"No one will avoid great, heartrending loss, but Hickman's memoir offers warmth and friendship to anyone navigating these perilous waters. A book to treasure." ―Lynne Morgan SpreenCaught up in our culture's steady and dangerous obsession with drugs, this compelling memoir is about the loss of a 27-year-old son who, ultimately, commits suicide. An insightful, luminous narrative, this is a mother's journey of spiritual inquiry, as she seeks a deeper understanding of loss and grief in our frenzied, get-there-now culture. A hopeful guide for us all, and as beautifully shared in this intriguing book, the terrifying silence of loss ultimately leads to a new appreciation for the many mysteries of life. A deeply moving story emerging from a son's hard-fought struggle to beat the odds, the author notes that despite death, "We all get our moment in the sun."Knowing her son's untimely death is a mystifying, yet forceful, catalyst―an urgent call to unravel the deeper story of loss―this is a life-affirming memoir by an author who cares deeply about humanity's struggle to find peace and contentment amidst chaos, discord, and tragedy. Delving into truly harrowing subjects, the author writes with clarity and strength about suicide, grief, spiritual inquiry and realization, addiction, culture, even the insidious nature of time and how it exacerbates our suffering. As the author notes: "We are a world born of connection, and yet our misdirected culture tends to blame, and focus on, the addict. We created this, addicts did not. A chaotic world that serves up escape, excitement, excess as solutions must evolve and mature if we are going to unravel the tangled roots of addiction in its endless forms, guises.""Despite a crushing loss ... here we have a warmth of spirit, understanding and compassion in a distancing world." ―Madeline Sharples, Leaving the Hall Light On "... the gift of a spiritual seeker's brave inquiry." ―Richard Gilbert, Shepherd: A Memoir " ... a new path. Holy and beautiful and heartbreaking." ―Susan Pohlman, Halfway to Each Other "An unforgettable meditation on life and death: the powerful role love plays in attaining spiritual freedom." ―Matthew Peters, PhD, novelist "... here is much meaning, peace, and - yes - hope." ―John DeDakis, novelist, editor Realizing that suicide actually points to the searing challenges of the human condition, the author steps beyond the personal dimension to probe our culture and society for answers. With a spiritual and sociological lens, Hickman considers our most urgent issues. In fact, this far-reaching story is a piercing look at the complexities of the human experience: the innumerable ways in which we struggle to understand something of our lives. But how does the author navigate her grief while also insisting on the long view, instead of succumbing to outdated expectations? Why is Hickman passionate about the need for a deeper perspective on critical societal issues? And why does she dig deeply for greater spiritual awareness in the aftermath of unthinkable tragedy? Delving into the mysteries of existence, this is a brilliant memoir that transports the reader into many dimensions, while courageously exploring how we find our way when circumstances feel overwhelming and impossible. We are all on the same journey; this captivating memoir illuminates that very journey. Even if loss isn't part of your life today, this memoir compassionately bridges moments and events that time carves out for each of us. Just over the next hill, who knows what we'll encounter, who knows what we'll experience. The unexpected always awaits. Each life reflects the vast mysteries we are all born into. Mysteries lodged in silence, and ambiguity. Yet this powerful memoir penetrates that silence, as the author initially survives its fierce echo in the face of her son's sudden death, and then rea