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I’ve just finished reading a book which touched me to such a degree that I feel it deserves an ample mention in this month’s magazine.

The book is called A Stranger In Paradise by Julie Chimes.

Thirty years ago Julie was almost stabbed to death in her home by a paranoid schizophrenic, who claimed that God had instructed her to act in such a way.

As the meat knife which once lived in Julie’s cutlery drawer, repeatedly plunged into her flesh, she found herself outside of her body, free from pain and watching the horror unfold as if she were a member of an audience.

Luckily, a week or so before the tragedy, Julie had been informed by a psychic medium to “change the front door.” A new door, which opened outwards –  rather than inwards into a poky hall – had been sitting in the garage for months. So Julie acted on the advice and asked her boyfriend to get on with the chore.

This new front door ultimately helped to save her life. Now back in her body, the knife-wielding madwoman continued to stab Julie, who by now was smothered with blood. Somehow she found the strength to shuffle to the front door. She fell into the fresh air to see shoppers carrying their M & S bags after a trip to the supermarket.

But instead of the help she craved, when these people saw Julie they screamed and fled. The stabbing continued as using her elbows, she pushed her body into the road, thinking that the cars would surely stop. Alas, they simply steered around her.

By now a crowd of onlookers had formed, making comments such as; “Look, she’s a goner anyway. There’s nothing we can do to help….” And, “I’m not getting my coat all covered in blood…this cost me a hundred quid….”

The situation improved when a young builder stopped his white van, walked fearlessly over to the attacker and slid the knife out of her hand as she attempted to hack Julie’s head off.

En-route to the hospital she drifted in and out of consciousness and after more than thirty stab wounds and against all odds, Julie managed to survive the frenzied attack to the utter astonishment of all the hospital staff.

In the days, weeks and months that followed Julie’s recovery was aided by a voice she knew as Veritas. She often found herself outside of her body, just as she had during the attempted murder. Once she found herself swinging in the stars and on other occasions she literally bounced off the bedroom walls.

The most remarkable thing about this true story is that despite everything, Julie learnt to love and forgive her attacker.

And that’s the most profound lesson we can all take from Julie’s book…the power of forgiveness.

 A Stranger In Paradise is available here http://amzn.to/i8mshJ – it’s a highly recommended read.

Keidi Keating

Here’s The Sentinella Axarquia magazine of February 2011. Click on it below and turn the pages, just like you would as if it were a physical magazine!

To advertise in the March 2011 edition call Kami on 664 210 468 before February 15th, or email sales@thesentinella.com

The Sentinella is an English magazine on the Costa del Sol, known as the ‘little mag that fits in your bag’. It is aimed at expats who have moved abroad for a better life. The Sentinella has been established in Spain for more than seven and a half years. There are now five magazines operating along the Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical and the coast of Almeria.
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