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Reviews
Awake Beloved and Arise: Transforming Suffering Into Strength is written with inspiration, authority and honesty by one who understands because she has traveled the road. In this book Linda Huntzinger Calhoun draws deeply, wisely from the best and brightest minds. Out of that abundance she has fashioned a message of her own, one that will provide counsel and consolation for all those fortunate enough to read it.
- Dean Duncan, PhD Glasgow University; Associate Professor, Theater Arts & Media, Brigham Young University
This is an engaging, honest book, with stories and principles that inspired me to think more deeply about how adversity has helped me to nurture my strengths and become who I am today. It helped me to be more accepting of imperfection in myself, and left me feeling empowered to make changes. Since struggle is universal, this book will be helpful to a wide audience!
- Amber P., Group Leader for FindingHope.org (The Younique Foundation, providing hope and support for survivors of childhood sexual abuse)
This book is nothing short of inspirational. It has the insights, stories, examples and tools to help anyone trying to make changes in their behavior so they can move forward into a more satisfying future. The author has done a beautiful job of showing how, if you are willing, you can heal from past wounds and create a better life.
- Kathleen Parish, Mother and Survivor of Life
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2018 Linda Gail Huntzinger Calhoun
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Permissions:
From Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Harcourt, 2001) 2001 Yann Martel. With permission of the author.
MERE CHRISTIANITY by C. S. Lewis copyright C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. 1942, 1943, 1944, 1952. Extract printed by permission.
The Younique Foundation, for concepts from Reclaim Hope: Empowering Your Life Through Five Strategies 2016. Used with permission.
ISBN: 978-1-09830-133-0
eBook ISBN: 978-1-09830-134-7
Printed in the United States of America
Mountain Muse Studio
Provo, Utah
Dedicated To
Shelley, Natalie, Aaron, Rebecca, Jared, Kathryn (Kate), Daniel and Mark:
for the joy and blessing you are,
for your strength and perception,
for the good you are contributing to the world
and for the opportunity to be your mother and share the journey with you
Contents
Acknowledgements
T he first acknowledgement goes to Susan Keippel. Susans invitation to meet, the conversations of that marvelous week and the memory of her teen-age imagination seeing the Sleeping Maiden arise from her mountaintop were the catalyst that sparked this book into being. Exactly what it was to be remained vague, until suddenly one day the focus and framework came clearly to my mind, complete with a detailed outline. Another book emerged from Susans specific expertise.
To my talented writing critique group, Refiners Fire: Betty Briggs, Sherri Curtis, Phyllis Gunderson, Norma Mitchell, Bradley Estel and Rene Murdock, Linda Orvis and Karen Pool, a tremendous thank you. Your support has been essential.
A special thank you to my children, who are loved beyond words and from whom I continue to learn. May the concepts and stories here aid you, your dear families and those who come after.
Kathy, my cousin and dear friend, our conversations sorting things out are irreplaceable, and so important. A special nod to Soren Olsen and his parents, Poul Erik and Kirsten: you didnt know what was going on in my life, but your esteem and caring kept me afloat during a critical, dark time. Thanks to Doug and Diana Holt, who gently helped me first begin to deal with some hard realities. To my Beta Readers: your discernment, encouragement and enthusiasm have been wonderfully helpful and much appreciated. An especial thank you to Linda and Ted Sandstromthey know why. And to Karen and Stan Pool, to Ron Rencher and Randy Calhoun, who have been an ongoing, sustaining support, love always.
Also, love and appreciation to many other friends who have been supportive during the creative process and eager to see the finished work. To all of you, your interest and encouragement matters more than you know. Thank you all, dear friends.
Most important, gratitude to God, who fills my life with blessings. He initiated this undertaking, gave me courage, and has directed and supported me throughout. His grace is as necessary as breathing.
Introduction
A fter seven years from conception to completion, this manuscript arrived at the publishers in early 2020. Then the world turned upside down. A deadly, highly contagious new virus emerged in China and quickly engulfed the whole planet. Usually bustling, crowded city streets in every country were eerily empty and silent as people isolated at home for safety. Hospitals and morgues were strained beyond capacity, with millions dying from COVID-19. Outraged demonstrations in response to vicious racial discrimination in the U.S. ignited angry protests world-wide. Record-setting wildfires destroyed forests, homes, lives and more than 4.4 million acres of forestland in California alone. Climate change and melting polar ice caps continued to accelerate at an alarming rate. Political turmoil in the U.S. brought sharply divisive viewpoints into high relief, with concerns of violence which materialized. 2020 was a year of fear, anger, sorrow and turbulence. Now well into 2021, much of it continues.
Yet there is hope. Effective vaccines against Covid-19 were quickly developed and started being administered by the end of 2020. Resourceful people are finding and will find new, creative ways to solve problems and help one another, as they have always done. The worlds troubles are real and serious, but there is great strength, goodness and courage in humanity. As there is in you.
Wherever you are in your life, this book is written to enable you to awaken and arise to become the powerful Shining Warrior you are meant to be. Difficult challenges come to everyone, and many feel especially disadvantaged by background, race, gender, life experiences, and financial and educational situations. These are impactful influences. Yet they need not permanently define or confine us. In these pages you will find stories, concepts, and tools to help you in your unique personal quest to create the life you desire.
The genesis of this book came about when Susan and I met in a mountain valley for the first time in ten years, the shining sheet of Utah Lake gleaming silver to the west, the rugged bulwarks of the Wasatch Mountains soaring to the north and easta stunning setting for a happy reunion. We had become friends more than 20 years earlier in Tucson, Arizona when our children were growing up together. A few years later I moved away. For this meeting Susan traveled up from Tucson and I came from Northern California. Talking almost non-stop, we shared joys and sorrows, challenges and victories, and what it all meant.
Life has not been easy. We realized that from our own personal experience or in the lives of people we love, we have dealt with the challenges of family systems which supported emotional, physical and sexual abuse; marriage and parenting; divorce; disabling chronic illness; single motherhood; gender identity issues; poverty; mental illness; addiction; crisis of faith; death of loved ones, and more.