It is one of the best books I have ever read. Before reading it, I never thought that everything I do—whether minor or major—can impact others. I believe many people don’t really think about what they’re doing or how it might affect others. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it much either.
Maybe we keep track of the effects of our important or serious work, professions, or activities, but we rarely consider the small or invisible actions. Yet, even those seemingly insignificant actions can deeply affect others—sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, or even cause harm. Have you ever thought about that?
This book reveals this truth through the story of Eddie, an elderly man who is 83 years old. He worked as maintenance staff at Ruby Pier, an amusement park. He had always wanted to work or build a career somewhere else, but for many reasons, he never could. One day, Eddie dies while trying to save a little girl from a falling cart.
As Eddie journeys to heaven, he meets five people who had the greatest impact on his life while he was on Earth. He is amazed to learn how their lives were connected to his.
First, he meets the Blue Man, who used to be part of the freak show at Ruby Pier many years ago. The Blue Man tells Eddie that he died because of him. When Eddie was a child, he ran into the street chasing a lost ball. The Blue Man swerved his car to avoid hitting Eddie but had a heart attack and died.
Second, Eddie meets the captain of his World War II unit. During the war, Eddie lost his leg to a gunshot. The captain reveals that he was the one who shot Eddie’s leg to save his life. He also tells Eddie that he died at the same time.
The third person is Ruby. She explains that Ruby Pier was named after her long ago. Eddie and his father had a distant relationship and barely spoke by the end. Ruby tells Eddie that his father was loyal to both family and friends.
Fourth, Eddie meets his wife, Marguerite, who died at age 47. They never had children, although they tried to adopt but couldn’t. After their parents’ deaths, it was just the two of them. Eddie shares with Marguerite how lonely life was after her death, and they talk about their eternal love.
Finally, he meets Tala, a young girl. During the war, Eddie saw a shadow in the flames of a fire and tried to save her, but he was shot in the leg and couldn’t reach her. Tala reveals that the shadow was her and that she died in that fire. She tells Eddie that he was meant to be the maintenance man at Ruby Pier, keeping children safe on the rides.
At last, Eddie finds peace and goes to be with his beloved Marguerite.
This novel contains many lessons that can change how we treat others in daily life. Here are the five main lessons Eddie learned from these five people in heaven, in order of his encounters:
There are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from other than you can separate a breeze from the wind.
Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you aren’t really losing it. You are just passing it on to someone else.
Holding anger is poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.
Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that’s all.
Life has to end. Love doesn’t.
You are alright where you were supposed to be.
