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Robert Otte

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Cradled in the Arms of Compassion: A Spiritual Journey from Trauma to Recovery

by Frank Rogers Jr. (Goodreads Author)

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Robert Otte said: " Rogers, Frank Jr., Cradled in the Arms of Compassion; A Spiritual Journey from Trauma to Recovery. Lake Drive Books, 2023.
Frank Rogers, professor of spiritual formation and narrative pedagogy at Claremont School of Theology, has presented a detaile Rogers, Frank Jr., Cradled in the Arms of Compassion; A Spiritual Journey from Trauma to Recovery. Lake Drive Books, 2023.
Frank Rogers, professor of spiritual formation and narrative pedagogy at Claremont School of Theology, has presented a detailed memoir of his journey from an abusive childhood, through many years of torment from mental illness, to some final healing in his later years.
He outlines his purpose for the book at the very beginning. He writes, “My primary purpose in writing this book is that other survivors will know that there are people, much like them, who have been abused, that the shames they fester in the secrets that we hide can be disclosed and faced with resilience, and that genuine healing is possible.”
Rogers organizes his psychological and theological journey chronologically. Early in the book, Rogers recalls sitting in a car overlooking the Pacific Ocean. His sister Linda had been recently institutionalized. She had turned to him for help, asking him, “You were like this once, what did you do to get better.” Rogers answered her the best he could. Weeks later Linda took her life. That experience provided the motivation for his book.
Rogers describes in detail his long journey recovering from childhood trauma, the result of sexual abuse by a family relative and a Catholic priest. He chronicles his trip through a lifelong battle with depression and with numerous visits to mental hospitals, all in his quest to find psychological and theological answers to achieve some level of normality to live his life. In beginning Part V, he asks the question about his life and his sister’s, “Why would God want someone to hurt life that?” This chapter is a valuable help to anyone dealing with issues of trauma and healing.
This review found the detailed discussion on the author’s attempt to write a novel based on his life experiences a bit long and overdone. Overall, Rogers’ account of the presence of God through his struggles makes for an affirming account that could help many who deal with trauma. This book is not an easy read but an inspiring one.

Robert Otte.
LaGrave Avenue Church Librarian

. ...more "

Oct 31, 2024 10:37AM · see review