You Know You Are Going to Die, Now What?: A Lay Cistercian cancer survivor reflects on Three Questions he had to face and how contemplation helped him - Paperback

by Michael Conrad (Author)

I write this as a survivor of Leukemia, CLL type (so far). I received my first news from my primary physician that my WBC count was elevated and that I had to see an Oncologist, my physician, an Internal Medicine practitioner, would not even say the "C" word, merely that I probably needed a bone marrow biopsy for further testing to be sure. She told me, "You know what we are talking about, don't you?" That was how I found out that I probably had cancer.At that time, in 2014 September-ish, I was also a Lay Cistercian novice (two years of discernment) at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Trappist), Conyers. GA. The Lay part means an abbot or a bishop is not my direct superior. Lay Cistercians are not monks, nor do they live in a monastery, but they learn how to seek God through inner practices that lead to love with their whole heart and soul using Cistercian spirituality. www.trappist.net Both monks and laity struggle to reach it. It is a lifetime process of "conversion of life" from self to God.This is a short book about how this broken-down, old Temple of the Holy Spirit navigated through the trauma of cancer diagnosis, treatment and eventual remission, using Cistercian spirituality as the "ear of his heart", the oars of his boat. This is my journey. I make no apologies for my approach to life nor how my spirituality helped me gain an inner peace. I am not trying to convert anyone to this or that, merely to point out how silence, solitude, work, prayer, and community, five cardinal practices of Cistercian spirituality, helped me to discover peace and joy, and so see more clearly and focus on what is important for the rest of my life...Forever. For more about contemplation and cancer, read my blog. Blog at https: //thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org

Author Biography

Michael F. Conrad, B.S., M.R.E., Ed.D., is retired from a full life of trying to make money, seek fame and recognition by the world, all without much success. Coming to his senses, even after the age of 70, he now struggles to have in him the mind of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-12) Still running the race and searching for the prize, he has had a lifetime of activities to help him in his quest: he is proud to have been a U.S. Army Chaplain, pastor of parish ministry, adjunct instructor of Adult Education at Indiana University (Bloomington) and University of South Florida (Tampa) and Barry University (Florida), high school instructor of religion, trainer of managers and supervisors, adjunct trainer for the Florida Certified Public Manager program, instructional designer for the State of Florida, former Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, and currently a publisher, blogger and author, He is a Lay Cistercian member of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery, Conyers, Georgia, proud father of a daughter, and a humbled husband.