In the House of Self-Knowledge: Recovering From Betrayal
Join me as I write a book exploring Christ-centered healing from betrayal and abuse.
After much feedback and many requests, I’ve decided to undertake the task of writing another non-fiction book. Although I’m currently at work researching the sequel to World Between Worlds, I also feel it’s time to write a follow-up to Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic’s Guide to Understanding and Healing From Domestic Abuse.
I want to invite my Substack readers along this writing journey. Below is a draft of the introduction to my next non-fiction book, which focuses on healing from trauma through immersing oneself in what St. Catherine of Siena calls the “house of self-knowledge.” I’m going to dive deep into St. Catherine’s teaching in order to help others find hope, healing and Christ-centered renewal.
Introduction to … [untitled at the moment, suggestions welcome]
You won’t heal from the effects of marital betrayal by reading a book. You won’t heal by sheer force of will, by joining support groups, or by seeking therapy.
All those things are good and even necessary. I’m certainly not telling you to drop all efforts to heal and simply wait around for something to happen—that won’t work either. What I am saying is that the foundation of healing cannot be those external things—they’re the necessary rooms within the house of healing, but the foundation of the house must be Christ, and Him alone.
Everything is a grace from God. In His Divine Will, as mysterious as that may seem to us mere humans, He permits our traumas to happen. He doesn’t want us to suffer, but He does allow certain sufferings for the sake of our good—and He desires our healing in Him, through Him, and with Him.
God doesn’t want you to survive this life—He longs for you to thrive.
If healing doesn’t come exclusively from a book, why have I bothered to write one? For the simple fact that it will provide help, understanding and tools to guide you as you move forward in a Christ-centered way. It’s not a book, or anything else external, that heals. Jesus alone is the Divine Physician—but He does use various forms of medicine to help you along your journey.
