Simon Orwell has grown accustomed to living in the dust of abandoned dreams. A college dropout from a prestigious university, Simon’s life has turned out much like his last great science project – an unfinished mass of potential, set aside, regarded as an impossible failure. Too broken to accomplish that for which it was created. Settling for the mundane, Simon believes he is unworthy and incapable of fulfilling his greatest dream. That of changing the world.
Summoned to Mexico by his elderly partner on the project
that would have literally brought light to those living in darkness, Simon
faces the bleakest prospect of a new chance. Perhaps not a chance to rejoin the
project and rebuild his career as a scientist – that hope has all but faded
like the dim light bulbs of the poor Mexican town – but maybe, just maybe, a
chance to remedy at least a few of his past wrongs.
Hope becomes an unreachable goal once again when Simon
arrives in the tiny town of Ojinaga to the tragic news that his partner is
dead. Natural causes of course. The same natural causes that now stalk Simon as
a hunter stalks his prey. Simon is thrown from his unassuming life, thrust into
a quest for answers as to who is behind the old professor’s death and what
clues he left behind for his young protégé.
Now, taking refuge at a struggling orphanage, Simon must
accept the help of some of his late partner’s closest friends if he is to find
answers. Because maybe, the unthinkable really is possible. Maybe he, like his
project, really does have more potential than he thought. Maybe even the
ability to light up the world.
The book was slightly predictable in a few spots, but
overall that did not detract much from its readability.
Despite his own lack of confidence and vision for himself,
Simon is enveloped by unmerited encouragement from the orphanage director (and
friend to his deceased partner), Harold Finch. Harold pushes the unmotivated
Simon to view his life as something more than what he has made it so far. To
set goals. To believe in impossible dreams. Probably my favorite line in the
book is when Harold tells him, “Son, that’s the power of dreams. If they’re not
big, if they’re not impossible, they’re not worth investing your life.” (Unlimited,
page 177)
Conclusion:
At a time when I, like Simon, doubted my potential and the
gift God has planted within me, Unlimited glimmered into my reading life
with a challenge – “be more.” Channel that wasted energy and potential. Believe
in the dreams that God has buried in your very soul. Believe in His ability to
make the impossible possible. Believe that you are destined to light up the dark.
I believe this book will challenge you as well. Dare you to
defy your doubt, to trust that when you allow God to direct your dreams, the
results could be … unlimited.
I'm giving this book four glowing light bulbs out of five.
