Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) to the Call of God

About the Book

This book is an interesting account of a Mennonite boy who was born on his grandfather's farm during the 1930's depression era. It tells of his struggle with Attention Deficit Disorder to the call of God and how various individuals in his life were used to help him overcome it. Stories about his family, relatives, friends, teachers, employers, famous sports figures and others who played a great role in caring for his physical and spiritual welfare take the reader from a small Mennonite community where the writer spent his childhood, to several large cities where he matured into manhood. He tells of meeting people of various cultures and backgrounds and how they influenced his life. Readers are taken through humorous and serious experiences including being brought face to face with death.

One event details coming close to death while working in a grain elevator on the Canadian prairies as a youth. Another gives an amusing account of a swimming contest he participated in while working at one of Canada's largest steel companies.

Throughout the book the author weaves a tapestry of incidents that shape his life and continually confront him with the all-important question of dealing with his attention deficit disorder to the call of God.

Readers will sense the author's intimacy with creation in his descriptive scenes of nature; revealing the importance it played in shaping his life.

The book delights, awes and inspires its readers with this wonderful true story of one man's battle against a disorder plaguing much of mankind throughout the ages.

About the Author

Cornelius (Neil) Friesen was born on the Canadian prairies during the 1930's depression era. He grew up in the small Mennonite communities of southern Manitoba; then later moved to Hamilton, Ontario where he obtained a much coveted job at Stelco. In 1961 he married Elfrieda Enns and together they have two sons.

After marriage, he worked for Manitoba Hydro as a mechanical maintenance tradesman on the Nelson River Hydro Project. In later years, as an inventor, he became the first Canadian to be registered with the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for his patented silver-impregnated carbon water filter. This achievement was noted in a Silver Institute of America publication. He also received a USA Industrial Design patent for a filter holder. He is known for his pioneer work in water filtration in Canada and served as an applications specialist consultant to Clearwater Systems as well as other companies.

Throughout his adult years, he enrolled in college and university courses to obtain various certificates and licences, including in the mechanical trades field, which resulted in a part-time teaching plumbing position; in the real estate field after receiving a real estate and broker's licence; and others. Wherever he was active in sales, he achieved reaching top salesman status and won many awards.

He is well-read, and his love of the written word is evidenced in letters and articles he has written which have been published in several newspapers in Canada. Recently, he completed a university course in English 209 and creative writing.

His zest for life and thirst for knowledge is demonstrated by the enthusiasm manifested in any venture he undertakes as is evidenced by the stories in this book.