While serving as chaplain of an oncology ward, seeking to offer hope and encouragement, I found that many of the patients encouraged me with their stories and their determination. Bruce Feiler brings his own determination to the table in his battle with cancer, chronicled in The Council of Dads. His plan is similar to what soldiers do to help their families during a prolonged deployment, especially in wartime. Kids need a father-figure to fill in the gap. Bruce assembled a team to be his "voice".
Because Bruce has written three books on Biblical themes I was surprised to hear very little about God as one of his resources. He's not even angry at God. I would've thought that his faith might have played some part, and perhaps it did, but I don't see that in the book. God's barely there.
Although no one wants to be defined by their illness, Bruce in his "lost year" gained a new job, that of getting well, assembling his team, and preparing his daughters...and often our jobs define us. I bet he does not see this as a wasted year.
I've read all of Bruce's books except the one on Country music (I don't care for it), and I was prepared for the burden of reading a very sad book, only to happily discover this is a book about living and taking action to form a meaningful life. As someone said, "Everyone dies; not everyone lifes." In his engaging style, Bruce tells stories about his life and is more open, more vulnerable than ever before. Like his travel books, he takes us along for his journey through illness, battling the "monsters" (his metaphor) and not giving up.
I spent most of the day yesterday reading The Council of Dads. I had a chance today to hear Bruce speak at Trinity Church in Boston, but I got called to the hospital to visit a sick member of my church. I hope I was able to convey some of the strength I picked up in Bruce's book.Get more detail about The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me.
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