The silence of morning : a memoir of time undone

This is a book about the mystery of existence, a memoir that transports the reader into many dimensions. Here, there is much to explore about how we find our way when circumstances feel overwhelming and impossible. __We are all on the same journey; this deeply intentional memoir illuminates that very journey.__ Even if loss isn't part of your life right now, __**The Silence of Morning**__ 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__. "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______ "At once a loving legacy and an unsparing depiction of the elusive lines between 'phase versus problem; serious use versus experimentation; relapse versus recovery; life versus death,' this compelling memoir is a gift of life, hope, and healing." ―**Laurie Hunter B****uchanan**, PhD, author of __Note to__ S__el____f__"Examining the world with narrative grace and balance, Hickman's autho­rial voice communicates the choppy stuff of life with elegance__.__"__―__**Jen Knox**, __After the Gazebo__ "An unforgettable meditation on life and death: the powerful role love plays in attaining spiritual freedom." ―**Matthew Peters**, PhD, novelist Knowing her son's suicide at 27 is linked 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 many of our most urgent and troubling issues. In fact, this timeless 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 __But how does Hickman navigate her grief while insisting on the long view, instead of succumbing to outdated expectations? Why is she passionate about the need for a deeper perspective on critical societal issues?__ ____Why does she dig deeply for greater spiritual awareness in the aftermath of unthinkable tragedy?____Realizing her son's untimely death is a mystifying, yet forceful, catalyst―__an urgent call to unravel the deeper story of loss__―this is a far-reaching memoir by an author who cares deeply about humanity's struggle to find peace and contentment amidst chaos, discord. Delving into truly harrowing subjects, the author writes with clarity and strength about suicide, grief, spiritual inquiry and realization, addiction, even the insidious nature of time and how it exacerbates our suffering. "Invariably," Hickman acknowledges, despite death, "we __all__ get our moment in the sun." Yet this deeply moving story emerges from a son's hard-fought struggle to beat the odds, and the terrifying silence of loss. Pushing the author to tackle troubling issues, she explains: "__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 ever hope to unravel the tangled roots of addiction in its endless forms, guises." Each life reflects the intense mysteries we are born into. Mysteries lodged in silence, and ambiguity. Yet this urgent and powerful memoir penetrates that silence, as the author initially survives its fierce echo in the face of her son's sudden death, and then realizes she must, one day, embrace it. "... here is much meaning, peace, and - yes - hope." ―John DeDakis, novelist, editor __Cover art__ Paul C. Jackson. This is a book about the mystery of existence, a memoir that transports the reader into many dimensions. Here, there is much to explore about how we find our way when circumstances feel overwhelming and impossible. We are all on the same journey; this deeply intentional memoir illuminates that very journey. Even if loss isn't part of your life right now, The Silence of Morning 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 . "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 , Shepher d: A Memoir " ... a new path. Holy and beautiful and heartbreaking." ―Susan Pohlman , Halfway to Each Other "At once a loving legacy and an unsparing depiction of the elusive lines between 'phase versus problem; serious use versus experimentation; relapse versus recovery; life versus death,' this compelling memoir is a gift of life, hope, and healing." ― Laurie H un t er B uchanan , PhD, author of Note to S el f "Examining the world with narrative grace and balance, Hickman's autho­rial voice communicates the choppy stuff of life with elegance . " ― Jen Knox , After the Gazebo "An unforgettable meditation on life and death: the powerful role love plays in attaining spiritual freedom." ― Matthew Peters , PhD, novelist Knowing her son's suicide at 27 is linked 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 many of our most urgent and troubling issues. In fact, this timeless 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 Hickman navigate her grief while insisting on the long view, instead of succumbing to outdated expectations? Why is she passionate about the need for a deeper perspective on critical societal issues? Why does she dig deeply for greater spiritual awareness in the aftermath of unthinkable tragedy? Realizing her son's untimely death is a mystifying, yet forceful, catalyst― an urgent call to unravel the deeper story of loss ―this is a far-reaching memoir by an author who cares deeply about humanity's struggle to find peace and contentment amidst chaos, discord. Delving into truly harrowing subjects, the author writes with clarity and strength about suicide, grief, spiritual inquiry and realization, addiction, even the insidious nature of time and how it exacerbates our suffering. "Invariably," Hickman acknowledges, despite death, "we all get our moment in the sun." Yet this deeply moving story emerges from a son's hard-fought struggle to beat the odds, and the terrifying silence of loss. Pushing the author to tackle troubling issues, she explains: " W e 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 ever hope to unravel the tangled roots of addiction in its endless forms, guises." Each life reflects the intense mysteries we are born into. Mysteries lodged in silence, and ambiguity. Yet this urgent and powerful memoir penetrates that silence, as the author initially survives its fierce echo in the face of her son's sudden death, and then realizes she must, one day, embrace it. ". .. here is much meaning, peace, and - yes - hope." ― John DeDakis , novelist, editor Cover art Paul C. Jackson. " ... the author gives us an insightful and candid memoir after the suicide of her son at 27. 'Grief was at the wheel' in this telling, but so are wisdom and discovery. At its center lies heartfelt candor in a lyrical voice in praise of life." --Mary L. Tabor, author of WHO BY FIREKnowing her son's death is a mystifying, but forceful, catalyst, the author pursues the deeper story of loss via the greatest life mysteries. Her searching is persistent despite a world that says "there is no time," and she is inspired by a strong desire to study the human condition. The unknown becomes intensely personal when staggering changes occur. "The deeper life story is personal, yet, universal. Seek it quietly, diligently. But seek it," the author stresses.We all encounter unexpected challenges; we all need courage and passion to explore painful realities. Surveying her loss and life experience with compassion and persistence, the author shares her son's struggle to find meaning and purpose in a chaotic world that serves up escape, excitement, and excess as "solutions." Hickman, turning to her background in sociology, also questions the viability of a contemporary culture that somehow points too many in the wrong direction.Do we really understand the role of addiction in society, or why this age-old problem assumes an endless variety of destructive, life-threatening forms?Stepping beyond the personal dimension ... we are a world born of connection, the author points to the profound influence of culture and society, noting the realities of a rather toxic climate of addiction. "The human species seems addicted to a great variety of things." Articulating challenges faced by every family, every individual, the author shines a bright and compassionate light on the vagaries of the human condition.THE SILENCE OF MORNING, a compelling memoir about life and death, culture and society, tells a poignant story of spiritual courage. As the author confronts the mysteries of existence in search of deeper understanding, she insists on staying true to the experience: commits to the "long view" instead of succumbing to generic cultural standards. Finding an illuminating thread when "grief is at the wheel" is a daunting challenge, however."... the gift of a spiritual seeker's brave inquiry." --Richard Gilbert, Shepherd: A Memoir"Examining the world with narrative grace and balance ..." --Jen Knox, After the Gazebo"... a new path. Holy and beautiful and heartbreaking." --Susan Hall Pohlman, Halfway to Each Other"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"There are no pat answers here, but there is much meaning, peace, and - yes - hope." --John DeDakis, novelist, former senior editor CNN, writing teacherEACH LIFE ... a reflection of the many mysteries we are born into. Mysteries lodged in silence. And ambiguity. Yet this story penetrates that silence, as the author initially survives its fierce echo after her son's sudden death, and then realizes she must, one day, embrace it. Author and spiritual thinker, Daisy Hickman readily admits, however, that she wasn't remotely prepared for the curious demands of loss. But then, who is, she wonders."Like a prairie windmill silenced by time, life felt heavy and still.""Examining the world with narrative grace and balance, Hickman's autho­rial voice communicates the choppy stuff of life with elegance." --Jen Knox, After the GazeboCover art by artist Paul C. Jackson, Columbia, MO EACH LIFE is a reflection of the many mysteries we are born into. Mysteries lodged in silence. And ambiguity. Yet this fascinating memoir manages to penetrate that silence, as the author initially survives its fierce echo in the face of her son's sudden death, and then realizes she must, one day, embrace it. Hickman notes, however, that she wasn't remotely prepared for the curious demands of loss. But then, who is, she wonders. Would a saint be prepared, someone braver than I, perhaps, or someone who simply moved on with a heavy shrug of the shoulders, a fierce sigh, a wistful expression? The Silence of Morning, a compelling story of life and loss, culture and society, reveals why the author, in the face of profound tragedy, decides to confront the mysteries of existence in search of deeper understanding. Articulating challenges faced by every family, every individual, the author shines a bright and compassionate light on the vagaries of the human condition -- addictive culture (the many forms of addiction that are part of every community, all societies), family loss from suicide, spiritual exploration and realization, grief and loss, the insidious nature of time. In the end, however, Hickman chooses love over despair. "Examining the world with narrative grace and balance, Hickman's authorial voice communicates the choppy stuff of life with elegance." --Jen Knox, author of After the Gazebo Every ending is a beginning, but finding an illuminating thread when"grief is at the wheel" is a daunting challenge. "Like a prairie windmill silenced by time, life felt heavy and still." So how does the author navigate an agonizing maze of sorrow so that her tentative steps feel true to the moment? Why does she insist on the long view, instead of succumbing to generic cultural standards of moving on or getting over it? In deciding that her son's suicide at 27 is a mystifying, but forceful, catalyst for spiritual growth, the author also accepts an unspoken challenge to unearth the deeper story, the universal message, so others can benefit. Her son's struggle to find meaning and purpose in a chaotic world that serves up escape, excitement, and excess as "solutions," also leads the author to question the viability of a contemporary culture that points so many in the wrong direction. Do we understand the role of addiction in society, or why this age-old problem assumes an endless variety of destructive, life-threatening forms? Stepping beyond the personal dimension--we are a world born of connection--the author considers the profound influence of culture and society, noting the existence of a rather toxic climate of addiction. "Despite a crushing loss ... here we have a warmth of spirit, understanding and compassion in a distancing world." --Madeline Sharples, author of Leaving the Hall Light On Cover art by artist Paul C. Jackson, Columbia, MO.