As individuals encounter various storms during the course of their lifetime they will inevitably experience trials that are particularly difficult in nature. And since everyone faces storms at some point their ship" (life) inevitably crosses paths with other individuals who have had similar experiences. The empathy we feel as a result of that synergy - the ability to identify with one another's circumstances - automatically connects us on an intimate level; particularly as it relates to suffering. While walking with our fellow man upon the soil of common ground, we are able to bond in a way that supersedes the traditional boundaries of every day discourse and crosses over into the infinite depths of spiritual revelation. A desire to capture that compelling dynamic in writing was the inspiration for Through the Storm: Learning to Not Only Survive, but to Thrive, which was written in the midst of intense personal storms that produced truths which I believe cannot be realized by any other means. The fact that we all go through storms at some point means that every reader will identify with the emotions, questions, anger, and sometimes desperation – that heavy hitting storms elicit. The reader will find that our paths intersect at a crossroads where we ask and answer the question; how do I not only survive but thrive in the midst of so much pain? A marriage of shared struggles and biblical principles presented in a way that is conversational rather than didactic, will allow the reader to absorb and not merely observe the methods for extracting purpose from the storm outlined in this book. While storms have the capability to be destructive, with God's help we have the ability to transform them into an experience that is actually constructive. Although it may sound like a paradox, if the reader is willing to take this journey with me through the fearsome storm, they will come out better than they started once they reach the other side.
