1. This is
a story about irrevocable mistakes made in life, even twice in one lifetime. Do you think it is plausible that after hearing Joe's story the narrator could have understood and been so forgiving? Could you have?
2. How did hearing Joe's story enable the narrator to get over his anger at his wife, Meg?
3. Carving the nativity scene and the face of the baby Messiah had an effect on Ottolman so that he wanted to go to church and
find out about Jesus. Explain the message of the first sermon he heard as a believer--"Born Crucified," and how it might have contained in it a message that would ease the pain he carried around inside
himself.
4. What was the sin that Carmen committed that Ottolman could not forgive? Whose forgiveness in the end was greater, Ottolman's or Carmen's? Why is it so important that we be able to forgive each other?
5. Do you think it was all right that when Ottolman returned the baby Jesus to the nativity scene that he never returned the scarlet cross? What did that cross represent to him?
6. Do you feel that the interactive
features and beautiful artwork in this book helped make the story more powerful? Explain
