One woman’s personal story of unthinkable tragedy on the day our nation mourned the loss of thousands of innocent lives in New York City, September 11, 2001. Everything changed that very moment. Shelly Genovese-Calhoun recounts: “I was living the worst nightmare I could have ever imagined. Paralyzed with fear, I realized this was no accident. I knew our country was under attack. But I knew that the God I serve was bigger than my circumstances. A God of miracles. I knew He could bring my husband home. But would He? I would soon realize that sometimes our stories don’t end the way we think they should. Sometimes God has a different plan for our lives.”

Seven Boxes is a spiritual memoir about the author’s journey through multiple sudden atypical losses. Stories unfold prompted by personal artifacts kept in storage and are revealed box by box. Through the unpacking of these story-filled boxes, the author utilizes a filter of faith to remove the stigma of talking about complicated grief. A surviving-to-thriving perspective helps the reader identify his or her own resiliency factors for personal healing and growth.A study guide for individual or group reflection is included. Seven Boxes is a perfect resource for those who have experienced loss or those in helping professions who support those who are grieving.

Essays aims to present some elements of Christian community in an attempt to make some contributions to our understanding of the nature of church and our experience of the models of church. These elements and approaches have been developed in our life together and are, hopefully, part of the solution.