1. A Life Reconstructed
Thisis a lettertorecommendHerbertGoodentoan individual whoisconsideringhisservice.Herbert
came to me througha mutual spiritual friend.He was recommendedto me because Iwasgoing through
a verydifficulttime inmultiple areasof mylife.
WhenI metHerbert,I knewthatI wouldbe helpedbeyondbelief.Hisentire physical demeanoris
peaceful,hopeful,positive,andgrateful.He quicklyletme know thatmiracleshadoccurredinhislife as
a resultof hisrelationshipwithGod. It was veryclearfromthe start thathe wantedtohelpme achieve
whathe had.
I have alwaysfantasizedaboutanoptimal spirituallife,buthadnoideawhere tobegin.Iknew thatI had
driftedfromGodand I was havingmore andmore unnecessary trouble inmylife asa result.Itseemed
too overwhelmingtodoon my own.I neededaguide,a"coach". Forthe firsttime,Iwas verywillingto
follow,Ijustneededthe rightperson.
The day we met,he immediatelybeganinterviewingme thoroughlytomake sure he felthe couldhelp.
We discussedmyhopesforthe experience andhe describedhis expectations. He startedme on a
spiritual pathwhere Icouldfollowactively foratime,andhe listenedintentlyandspentalotof time
thinkingandprayingaboutme whenhe wasn'ttalkingto me or inmy presence. Ihad "homework"
basedon ourdiscussions.Ithinkone of the keysforme was havingjustthe rightamount of
accountability.Itwasn'toverwhelming,butatthe same time I didnotwant (andstill don't!) to
disappointhim.We spoke andmetfrequently,andwe woulddiscusswhatwe were workingonas well
as situationsorthoughtsthatwere occurringin the interim.
For thistime I wouldshare everydecisionandmostof mythoughtswithhimby speakingwithhimthree
timesa week.ThiswayIcouldrelearnhow to thinkandbehave whenthingswouldhappentome.He
put "newglasses"onme tosee the worlddifferently.As time hasgone on,we have talkedandmetless
frequently,andIam startingto be able to make habitsout of the thingsI've learned.Mylife has
improvedagreat deal.
Thingsinmy marriage and familylifeimprovedimmediately,andhave onlycontinuedto improve
throughmy workwithhim.My husbandand I have rejuvenatedourselvesindividuallyandtogether,and
my childrenare muchmore interestedinknowingGodsince Ihave changed.
In addition,Ihave alwaysfeltalittle challengedfittingmyrelationshipwithGodintomycareer,but
Herberthas shownme a path forthis.I have become more aware of my strengthsandweaknessesasa
leader,andHerberthaspointedoutaspectsof GodlyleadershipthatIwaslacking.My staff is reacting
verypositivelyto these changesandtheyare more attractedto God as a result.
Herberthas helpme achieve alevel of spiritualitythatIhave neverexperienced. To saythat "I
recommendhim"isa veryweakstatementforwhatIwouldwantto conveyto someone consideringhis
helpinlife.Godsenthimtome,and I am foreverchanged.
Dr. Sarah B.