Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

I will be the first to admit that I have been less than diligent about reading this particular book. I received this particular book from BookSneeze well over a year ago, and have just now gotten around to finishing the book. I could give you a litany of excuses, but that is all that they would be ... excuses. I would pick it up, read a few chapters, and put it down. When I picked it up again, I would read a few more chapters, then put it down. 

There is no good reason for why I did this. The book stands as a good reference, and the stories that it tells can rip your heart. I can imagine that sitting down for a conversation with either or both of the authors of this well written book would be extremely interesting. The main reason that I had such a difficult time getting through the book in one or two sittings (as is my norm) is that I believe the words were penetrating far deeper than I cared to explore.

Why read this book? Sometimes, we are going to hurt. I do not mean hurt in the physical sense, but sometimes mental pain gives as much or more anguish than does physical pain. We do not have to let the pain define us. Dr. Meier and Dr. Henderson delve into why our pain affects us the way it does, and how working past it can make us stronger. The authors explore seven areas (challenges) they list as life's most common: injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure, and death. Instead of medical jargon, we are given biblical references, and I rather liked the departure. When you pick up a book written by nearly anyone with the letters M.D. behind their name, especially one that could be categorized as a "self-help" book, you expect to find clinical information. In this book, not so much. Referring instead to the Bible, Drs. Meier and Henderson guide us through the benefits of working through our pain.

While it did take me quite some time to read, I would recommend this book.  


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”