What can I learn from this honest and insightful story? This young woman with an out of work husband, feeding four children on a newspaper route and food stamps, felt that all religions had failed her, yet salvation was needed. She finds courage and direction from a holy man from Sri Lanka, and they form a relationship that changes her life. What is the lesson? Perhaps it is the importance of understanding, respecting, and appreciating individual and personal paths, like the one the author followed. —Zena Stein, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology and Psychiatry at Columbia University Sandra Francis is a wonderful story teller. Her writing is down-to-earth, heartfelt, meaningful, and honest. Each chapter pulls you to the next. The closing is quite powerful: “This is what it felt like to be rescued, guided, and loved by a truly holy man.” Even if readers are not familiar with the concept of a holy man, they may yearn for the feeling she describes so beautifully. I believe that readers will put down this book and feel, as I did, inspired and comforted. —J. Kelly Hayden

Sandra T. Francis–RN, B.A. Anthropology, Master of Humanities, Ph.D. Anthropology–is a retired professor living in rural Pennsylvania with her husband of fifty years and an ancient cat named Marley. She loves to engage in multi-religious, multi-ethnic dialogue with her fellow human beings, and she would welcome hearing your stories and reactions via her blog: thecultureofgoodness.blog