Knee Deep and Rising: Stories of Life's Shifting Currents

by Bob Walkup

Bob Walkup remembers his life with an inspiration that is contagious. His true stories break down the walls of race and age, class and education, faith and nationality, the walls that keep us from discovering the great potential within our reach. Each story reminds us that there are loveable people all about us who are prepared to build relationships with us. Canoe down the Suwannee, sail into the Caribbean, fly into Africa's bush country and discover our common, human needs. Traveling with Bob sheds light on the path we all walk. He bravely tells his story of recovering from a bipolar disorder that ended his career prematurely. You will appreciate his fight to regain good health.

268 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2012

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knee Deep and Rising by Bob Walkup

This is a book of short stories about a man’s life. A man who has traveled the world, a minister, husband, father, mentor, friend. A man of humor and faith, intelligence, love, personal challenges and hope. His stories reveal a man of honor and humility who has had an interesting life that he shares openly, the good and the not so good.

Bob tells his many stories in an easy conversational way. They are down to earth and engaging. He tells of his years as a Presbyterian minister in Florida and his travels around the world with the Medical Benevolence Foundation (a Presbyterian ministry) that sound exhausting. And his return to the pulpit in North Carolina. He accomplished much but it strained his marriage and made some underlying health problems worsen.

Besides his life in ministry there are stories of his childhood in South Carolina, things he learned delivering morning newspapers to neighbors, his love of baseball, a part-time music career, hard work, school, family. My favorite stories are the ones about Anne, the girl next door, and their love. There is one story about them and a car with foggy windows and his father that is too funny. The story about their first date is sweet and tender.

The hardest part of his life to read about is his battle with mental illness. Yet, it is probably where you get to know Bob the best. His honesty is heart wrenching, his faith is compelling, and his love for Anne, his children, and extended family is transparent.

Bob Walkup has been, and is, on a remarkable journey. He has written a book well worth reading. And I don’t say that because Anne is my friend!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob walkup was the minister of the church I attended, and that played a key role in my life, as a teenager. More of a storyteller than a preacher or teacher, many of us were drawn to his warmth and compassion. Though my beliefs have changed over the years, I enjoyed these simple stories and respect his life and faith, which is full of childlike wonder and seems to always place love above dogma. I was fascinated to read about his struggles with mental illness (something none of us knew about at the time) and greatly admire his openness and honesty in sharing them. it was healing to see a childhood hero turned into a real, fallible adult, yet one I could still admire.