The Gospel According to Lost

The Gospel according to Lost is one of those books centered on a phenomenon that almost makes you embarrassed to be reading it. But this isn’t a Spice Girl’s biography, this is the real deal. This is a commentary on a television program that reminds us all to think, feel, explore and most importantly love. Author Chris Seay hit one way out of the park with his remarkable observations and comparisons between the characters and dynamics of a show with the love of God.

The Gospel is a well written book that breaks down each character on the hit series Lost and points out the uncanny similarities between what they are going through and the struggle to accept God’s love. As Seay writes, “One of the most beautiful parts of Lost is the attention paid to the shaping of personalities and development of individual modi operandi.” Take for example Sawyer, the resident bad boy through and through, he’s convinced himself that he cannot change but as with God anything is possible if we believe. “The miracle is that his love extended to us in our angry, hateful, and shirtless state-not offered as a carrot on a stick for the person we each might become. Looking at Sawyer’s sly grin, I think he’s gotten a glimpse of this truth.”

One of the most enduring chapters to me dealt with the character Eko Patron Saint of Warlord Priests. I’m not going to go through the Eko’s history, if you’re considering purchasing this book you’re a Lost fan and already know it. I will point out that like many Lost characters Eko’s life-changing moment came when he was a child and forced to kill a man to save the life of his little brother. Seay writes, “Children are a sacred trust, a blessing from God to be nurtured with love,…The world is filled with stories of not only neglect but also the abuse and exploitation of those we regard as the leaders, the innovators, the mothers, the fathers-the caretakers-of tomorrow.” Pure Wisdom.

In discussing the crazed Benjamin Linus the Patron Saint of Dutiful Tyrants Seay writes, “But Ben is relying on karma (you reap what you sow)-if he’s been ruthlessly faithful to Jacob, Jacob should reward him faithfully.” However, as Seay goes on to write, life in Lost is like life in the real world and karma just doesn’t pan out. This was probably the one part that I disagreed with; I do believe that you get what you give. But let me point out, just because you give in this life doesn’t mean you’ll get in this life, your reward may be on the other side.

Regardless of everything this is a book a read within a day…yep it was that good. Just like Lost it made me think, it made me feel in touch with myself, my world and my God.