Out of Darkness, New Life
It seemed as if the dark cloud of PMDD hid also a secret gift. The disorder that had caused me so much suffering, was also the very thing that could produce new life.
A Surprisingly Simple Solution
The solution had ended up being so simple, it was almost funny. In the end, my latest piece of healing was a physical one.
Digging Deeper
I studied the month of June with dread. What would happen in two weeks, when I started having those alarming symptoms again? I felt a bit like a werewolf fearing the full moon.
The Search for Peace
“Then you have to find a way to stay calm, even when everything around you is not calm,” I lectured myself.
I needed to find a way to remain at peace during a domestic crisis. But how?
You Are Not Alone
I wondered if Jesus was also trying to show Father Philip that he was not alone. A small band of parishioners were still present, keeping vigil with Father and Our Lord until the very end.
A Reason to Keep Going
On the plane ride home from California, I started writing the “missing chapter”. My hope for healing was the reason I kept going.
Say Thank You
"When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow."
A Fresh Vista
I’d spent the last two years staring at the same four walls, the same few faces, the same sidewalks, parks and streets. In order to produce new writing—new art—I needed a fresh vista.
The Missing Chapter
My editor Ruth smiled encouragingly at me. “Can the convent deal with suffering? Can my writing deal with my suffering? These are questions your book will try to answer."
Race Across San Francisco
The next day, I had an in-person meeting with my editor Ruth in downtown San Francisco.