Resilience of a Dream Catcher

This is a book of many stories, starting with an abused childhood, a boy who ran away from home three times by the time he was twelve. There are 27 chapters of setbacks or challenges, each ending with a meditation on resilience. The setbacks include a punitive father and a fear and guilt-ridden Catholic childhood, eventually finding a teacher who inspired him. It is a journey of self-discovery, with brokenness being turned into strengths. He finally finds "God" in the boondocks of the US Army on Guam, discovering that risking himself in sports becomes a mantra. His problems with authority follow him throughout his life, even when he leaves his career in coaching sports to become a Catholic monk, eventually a Priest and Navy Chaplin. His Abbot became his punitive father with total power over him. Only in midlife does he comes to terms with his shadow self and the darkness which hounded him. In each setback, he somehow manages to find a new resilient self. He discovers who he is really meant to be through the love of a partner of 53 years. Now he also loves his veteran community by writing books with themes of resilience, gratitude and wellness. This is a memoir with 27 lessons in resilience each found the hard way, through experience. The theme that emerges is "Out of darkness we can find an inner wellspring."