Author Description

Come along with me as I travel from location to location, season to season, all in search of peace. This pursuit, full of challenges and often tumultuous, is a central theme of my memoir.<br/><br/>I grew up in various locations throughout the United States. A diverse blend of church and community encounters influenced how I developed. The city and countryside contributed to my ability to adapt and understand church and cultural distinctions. Each move I made brought new opportunities for personal growth. This pursuit, at a high cost of time and money, disrupted my family and robbed them of a deep sense of place. This memoir weaves together memories and<br/>experiences from my quest for inner peace. Every step I took increased my self-awareness about my character flaws, desire to belong, and potential for growth in my relationships with God and others. I discovered that everything has its place, and there is a place for everything. Jesus’ words brought peace to my troubled soul as he said, “I am going to prepare a place for you…”<br/><br/>I gained wisdom and insights about the world throughout my life, particularly in my relationships with family, the church I pastored, and my community. Every season brought a mix of fragile emotions and uneven growth experiences. I clung to my faith in God and reaffirmed my commitment to follow His plan for my life, regardless of the circumstances. I sought comfort through different places and churches until I finally settled into a twenty-year ministry in a small village in Eastern Oregon. Serenity always seemed elusive, but I persevered with God’s help.<br/><br/>Peace of mind occurs toward the end of my ministry when I engage in a Celebrate Recovery 12-step study. Although I experienced moments of inner peace during my ministry years, I grasped the depths of peace only after I joined a step study. Ten chapters in the last part of my memoir trace my pursuit of serenity.<br/><br/>The Holy Spirit guided me to focus on the present, no