From the Darkness Into the Light

About the Book

From the Darkness Into the Light is the story of the author's second journey in moving from the darkness of grief into the light of hope. His first book, A Promise Fulfilled, is a brief story of how he was able to recover to a "near normal life" after several times of loss, all with the help of many people, and with the presence of Jesus Christ in his life. Writing that story played a very big part in his recovery from the loss of grief he was experiencing. By the summer of 2005 healing was taking place.

In a sudden fall in the middle of the night in August 2005, In a split second of time, his life was radically changed forever. He soon realized that healing medically, as well as emotionally, was not going to be easy. The new season of pain, despair, and suffering over this loss were deeper and more traumatic than anything ever dealt with before. A broken femur refusing to permanently heal is the problem.

Reliance on prayer and meditation, with A Promise Fulfilled as a pattern, and using his writing and message delivery experiences as a certified lay speaker, From Darkness Into the Light: became the means of recovery and healing it was intended to be. The book includes 14 of the over 50 messages previously spoken to church congregations in the Pacific Northwest.

The author says, "The primary objective in writing this book was to help me climb out of the depths of depression and suffering accompanying a dramatic change in life style. The assurance of hope in the future has begun to return and I am learning to accept what cannot be changed."

As the book neared completion, another objective came to mind. Someone else may be looking for a way out of the depths of despair and loneliness they are experiencing because of the loss of a loved one or some other kind of devastating loss. This book is for anyone seeking the inspiration, help, and encouragement needed to move beyond the dark days of pain, sorrow, and despair of grief into the light of hope.

About the Author

Richard George Whitner is a native of Yakima, WA, graduating from Yakima (Davis) Senior High School in 1947. He attended Yakima Valley Community College. During recovery from the effects of polio in 1952, he attended Yakima Business College. Following fifteen years as an office manager and accountant he enrolled at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA in 1966, and graduated in the summer of 1969 with a B.A. Degree in Education. His teaching career lasted 23 years teaching U.S. history and English to seventh and eighth grade middle school students at Highlands Middle School, Kennewick, WA. He is a United Methodist layperson and served as a District and Conference Director of Lay Speaking for the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has been a member of the West Highlands congregation for almost 47 years. He enjoys writing and was the editor of the church's Newsletter for over 30 years. From the Darknes Into the Light is his third book published through Trafford Publishing. He became a widower for the second time in 2004 He has a very supportive family of two stepchildren, three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren who call him Grandpa Dick or Super Gramps