Bearing the Unbearable: Coping with Infertility and Other Profound Suffering, Or What To Do When Taking Charge of Your Fertility Fails
Product Description
BEARING THE UNBEARABLE wrestles with two of life’s most painful realities, the loss or diminishment of hope and the inability of human beings to fulfill their vocation, potential, and dreams. We will focus on perhaps the most poignant cause of this, infertility, but our discussion will include other major obstacles to fulfillment. There is an innate link between the futility of procreative and potential fulfillment efforts. We will integrate western civilization’s most famous infertility stories, those from the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament, with contemporary stories and your own. Why I Wrote the Book I wrote this book for two main reasons. First, I wanted to make the timeless insights and therapeutic applications of the Bible’s infertility stories accessible to a wide audience. These can heal painful emotions and experiences, provide guidance on key decisions, and open up new ways of looking at your challeng… More >>
Clear blue easy fertility monitor
In this wonderfully illustrated book portraying the characters of the Bible, Karl Schultz assists the reader with understanding the meaning of suffering and patience. Bearing the Unbearable guides the reader in developing a renewed zest for life being aware of God’s presence and initiative. Schultz conveys the value of love, forgiveness, charity, and mercy for those struggling with infertility and other profound suffering. Bearing the Unbearable is a must read for all who face the difficult trials of life.
Rating: 5 / 5
This book was not helpful for me. It did not give any insight into productively coping with infertility, but instead rambled on about religion and accepting your infertility. Nonsense! I should have known from the creepy picture on the cover. Who gave this book 5 stars, the author?
Rating: 1 / 5
Experiences of loss, failure, abandonment, injustice inflicted by intimates — and comfort, consolation and restoration — replay over and over again in the lives of human beings. Because of this, biblical passages that reflect these themes resonate with many people, regardless of calling or creed, at the deepest levels.
In “Bearing the Unbearable,” Karl A. Schultz links some of the best-loved and most poignant stories of the Bible to that bereft state in which we sometimes find ourselves. The author teaches how, through the natural process of lectio divina (“holy reading”), the inspired word of God can provide comfort and consolation in our darkest moments and effect healing and renewal.
The Holy Bible, God’s inspired word, reflects every human experience. Schultz reminds us — as does Scripture — that God made us, knows us, loves us, and calls us into relationship with Him, encouraging us to share with Him our sufferings as well as our joys.
Each chapter of this book opens with a vibrant illustration, rendered in stained glass in the original by Nick Parrendo, that brings to life a familiar biblical scene. (The reader might delight in the color rendition of several of the images at the author’s website.) Following the image is Schultz’s meditation on that particular scene, after which he explores present-day practical, personal, social, and spiritual aspects of the story. Schultz speaks not only to the particular experience of biological infertility but also, more generally, to what he calls “functional” infertility: thoughts and emotions, and reactions and responses, that arise when our hopes are frustrated or our dreams shattered.
“Bearing the Unbearable” reminds us that we are not alone in our journey, even — and perhaps especially — in the midst of most profound grief. What’s more, we find that this process of examining and considering our suffering in the light of Scripture can open our eyes to the movement of grace in our lives. For the open reader, Schultz’s insights and inquiries can lead to an intensely personal experience of Divine Providence.
Who else might benefit from this book? Medical doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, ministers and priests, pastoral counselors, and spiritual directors: all will find that “Bearing the Unbearable” provides inspiration, unique insights, and new directions in their work.
I cannot think of anyone who would not benefit from this beautifully written and beautifully illustrated work.
Rating: 5 / 5