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Four in the Garden: A Spiritual Allegory About Trust Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

2015 READERS' FAVORITE AWARD WINNER.
Newly updated as of June, 2017.
"This book definitely inspired me to trust more fully in God."
​​--Pastor Doug McCoy, Pleasant Hill, CA

"A must read for anyone on a spiritual journey."
​​​--Richard Rohr, OFM, Founder, Center for Action and Contemplation, Author of 30 books

What if you were the only human made by Creator and He wanted a relationship with you, but you found it difficult to relate to Him? This award-winning book challenges readers to trust in God in spite of our fears and misconceptions. A compelling, emotional, and thought-provoking allegory of
one's relationship with God.

To aid
contemplation and spiritual growthFour in the Garden is divided into short thematic chapters and discussion questions are available at the back of the book and at rickhocker.com.

On the book's web site, rickhocker.com, download a free transcript of a speech by the author on the topic of
trusting in God, the main theme of his book, Four in the Garden.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This allegorical gem describes one's pilgrimage toward a meaningful connection with God. The author, Rick Hocker, distills one's relationship with God to its purest form where inward truthfulness and surrender lead to intimate communion. With vivid storytelling, Four in the Garden illustrates how both trust and love transform us, and how fear and ego obscure our True Self. A must read for anyone on a spiritual journey." -Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, Founder, Center for Action and Contemplation, Author of 30 books

"Four in the Garden is a symbolic narrative bathed in spiritual meaning. It is a treasure chest overflowing with nuggets of truth. Four in the Garden is one book I will read again and again." -Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

"Not often does a writer appear on the literary scene with such an unforgettable story as Four in the Garden. A beautifully written, emotionally fulfilling read." -Sue Clark, Award winning writer of "Is Anybody Listening"

"Rick Hocker has written a unique spiritual fantasy of a transcendental ordeal. His description of the ecstatic mystical experience is unparalleled." -David Brin, Author of "An American Musician Visits Cremona"

"This is probably the best description of a personal relationship with a higher power that exists anywhere!" -Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

"Rick Hocker's Four in the Garden challenges the reader and offers guidance even when all seems lost. I enjoyed the fact that the book had a message of where true hope and direction comes from." -Cyrus Webb, media personality, literary advocate and award-winning author

"This is an interesting book from beginning to end, and it truly makes you think about a lot of different things. This book is an inspiration in many ways as well as being a solid, entertaining read." -Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

"Hocker creates an imaginary world in order to reveal the most important lessons of the soul. Four in the Garden is a thought provoking approach to understanding the path to enlightenment." -Judge, Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

"The spiritual journey is very rewarding and helps readers delve into their inner selves. A very original story that is inspirational and uplifting with its unique plot." -Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

From the Author

In February 2007, I dreamt I was sitting in a college religion class. The class was discussing a book that presented a world where God had created only one person. The story described the growing relationship between this person and God. On waking, I concluded that God wanted me to write this story about how to have a close relationship with God. I started writing, but soon discovered I didn't know how to write a book. In September 2009, I found a writers' workshop that I have been attending ever since. Thirteen revisions later, I finished my manuscript of Four in the Garden on February 7, 2014. Over time, the book gained a life of its own and took me places I didn't expect to go. I consider that a good sign and hope the journey for the reader will be as rewarding as it has been for me.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00POGV5F4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hocker Press; 3rd edition (November 15, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3539 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 339 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

About the author

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Rick Hocker
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In 2004, Rick Hocker sustained a back injury that left him bed-ridden in excruciating pain for six months, followed by a long recovery. He faced the challenges of disability, loss of income, and mounting debt. After emerging from this dark time, he discovered that profound growth had occurred. Three years later, he had a dream that inspired him to write his award-winning book, Four in the Garden. His goal was to help people have a close relationship with God and to share the insights he gained from the personal transformation that resulted from his back injury

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
37 global ratings

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Don't Pass This One Up - Especially as an Audiobook
5 out of 5 stars
Don't Pass This One Up - Especially as an Audiobook
I listened to "Four in the Garden" as an audiobook, which provided a whole different experience for me. The narrator was excellent, and I really enjoyed the plotline. The symbolism was very well done, and as someone who enjoys allegory, I found "Four in the Garden" intriguing and captivating.The message is profound and biblically-based. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys novels similar to Pilgrim's Progress or CS Lewis' Narnia Series. This book is appropriate for teens and adults. This is one of those books I'll think about for a while and is one of the best books I've come across in a while. Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2024
    The author’s style and creativity hooks you from chapter one. It’s spiritual with many pearls of wisdom and truths. It’s also powerful to see the unfailing love of our Creator.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2015
    Four In The Garden is an allegorical story similar to the writings of C.S. Lewis. It is most similar to Lewis' "Space Trilogy", as the theological ideas are much more pronounced than those in the Narnia series. If you like Lewis, particularly the Space Trilogy, you will like this book.

    The two great strengths of this book are its characters and its content. I found most of the characters to be interesting in appearance and characteristics. I found the content to be very helpful. This book definitely inspired me to trust more fully in God (not in what God might do for me, but in God Himself).

    I highly recommend it!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018
    When I hear that a book is going to be very heavy in meaning and symbolism, I am both intrigued and worried. I want something that is going to challenge my concepts but I don't want to get a headache in the process!
    Rick Hocker's book, "Four in the Garden", gave me the right amount of challenge and interest without the pain.
    As I read a fantasy tale - almost like a fairy tale - and was enjoying the visual images, I began to realize the deeper meanings and actually found myself thinking over what I read days later and even went back and re-read chapters and experienced several "A-Ha!" moments.
    A book like this is hard to describe. You have to experience it and allow it to enter your heart and brain.
    Keep open to it. Keep reading. Keep it close by as a reference - as the main character takes you by the hand and takes you on an amazing journey of growth.
    And, by all means, keep your heart and brain open!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017
    didn't really get into the plot on this one .
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2015
    Four in the Garden brought a time a spiritual renewal for me. The author brought to light in a creative, refreshing way the potential we have for experiencing intimacy with God. There were many other renewing insights like the deceptive nature of temptation, the cost of being distracted from God's journey for us, and the amazing love we share with our God. It is a great book to take away on retreat and renew that first love we had with God.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2019
    This is probably the most profound book I've read in a long time. Will still processing the imagery and lessons for a while I think.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2014
    This book is wonderful! Well written and thought provoking! CS Lewis meets Eckart Tolle meets George Lucas. A worthy read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2015
    How often have we heard someone say that if there was just one person in existence God would have gone through the whole process for that one, just as He sent the Word as Jesus to do that for all of humanity. Hocker's book develops that idea. I liked how Cherished, the lead character, didn't have any shortcuts to the conclusion. Sometimes I got frustrated with his choices — and then had to laugh since I've made those kinds of choices, too. So human! The author has a good grasp of how we think, and react without thinking! And then get surprised by the results of what was a choice when we didn't even stop to consider we were facing a choice in the first place.
    His use of the three Teachers as emblematic of the Creator and Trinity was insightful. I liked how he portrayed the Creator as One who enjoyed being with Cherished, doing things together, hanging out together, in constant communion together. I don't know how many times I've actually heard sermons or messages of one sort or another where the speaker tries to make that point: God loves being with us. But it's almost always said in a professional religious context. It's set in terms that God has a professional interest in us because that's His job; as God He is a Father, a Creator. Not that He loves being with us in all that we do. And even he has Cherished and the Creator interact, Hocker makes the point that He is not chummy or slumming with Cherished. But I don't think we as church goers much think about God as close as portrayed in the relationship between the Creator and Cherished. It probably does depend upon our own family background how we portray, in our mind's eye, God as Father, but that's a different subject!
    Hocker's style of writing brings to mind C.S. Lewis, John Bunyan, William Morris and George MacDonald. Though MacDonald seems to be the closest to his style. He acquits himself well.
    The book emphasizes the need to develop trust between the Creator and Cherished which is our need. As he points out in other places, we place our trust in the Person because we know Him, not because we are receiving some expected or desired outcome.
    I recommend it highly. I know I'll be rereading it over and again!
    2 people found this helpful
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