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Grace Notes
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
John Cheyenne Wilbur
1 book2 followersJohn Cheyenne Wilbur graduated in 1975 from Oberlin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Communications, and in 1979 from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister and called as an Assistant Minister to the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, California. His title was Pastor of Hunger Ministries.
While at Princeton, The New York Times published an opinion piece of his called “Does Princeton Seminary Need a Shot of the Secular?” This led to an invitation from Martin Arnold, Managing Editor of The New York Times Magazine to write an extended piece for the magazine. After leaving Westminster Church, he wrote a column for The Sacramento Union called “Worship Watch” reviewing worship services.
He stepped off the grid to pursue writing full time and migrated up to Port Townsend, WA. Here he was introduced to the great outdoors - originally hailing from the New York City area - and the alternative lifestyle. He pierced his ear, grew out his hair, worked in a collective restaurant, wrote his first book called The Tit Man and continued “Worship Watch” with The Port Townsend Leader.
Picking apples in the Okanogan Valley, he squirreled some extra cash and headed to the Big Island, Hawaii. There he continued off the grid, living in a coffee shack, managing a coffee house and writing for West Hawaii Today as an arts critic at large.
He returned to the Mainland and eventually settled in Seattle, then Los Angeles acting (www.IMBD.com/CheyenneWilbur).
Grace Notes is his first published book, a 10-year project.
OK. That’s the typical narrative about accomplishments, blah, blah, blah. Now let’s talk about another “About.”
I lost the will to live when I was 18, spiritually hemorrhaging with no idea how to stanch the bleeding. As a first semester freshman at Lake Forest College, I awoke each morning, or rather, opened my eyes each morning after struggling through the night in twilight consciousness, with rims of darkness encircling my gaze. I zombied through classes, all the while wrestling with an inner voice tormenting me: something wrong, something wrong.
Time threatened. Each day challenged: another eternity. How would I make it through this morning, this hour, this minute? Its crawling pace tortured. My will to live nosedived. I couldn’t keep going like this. Worse, I didn't have a clue how to fix it.
The Hail Mary solution? Get back to my high school girlfriend.
It didn’t work.
In my childhood bedroom, home on Thanksgiving break, while the rest of the house slept, on my knees, I pleaded to a God I didn’t believe in. He was my Hail Mary Take Two.
A warmth swaddled me. I climbed into bed and slept for the first time in months.
In the morning, a fledgling belief had sprouted. I returned to college, albeit a different one, Oberlin College, and survived the year. My faith, fragile at first, grew stronger day by day, and so too did my mental health.
After graduating, I entered Princeton Theological Seminary. Faith was a matter of life and death.
Ironically, I graduated with a degree but little faith.
At my first church, I started therapy. It was like being strapped into an amusement park ride with no way to get off, at once terrifying and exhilarating. Groping in the darkness of the unconscious, I grabbed scraps, yanked them into the conscious realm and tried to make sense of them.
I kept a dream journal. I kept a regular journal. I behaved erratically, got into fist fights, went through an abortion, smoked cigarets, snorted cocaine, walked incessantly. All the while I maintained my job, pastor of Hunger Ministries, feeding the homeless, starting a certified farmers’ market in the inner city and assisting in Sunday worship praying I wouldn't shit my pants.
My shadow was astir. I realized my family was not the normal one I had made it out to be. In fact, there were many secrets, secrets that I possessed but
While at Princeton, The New York Times published an opinion piece of his called “Does Princeton Seminary Need a Shot of the Secular?” This led to an invitation from Martin Arnold, Managing Editor of The New York Times Magazine to write an extended piece for the magazine. After leaving Westminster Church, he wrote a column for The Sacramento Union called “Worship Watch” reviewing worship services.
He stepped off the grid to pursue writing full time and migrated up to Port Townsend, WA. Here he was introduced to the great outdoors - originally hailing from the New York City area - and the alternative lifestyle. He pierced his ear, grew out his hair, worked in a collective restaurant, wrote his first book called The Tit Man and continued “Worship Watch” with The Port Townsend Leader.
Picking apples in the Okanogan Valley, he squirreled some extra cash and headed to the Big Island, Hawaii. There he continued off the grid, living in a coffee shack, managing a coffee house and writing for West Hawaii Today as an arts critic at large.
He returned to the Mainland and eventually settled in Seattle, then Los Angeles acting (www.IMBD.com/CheyenneWilbur).
Grace Notes is his first published book, a 10-year project.
OK. That’s the typical narrative about accomplishments, blah, blah, blah. Now let’s talk about another “About.”
I lost the will to live when I was 18, spiritually hemorrhaging with no idea how to stanch the bleeding. As a first semester freshman at Lake Forest College, I awoke each morning, or rather, opened my eyes each morning after struggling through the night in twilight consciousness, with rims of darkness encircling my gaze. I zombied through classes, all the while wrestling with an inner voice tormenting me: something wrong, something wrong.
Time threatened. Each day challenged: another eternity. How would I make it through this morning, this hour, this minute? Its crawling pace tortured. My will to live nosedived. I couldn’t keep going like this. Worse, I didn't have a clue how to fix it.
The Hail Mary solution? Get back to my high school girlfriend.
It didn’t work.
In my childhood bedroom, home on Thanksgiving break, while the rest of the house slept, on my knees, I pleaded to a God I didn’t believe in. He was my Hail Mary Take Two.
A warmth swaddled me. I climbed into bed and slept for the first time in months.
In the morning, a fledgling belief had sprouted. I returned to college, albeit a different one, Oberlin College, and survived the year. My faith, fragile at first, grew stronger day by day, and so too did my mental health.
After graduating, I entered Princeton Theological Seminary. Faith was a matter of life and death.
Ironically, I graduated with a degree but little faith.
At my first church, I started therapy. It was like being strapped into an amusement park ride with no way to get off, at once terrifying and exhilarating. Groping in the darkness of the unconscious, I grabbed scraps, yanked them into the conscious realm and tried to make sense of them.
I kept a dream journal. I kept a regular journal. I behaved erratically, got into fist fights, went through an abortion, smoked cigarets, snorted cocaine, walked incessantly. All the while I maintained my job, pastor of Hunger Ministries, feeding the homeless, starting a certified farmers’ market in the inner city and assisting in Sunday worship praying I wouldn't shit my pants.
My shadow was astir. I realized my family was not the normal one I had made it out to be. In fact, there were many secrets, secrets that I possessed but
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June 25, 2026Grace Notes by John Cheyenne Wilbur appears to be a reflective and meaningful work that explores the subtle moments, relationships, and experiences that shape our understanding of grace, purpose, and personal growth.
What immediately stands out is the title itself. In music, grace notes are often brief embellishments that enrich a larger composition, and the title suggests a thoughtful metaphor for the seemingly small moments in life that ultimately leave a lasting impact. This creates an intriguing foundation for a story that may encourage readers to pay closer attention to the people and experiences that shape their journeys.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book appears to be its emphasis on reflection and meaning. Stories that examine life's quieter moments often resonate deeply because they reveal how personal growth is frequently found not only in major events but also in everyday encounters, decisions, and relationships.
The title also hints at themes of faith, hope, and gratitude. Whether expressed through personal experiences, relationships, or spiritual reflection, these themes have a universal appeal that allows readers to connect with the story on both an emotional and personal level.
Another appealing aspect is the sense that the narrative may explore how seemingly disconnected events come together to form a larger picture. Much like individual notes contribute to a complete melody, the experiences within the story appear poised to demonstrate how life’s challenges and blessings can work together to create meaning and purpose.
What makes Grace Notes particularly intriguing is its apparent focus on the beauty found in ordinary life. Rather than relying solely on dramatic circumstances, it seems positioned to highlight the quiet moments that often become the most memorable and transformative.
Overall, Grace Notes appears to be a thoughtful and uplifting work that explores faith, personal growth, and the significance of life's subtle yet powerful moments. Readers who enjoy reflective storytelling and meaningful themes will likely find much to appreciate.
What immediately stands out is the title itself. In music, grace notes are often brief embellishments that enrich a larger composition, and the title suggests a thoughtful metaphor for the seemingly small moments in life that ultimately leave a lasting impact. This creates an intriguing foundation for a story that may encourage readers to pay closer attention to the people and experiences that shape their journeys.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book appears to be its emphasis on reflection and meaning. Stories that examine life's quieter moments often resonate deeply because they reveal how personal growth is frequently found not only in major events but also in everyday encounters, decisions, and relationships.
The title also hints at themes of faith, hope, and gratitude. Whether expressed through personal experiences, relationships, or spiritual reflection, these themes have a universal appeal that allows readers to connect with the story on both an emotional and personal level.
Another appealing aspect is the sense that the narrative may explore how seemingly disconnected events come together to form a larger picture. Much like individual notes contribute to a complete melody, the experiences within the story appear poised to demonstrate how life’s challenges and blessings can work together to create meaning and purpose.
What makes Grace Notes particularly intriguing is its apparent focus on the beauty found in ordinary life. Rather than relying solely on dramatic circumstances, it seems positioned to highlight the quiet moments that often become the most memorable and transformative.
Overall, Grace Notes appears to be a thoughtful and uplifting work that explores faith, personal growth, and the significance of life's subtle yet powerful moments. Readers who enjoy reflective storytelling and meaningful themes will likely find much to appreciate.
July 21, 2026
I met John Cheyenne Wilbur in the seventh grade at Tenafly Junior High School in Tenafly, New Jersey, and we remain good friends to this day. Much of his novel, Grace Notes, is based on his own life story, which is fascinating. The book's action takes place in Tenafly, Oberlin, Princeton, Sacramento, Port Townsend, Jerusalem, and other destinations in between.
Grace Notes is engaging, stimulating, and surprising. Spanning a wide range of emotions, it is both heartbreaking and uplifting, Readers will appreciate the descriptive details and will be rewarded for accompanying Jerry Cradleman on his spiritual journey.
Grace Notes is engaging, stimulating, and surprising. Spanning a wide range of emotions, it is both heartbreaking and uplifting, Readers will appreciate the descriptive details and will be rewarded for accompanying Jerry Cradleman on his spiritual journey.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews