Keefe (Beaver’s Pond Press, $17). Another hot local author, O’Keefe reflects on the deaths of her parents, which were separated by only three months. The book is subtitled “Where Faith Is Affirmed and Hope Dwells.”
What would Jesus read?
JEFF STRICKLER, Star Tribune, July 5, 2008
Author Explores ‘Thin Places’ by Rhoda Fukashima
“In 2002, Mary Treacy O’Keefe and her nine siblings experienced the death of their parents just three months apart. O’Keefe, co-founder of a nonprofit wellness resource center in West St. Paul, began to write about the “thin places” – spiritual experiences that connect us to God. While her book, “Thin Places: Where Faith Is Affirmed and Hope Dwells,” centered on her family’s experiences during this time, Treacy says “thin places” can happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone…”
Author Explores ‘Thin Places’ by Rhoda Fukashima
Pioneer Press Article Launched: 07/13/2007
4.5 Star Rating from Amazon
“…We can all relate to some element in this tender book. The author is very honest in her ambivalence of feelings. She has shown, in Thin Places: Where Faith Is Affirmed and Hope Dwells, that humans are united in many ways, and that much good can come out of the most trying of circumstances. Families can grow together, instead of apart, when tough situations come into our lives…”
Midwest Book Review, Reviewer’s Choice April 2006
Brilliantly authored by Mary Treacy O’Keefe, Thin Places: Where Faith Is Affirmed And Hope Dwells is a conceptual review of the author’s grief for her parents’ death and how she found with ease the “thin places” between her parents in heaven and herself in the midst of the everyday. Inspired and inspiring, Thin Places is very highly recommended reading, especially for those grieving the a passing of a loved one and seeking closure.
Pam Keul, Turtle River Press (March- April 2006)
“…O’Keefe’s Story is compelling, but the book is more than a story; it’s a handbook for letting go of those we dearly love when it’s time for us to say goodbye. Thin Places is filled with tips and tools, practical information to smooth what is perhaps the most challenging of times in any family…”
Alexa Umbreit, Pathways to Spirituality and Healing: Embracing Life and Each Other in the Face of a Serious Illness
Mary O’Keefe’s stories remind us all to stop, listen, be present, and be full of gratitude for life’s blessings, even in the midst of challenging times. She teaches us to pay attention to, watch for, and appreciate the times we feel a deep connection to the divine—those “thin places” where we behold God all around us and within us and where past, present, and future meet in one whole interconnected space where true peace resides
Nancy Goldstein, patient education program manager, Fairview-University Medical Center
I was touched by Mary O’Keefe’s story about her family’s experience with the loss of her parents. She shares stories of the courage, strength, and wisdom with which her parents faced their mortality and how she and her siblings coped. She encourages readers to be open to what she calls “thin places” and to take comfort from that experience—a universal message that extends to people of all faiths.
Janet O. Hagberg, Real Power and The Critical Journey
Mary O’Keefe shows us, by story after story after story, that thin places are not just for the few, but are available to give comfort and hope to everyone going through a painful life experience. May our hearts be open to receive this thin-place grace.
Review by S. Potter
This book is a great leveler. Each of us has experienced, or eventually will experience, the death of a loved one. We never know how we will deal with that trial until we go through it. It helps so much to learn how others coped with similar situations. We can all relate to some element in this tender book. The author is very honest in her ambivalence of feelings. She has shown, in Thin Places: Where Faith Is Affirmed and Hope Dwells, that humans are united in many ways, and that much good can come out of the most trying of circumstances. Families can grow together, instead of apart, when tough situations come into our lives.
It is a book giving much hope to all of us. If we can cope with grace and dignity as we care for a dying parent, and then another one, we can get through anything that comes our way. We can become more aware of our spiritual core through such experiences, and we can reach out to others in their own hard times to provide support, understanding, and empathy. I did not want this book to end. Each chapter brought tears to my eyes and a warm feeling inside. Thanks for a beautiful memoir from a loving daughter to honor exemplary parents. Let’s hope that we can each rise to the occasion and show the grace, love, and dignity that the Treacy family demonstrated when their parents slipped through the veil to eagerly await a joyful reunion with their devoted children someday.
Mary Treacy O'Keefe 