Cross of a Different Kind: Cancer & Christian Spirituality

The city of Memphis (in Tennessee) sometimes gets a negative ‘rep’ from people outside her limits. However, if for no other redeeming quality (even though I believe there are many), Memphis itself deserves respect for being home to a continuous-miracle. In the heart of downtown rests our brightest beacon of hope: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Though 2017 has come to a close, it was for me, a ‘banner-year,’ that marked my twentieth year in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I have God’s grace and those I affectionately call “the living angels and saints” of St. Jude to thank for that.

To celebrate my twentieth year cancer-free, I chose to “give back,” in the best ways I know how; namely, by using my time, talents, and treasure in the research, writing, composition, publication, promotion, and contribution of a book on cancer and Christian spirituality. Though I undertook the book project beginning in November 2016, I am pleased to announce that my 5th and newest book, Cross of a Different Kind: Cancer & Christian Spirituality is now complete and will be available everywhere beginning January 22nd, 2018.

On its own, a book may not seem the most meaningful way to “give back,” so I’d like to take this time to explain why I wrote it and what I hope will come from it. In the shortest summary, the book is a “spiritual field guide” for all persons who have ever or will ever be ‘touched’ by cancer. Divided into three parts addressing 1) those who have lost loved-ones to cancer, 2) those currently facing their own struggle against it, and 3) cancer-survivors, I engage the spiritual and existential concerns which persons of Christian faith traditions may have in any of these phases of experience.

Utilizing the theological training I obtained from undergraduate and graduate studies at Christian Brothers University (another miracle here in Memphis), and particularly imparted to me by Drs. Scott Geis and Burt Fulmer, for whom I am particularly grateful in their shaping of both my faith and mind, I wanted to meet my fellow ‘cancer-family’ members ‘where they are,’ in how their experiences with the diabolical illness impacts their spirituality. Informative, yet profoundly personal, I hope my book touches their soul and inspires them to embrace hope even when the disease makes the outlook seem hopeless.

The unfortunate reality is that persons who experience cancer rarely experience it only in one phase. Simply consider who in your life is in some way affected by cancer. We all know someone who has lost a loved-one, personally fought the battle against it, or who has survived it. Survivors know friends and family they lost to it and those currently fighting for their own lives know both lost loved-ones and survivors. This book is meant to reach all these persons.

Perhaps the content I provide in the 14 chapters won’t be of enough help. In such cases, I include suggested spiritual exercises and further resources at the end of each chapter. If even that doesn’t get the job done, I have directed my publisher that one-hundred percent of all proceeds from the sales of this book be contributed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Ideally, I pray for a day when this book will not be needed, as cancer itself will be eradicated, but until that glorious morning dawns, I invite you to ‘take up and read,’ and to fight on in the good fight of faith!

You may order a copy of Cross of a Different Kind: Cancer & Christian Spirituality by following the link here: https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Different-Kind-Christian-Spirituality/dp/0692974148/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8.