So now, if someone asks me, "Who are you, tell me about yourself," I say - not immediately, but shortly: "I am one who lost a church, a friend, six months of my life, and the man I loved." That loss determines my identity; not all of my identity, but much of it. It belongs within my story. And what a beautiful story it still is.
*** In this stunning collection of essays and images, a former pastor turned artist explores the truth, beauty and possibility that lies in examining, trimming, and rearranging the fractured pieces of our lives. Through honest explorations of grief, identity, and spirituality, this memoir considers vulnerability and strength, self-doubt and self-assurance. With unflinching candor and lyrical prose, Chernesky chronicles heartbreak, professional crisis, and spiritual reckoning. For anyone who has ever questioned their faith, lost their way, or been forced to rebuild, this book is encouragement and proof that our most genuine selves often emerge after challenges we didn't ask for and from courage we never knew we had.