Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones: Spiritual Answers to Psychological Questions

Rating:
Summary: Psychological Help on the Road to Holiness.
Review: Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, a Franciscan friar and author of "The Courage to be Chaste", attempts to give some spiritual answers to a few psychological issues. His basic thesis is that human psychological situations often considered stumbling blocks, can be changed into stepping-stones on the road to holiness. Our change of attitudes combined with Divine grace could be the means of change. He illustrates it with examples from real life situations through his personal experience of working as a psychologist and a spiritual director. It is a valuable book for anyone struggling with interior personal obstacles to growth in holiness.

Rating:
Summary: The best self help book I have ever read
Review: Many folks get the short end of things, born into a bad home, or with a health problem. Latter we can develop addictions or perhaps other serious psychological problems.

A simple answer, the traditional one, is that God knows what is best for us and our situation is what is best for our salvation. So, be happy in you handicap or addiction and go home?

Groeschel is far more healthy and holistic that that. Folks with big problems when they are young can quickly develop a host of related problems and even resentment toward God. Groeschel is faithful to, and integrates his two disciplines very well. Both his understanding of the wounded heart/mind and the understanding of the wounded soul. He uses experience of both together to help heal the reader when an emphasis on either alone would be ineffective. It is unique and powerful healing program that neither shirks the spiritual or psychological aspects but uses robust understanding of both to bring healing and wholeness to those who may feel overwhelmed.

Adult children of abuse, twelve steppers, those with health problems or even those who just do feel like they fit in will find in this book easy to follow step-by-step path to wholeness. Like all of Groeschel's books they transcend his Catholic Tradition, they are valuable tools for all looking for healing no matter what their background.

I would recommend this book not only for readers looking to help them selves but also those who minister to or work with clients with serious problems. Its complete approach is the best thing out there to help the "wounded."