THE LONG JOURNEY TO JAKE PALMER


What if there was a place where everything wrong in your life could be fixed?

Corporate trainer Jake Palmer coaches people to see deeper into themselves—yet he barely knows himself anymore. Recently divorced and weary of the business life, Jake reluctantly agrees to a lake-house vacation with friends, hoping to escape for ten days.

When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake—about a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be fulfilled.

Jake scoffs at the idea, but can’t shake a sliver of hope that the corridor is real.

more …

What if there was a place where everything wrong in your life could be fixed?

Corporate trainer Jake Palmer coaches people to see deeper into themselves—yet he barely knows himself anymore. Recently divorced and weary of the business life, Jake reluctantly agrees to a lake-house vacation with friends, hoping to escape for ten days.

When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake—about a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be fulfilled.

Jake scoffs at the idea, but can’t shake a sliver of hope that the corridor is real. And when he meets a man who mutters cryptic speculations about the corridor, Jake is determined to find the path, find himself, and fix his crumbling life.

But the journey will become more treacherous with each step Jake takes.

less …
  • Thomas Nelson
  • Paperback
  • August 2016
  • 400 Pages
  • 9781401686130

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About James L Rubart

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer and speaker. He is the author of the best-selling novel Rooms as well as Book of Days, The Chair, Soul's Gate, Memory's Door, and Spirit Bridge. He lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.

Discussion Questions

What do you feel are the major themes in The Long Journey

to Jake Palmer?

Which character in the novel could you relate to the most?

The least? Why?

Camille isn’t the most pleasant person in the world. Do

you have any Camilles in your life? How do you make that

relationship work?

Jake’s deepest question is, “Am I enough?” The question is

almost universal. Are you one of the many who ask it about

yourself ?

If you answered yes to the above question, where do you feel

you haven’t been enough in someone else’s life?

6. Where do you feel you haven’t been enough in your own life?

Jake gives talks about it being impossible to read the label

when you’re standing inside the bottle, and we’re all standing

inside our own bottles. What do you think is on your label?

Do you want to find out?

Is there anyone in your life who tells you what is on your

label? If yes, how do they do it?

Have you ever told those close to you what is on their labels?

Has anyone ever told you what is on yours?

During an author retreat I ( James) once led the group in

a read-each- other’s-labels exercise. It was powerful and

uncomfortable, both at the same time. We were all nervous

to hear what would be said about us, but when the words

were spoken, it brought healing and freedom. Would you be

scared to do a label reading exercise? Why or why not?

If you’re reading The Long Journey to Jake Palmer in a book

club, or informally with friends, would you be willing to lead

a read-each- other’s-labels discussion? If yes, when do you

think you’ll do it?

Most of us hide things about ourselves. Are there things

you’d be willing to share, like the group at Willow Lake

shared with each other? That’s a fearful exercise, but do you

think there’s anything freeing about doing that?

Jake talks about “stepping out of the shadows.” Where do

you need to step out of the shadows?