Adam Brown did this: he lived with all his might while he lived. That is one thing that shines through Blehm’s book Fearless. It was refreshing to read of a man who knew his strength was from Another. It seems Adam’s life could be summed up in this, “not I, but Christ.” Funerals are telling of a man’s life and it was clear where Adam wanted the spotlight shined at his. Going from crack addict to elite SEAL operator is humanly impossible. There was a lot of brokenness in Adam’s life and he wanted those things known so that His Savior’s grace would shine.
Adam Brown was a man alive. He understood and lived what most of us just long for. His life was marked with that rare sort of determined abandonment to mediocrity that looks to some like simple recklessness. Recklessness it was not. He understood that life was a gift and that every good and perfect gift was from above. He treasured his wife and children. He treasured the breath he was given and the tremendous giftedness he possessed. Fearless tells of a man with a rare, deep maturity that blends together things that don’t seem like they should go together. Meek and bold; humble and tenacious; longing to show compassion and tenderness –how many shoes did he give away to Afghan children!? Yet, he was ready to deal lethal violence for those to whom it was due. Chesterton’s comment seems to capture well the warrior ethos that Adam possessed. He fought not so much out of hatred for the enemy in “front” of him, but out of love for what was “behind” him- his family, his brothers in arms, his country.
“No matter what my spirit is given to the Lord and I will finally be victorious,” wrote Adam. He understood that death had lost its sting because Christ conquered sin and death once for all. And so his funeral, where his body was laid to rest was not an act of closure. Rather -as much of his life- it was an act of defiance. Death will not have the final say for those like Adam Brown whose hope is in the Lord of Life.
Note: We received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The opinions and review of this title are entirely my own.
