Hold On The Light Will Come

When a song connects with us on an almost molecular level, and we'd swear that whoever wrote that song either lived our life or read passages from our most personal journal entries, we discover that we're not as alone as we might have thought we were. Somebody else knows, or they couldn't have written that song in that particular way. Those songs tell us that we have something in common with their writers, but often it seems that the songwriters know more about us than we know about them. In Hold On, the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, Michael McLean lets us read the songwriter's most personal journal entries. We are invited behind the scenes to experience the parts of his life that led to more than twenty albums of songs about hope and healing and holding on. Candid, insightful, hopeful, funny, and honest, this book gives an account of the lessons Michael's songs have taught him -- or rather, how writing his songs has helped him to process the lessons that life sooner or later tries to teach us all. Included is a CD with the songs he writes about so personally in this memoir. "By writing this book," says Michael, "I hope that people who've heard some of my songs before will hear them differently. And maybe those who are hearing them for the first time will understand my belief that songwriters know that they don't really own the songs they've written ... they just heard them first." Book jacket.

Like cancer untreated, PTSD can kill--if not the body-- the mind and soul. Linda King has portrayed, in real-time, what it is like to live with full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder. With My Face to the Wind is not only for those who have PTSD, or those who support friends and family with PTSD, but it is also for professionals who want a window into the mind and heart of someone struggling to overcome PTSD. With this 2021 revision, Linda hopes that readers who have lived with the symptoms of this disorder (which often goes undiagnosed) will learn coping skills, along with hope and faith to continue on their journey. Linda King's "With My Face to the Wind" is an inspiring read like no other. Her story is one of the tragedies and triumphs, with tears and laughter guiding the way. Mrs. King knows how to tell her tales and pushes her readers to better themselves--by accepting themselves. I suggest this book to anyone--PTSD suffers, mis-understood teenagers, and those who are perfectly fine. This book will lead you to your best self. -Anna Katherine Beerman While sharing some of her personal tragedies, Linda King weaves just enough verifiable psychological content (without causing brain freeze) to know that she's done her homework. Her wit and humor shine through just in the nick of time. . . -Rhonda B. Holmes, Author, The WORD Diet What you have written is too powerful to be read in one or two settings. As a registered nurse I've been accustomed to reading professional abstracts and journals quickly and incorporating new learning into my nursing practice. It was the unanticipated emotional impact that caused me to read it in small "doses" spread over a couple of months. . . . and your format of introducing that information throughout the book as it coincided with stages in your own emotional journey, will make it much easier for individuals affected by PTSD to understand and apply it to their own circumstances. -Elen Wright, R.N

This heartwarming picture book reassures children that a parent’s love never lets go—based on the poignant lyrics of JJ Heller’s beloved lullaby “Hand to Hold.” “May the living light inside you be the compass as you go / May you always know you have my hand to hold.” With delightful illustrations and an engaging rhyme scheme, this book offers the promise of security and love every child’s heart longs to know. From skipping stones and counting stars to climbing trees and telling stories, every moment is wrapped snugly in the certain warmth of a parent’s presence and God’s blessing. With poignancy and joy, this bedtime read captures the unconditional love parents want their children to know but so often fail to express amid the chaos of daily life.

In good times and bad, in times of economic downturn and times of wartime peril, we as Americans have shown our mettle. There is something in the historical DNA of this people - a resilience, a power, a talent for innovation, a unique and empowering bravery - that has carried us forward as a nation and a people for nearly 250 years. This book is about this history, this inheritance, this people. These characteristics apply not just to the people of the United States as a whole, but to each of us as individuals. Whether we are leaders, followers, friends, co-workers, parents, spouses, partners or simply sojourners in this thing we call life - it is rare for us to see those we care about suffer and not want to change their circumstances or alleviate their suffering. It is an almost in-born trait that we as individuals and as a nation tend to seek ways to overcome the challenges we periodically face. Home of the Brave is about meeting our individual challenges and the challenges of those we care about and care for. It is about finding the time-proven principles in the historical DNA of great Americans that we can draw on - not only for strength but for practical insight and action that can make even the most challenging times more manageable, even conquerable.

I was led by the spirit to write this book. On my journey in life, I have had my ups and downs. I remember when I was a young man. I was carefree, did not have a worry in the world. I had my strength and that was all I thought I need. I was strong, like a flower when the sun heats the morning dew. I had the job and all that came with it. I was doing good as a young man. I had been raised in the church as a child, and now I was of age and independent, had my own place, and no one could tell me what to do anymore. I even had the nerve to tell God I was too young to come and serve Him. I had everything a young man could ask for in the palms of my hand. I would go to the parties, stay out late—all the things that young people do. Little did I know what was lying ahead. I started getting hit with the storms of life. I was like a sheep caught in the dark in the forest. It took me years to get back on the track my mom started me on when I was a little child. I have been back on the trail for over thirty years. I know what it is to be in darkness and believe everything is all right. I kept stumbling along in this life in the dark. I really thought I was seeing things clearly. I have a high tolerance for pain, so I stayed in darkness longer than I had anticipated. Life pain was taking a toll on my life. Those things I thought were fun took more pain to have the fun. This life I loved did not love me anymore. One day I saw some people getting out of their car and going up the steps to the church. I said, “Lord, if you would change my life to be like them church folks, I will serve you the rest of my life.” You know, it is said that the deeper that you were in darkness, the more loyal you would be to God. Now I’m in the light. I see with insight, not as much with eyesight over the years. I come to see some things that require our immediate attention. This can’t wait. We have been brought to the light so we can show others how to get to the light, and there is a lot of work to do as a child of God. It is our responsibility to carry out God’s will. We can’t push it on the next person. We have to step up and do it. This book can help people to learn to treat people like they would like to be treated, and it gets you to know about the Lord. You can practice this in your daily life. I’m a new creature. Old things I don’t do any more. I thought that my old behaviors would be with me all my life until I was shown the light. Now I must share the light and show others how to get here.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1871. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost.