I recently finished reading Justice Calling Live Love, Show Compassion, Be Changed by Palmer Chinchen PhD. I really needed to read this book…
I fully recommend that part of your Wellness Plan includes intellectual and spiritual growth. People are spiritual beings–whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist or any other belief system you should strive to grow in those beliefs and build your community around you. Although this book is written by a Christian and talks about the bible, I believe that anyone could get something out of this book.
Here are a few personal details about myself that helped lead me to my belief that I needed to read this book:
- I am Christian
- I am an abuse survivor
- I am married to a mixed black and white woman
- I am executive director of Living Ministries (although we are not active right now)
- I am recovering from previously untreated mental illness
- I have lost the ability to do a lot of what I used to (all or in part or temporarily) due to chronic illness
- Society and politics are in supreme turmoil which affect me personally, mentally, emotionally and spiritually
My bosom sister-friend, Jamie Holloway, surprised me by initiating a debate about race relations during a visit with her…and then made sure I took this book home…She made sure to tell me that I couldn’t have this book; she wanted it back.
When you have been sick in your body and mind for a long time and have had great success with whatever you put your hand to in the past, there are a lot of wrenches in your path. Between everything that was going on that I didn’t want to admit I needed help with, I had not read a book for several years. If you knew me as a child and young woman, you would be shocked to read that sentence. I just couldn’t pay attention to the words and I couldn’t retain much of what I did read. This added to the depression that was already plaguing me.
Jamie knew that I was getting better and she was super excited to hear that I was tackling a few books…Jamie reads anywhere from 3-5 books per week; this was a passion we had both shared since we met in 7th grade math class. Let me tell you, I can’t visit her without coming home with at least 1, if not 10 books to read! Who needs to go to the library?
Anyway…
I was so excited to see the positive and upbeat, but brutally honest and authentic tone of this book. Palmer Chinchen PhD is not some guy that fell out of seminary and decided to preach to us about how to live. He is a pastor at The Grove Church in Arizona but he is also a basketball coach, missionary and world changer.
Everything he had to say helped me start to talk to God about how I can be an advocate for people again, in spite of what is going on in my body. I read this book with my bible close at hand, which of course was a good way to get me in the word too. Chinchen’s book encouraged me to look at all kinds of things in my life that needed to be brought to God so we could talk about them.
After reading Jamie’s book review of this book I see how she took much of this book as a catalyst to social advocacy, something I had been passionate about in the past and I know I will find ways to re-engage in in the future, but it also helped me be a self advocate in my mind and body.
God works in mysterious ways…
Whatever you do…keep Walking Your Path Toward Wellness…and don’t forget your mind and spirit!
Want to see my notes?
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Part 1 and Chapters 3-4
- Chapters 5-7
- Chapter 8 Notes
- Part 2 and Chapter 9
- Chapters 10-12
- Part 3 and Chapter 13 Notes
- Chapter 14 Notes
- Chapters 15-17 Notes
>>>Read Jamie Holloway’s Review
Ask Dear Jamie to Research a Topic
Summer D Clemenson co-owns Clemenson Enterprises and Wellness Works NW with her wife, Karen G Clemenson. Their personal motto is Creativity, Honesty & Positivity are a must! This mantra helps them stay community and wellness minded in all they do. Summer also writes poetry and inspirational blogs @ ClemensonEnterprises.com. Her crochet art can be viewed and purchased @ KnottyWares.com & she loves special orders!
