In a time long ago, a kingdom thrived under the rule of a wise and just king. The king and his queen were beloved by their subjects, and their reign was marked by prosperity and harmony. However, their greatest joy came with the birth of their only son, Prince Frederick. From an early age, it was evident that Prince Frederick possessed a kind heart and a deep sense of empathy. Surrounded by wealth and privilege, the young prince yearned for something more-something beyond the confines of the palace walls. He longed to understand the struggles faced by those less fortunate, to explore the world beyond his sheltered existence. Guided by his insatiable curiosity and an innate desire to make a difference, Prince Frederick often found himself venturing into the streets of the kingdom, disguised as a commoner. He would observe the lives of the people, listen to their stories, and offer a helping hand whenever possible. Little did Prince Frederick know that these early encounters would plant the seeds of compassion that would later shape his destiny. The empathy he felt for the less fortunate would ignite a fire within him-a fire that would drive him to become a beacon of hope and kindness in a world that sometimes seemed devoid of such virtues. And so, as the young prince grew, so too did his longing for a greater purpose. The path that lay ahead would be filled with challenges, lessons, and unexpected transformations. The prince's journey would take him from the opulence of the palace to the humble abodes of the impoverished. It would test his resolve, push the boundaries of his understanding, and ultimately lead him to discover the true meaning of nobility. This is the story of Prince Frederick-the tale of a privileged youth who became a compassionate leader, a story of the transformative power of empathy, and a reminder that true greatness lies not in titles or riches, but in the ability to bring light to the lives of others.

Abraham Joshua Heschel said that, "We are closer to God when we are asking questions than when we have the answers." He believed that to be a Christian is not to be a person who knows all the answers but one who "lives in the part of the self where the question is constantly being born." Most of us don't think very much about our questions. In our culture, we are accustomed to being able to find out answers to nearly any question just by typing it into Google search or asking Siri. But behind any answer, there is always a question. Sometimes, the question isn't clear to us; sometimes, it is not very well articulated, even to ourselves. But it is always there. In over thirty years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, Peter C. Wilcox has seen how the questions people ask themselves have shaped their lives in some very important ways. This book is an invitation to see how important it is to learn how to ask the right questions about our lives. This is because our choice of questions leads us on a path of discovery towards answers that help us to grow spiritually and psychologically. Our questions orient our lives and give direction to us. We will see that they enable us to make fifteen choices that have a tremendous impact on the kind of person we become.

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, Jesus passes by Bartimaeus, a blind beggar. Bartimaeus calls out, “Master, let me see again.” Jesus cures him and gives him back his sight. So many things in life depend on the way we see things. This book is an invitation to look at the way we see things in life. We may not be physically blind like Bartimaeus, but each of us can be blind in our own ways. Reading through these pages will hopefully give you the opportunity to change the way you look at something that holds you back from growing psychologically and spiritually. Using the Scriptures, stories, and examples from over thirty years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, as well as insights from a variety of authors, this book invites us to reflect on our own ways of being blind, so that like Bartimaeus, we might be able to call out to Jesus, “Master, let me see again.”

The well known Austrian poet and spiritual writer, Rainer Maria Rilke encouraged his young friend not to be a "waster of sorrows," but to use them in a positive way as a means to help him grow in holiness. And isn't this the challenge for all of us? Everyone has sorrows in life. The important question is: what can we do with them so that we don't waste them? Whether our sorrows are personal or communal, how can we share our mutual vulnerability so that we can connect with others in a way that leads to growth? For over thirty years as a psychotherapist and spiritual director, Peter C. Wilcox has listened to people's stories about their lives. Often, parts of their stories involve sorrows of one kind or another. Some people become overwhelmed by their sorrows while others have learned how to integrate them into their lives in a positive way. This book is an invitation to discover how we can learn to integrate our sorrows into our own lives so that we can grow psychologically and spiritually. It suggests nine ways that we can reflect on our sorrows to deepen our spiritual lives, so that as Rilke wrote to his friend, we don't "waste them."