Review of:  Wild Awakening: How a Raging Grizzly Healed My Wounded Heart

Greg J. Matthews and James Lund.  Howard Books, $26.00 (224p) ISBN 978-1-5011-9453-5

US Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division Antiterrorism Officer and founder of Chase What Matters ministry, Matthews recounts a riveting tale of barely surviving a vicious attack by a grizzly bear in the Alaskan wilderness and how this life-changing event transformed his relationship with God.  Matthews opens the work by describing joyful childhood times with his brothers learning outdoors skills such hunting and camping from their father [pp. 1-9].  He seeks to please his father with sports and other achievements [p. 7 ff].  However, his parents’ divorce leaves him with a deep sense of failure that results in poor decision-making and leads to his getting kicked out of school [pp. 20-44].  Matthews describes how his fear of failing affects his choices as an adult in areas of work and relationships [p. 53 ff].  He becomes driven to succeed in his career, often taking extreme personal risks and spending great amounts of time away from his family [p. 71 ff]. Yet the more he achieves, the more he somehow feels that he is still not doing enough to please God [p. 80].  When his brother Matt suggests going on a moose-hunting expedition in the wilderness of Alaska, Matthews readily accepts [p. 12].  They spend years researching and preparing for the trip.  During their journey, Matthews is attacked by a grizzly bear and almost dies [p. 113 ff].  He describes his fight to survive and being visited by Jesus [pp. 170-190].  Matthews realizes that he is loved by God as well as his earthly father, and that what really matters are relationships rather than achievements [p. 197 ff].  He decides to devote himself more fully to his family and faith and to share the message of God’s healing love [p. 202 ff].  This is a gripping story, profoundly personal, and deeply relatable.  5 stars.

My Interview with Greg Matthews published by Publishers Weekly: