Unlikely Ways Home

Book excerpt: An engaging collection of twelve real-life stories that illuminate the ways God is present in everyday life Edward L. Beck’s first book, God Underneath, was hailed as “a graceful and gracious work of self-revelation and spiritual wisdom” by the Los Angeles Times, and a review in the Dallas Morning News declared, “Edward Beck is a heck of a writer, and his gem of a book is not to be missed . . . you will not be able to put this book down.” In Unlikely Ways Home, Beck once again uses anecdotes and observations from his work as a Catholic priest to reveal the spiritual dimensions of ordinary life. The stories in Unlikely Ways Home encompass a wide range of topics, from the 9/11 attacks to such ongoing issues and concerns as addiction, adultery, and sexuality. Beck shares the poignant reflections of a man who lost his fireman son in the attack on the World Trade Center and describes, with refreshing honesty and compassion, the efforts of a gay couple to find a place for themselves within the Catholic Church. Written in a friendly, conversational style, Unlikely Ways Home is a moving, spiritually inspiring book that will appeal to both Catholic audiences and the general reader.