Abortion

Abortion serves as a symbol of internal distress and guilt for the various characters throughout the novel–something that continues to haunt the characters involved for a long period of time. Having an abortion, or not having one, hangs over the heads of characters forever, as Nadia, Luke, John, and Latrice all have to deal with the consequences of the abortion in which they were involved, eventually losing face in the community. Elise's decision to not have an abortion led to Nadia's birth and her questions of whether or not her mother's life would have been different if she had not been born.

Ford Truck

Robert Turner's Ford truck serves as his salvation after his wife's suicide, as he is able to rely on it as a means of helping the people of Upper Room. It becomes a literal vehicle for his inclusion into the congregation...