Journey of Light: Jewels of Wisdom for Future \t\t Generations

The Shockeys have often asked themselves, "If I died tomorrow, what \t\t legacy would I leave?" In response, the married writers offer this \t\t memoir-cum-spiritual exploration as a gift to their young daughters. Operating \t\t on many levels, this collection of anecdotes and experiences is as much a \t\t catharsis for Stowe Shockey, now a successful musician and songwriter, as it is \t\t a platform for the minister hiding inside Peter Shockey, an accomplished \t\t filmmaker and screenwriter. Through a combination of journal entries, \t\t commentary and at times almost random musings, they reveal their successful \t\t navigation of the wildly different routes and tests to their \t\t faiths—abandonment, abuse, alcohol, cancer, cults and drugs. They \t\t successfully maintain an inclusive everyman voice, furthered by a wide \t\t selection of quotes—mostly scripture, but employing no less than eight \t\t different versions of the Bible. What started out as a legacy quest ends as a \t\t self-help medium, replete with candid discussions of depression, guilt, shame \t\t and the counseling that brought the Shockeys to this point in their lives. \t\t Their pain is well balanced with healing, their despair with hope. Readers who \t\t have suffered any or all of the Shockeys' trials may find some comfort within \t\t these pages. (Feb. 20)