About The Book
55 Reflections of a Searching SKEPTIC
Explore the Faith Journey of a Poetic Bipolar Believer
Rich Melcher offers a potpourri of insights and reflections that stimulate the mind and comfort the soul: from pointed commentary on the Gospel of John—to personal expression about the challenges of living with bipolar disorder—to encouraging motivational strategies.
Peppered with personalized poetic commentary that embellishes the wide variety of readings, Melcher integrates spirituality, mental health and self-enrichment with honest and poignant memoir.
REFLECTION #1:
Speaking about “inclusion”–the essence of everyone being included, in the eyes of God. It challenges the Gospel of John in some readings, (John 14:6–“I am the way, the truth and the life–no one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME!”… my emphasis…), then uplifts and praises John for 10:16 where he speaks of other sheep being brought into the fold. To me this released his exclusive writings and raised up the notion that we are all welcomed in the Kingdom of God.
In a poem of mine from 2001, I wrote, “The focus of ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ is not the ‘no one can come to the Father except through me,’ but that THE WAY who Jesus was (is)–to me–that I focus on His personal and divine attributes…faith, hope, love, courage, humility, forgiveness, compassion, wisdom, persistence, honesty, generosity, hospitality, patience, gratitude…Jesus was inclusive, not exclusive. This opening Reflection captures the spirit of many of the biblical Reflections that are scattered among the 55 Reflections.
It is a call to action that all of us can assert our beliefs and stand up to injustice and what is–in our view–just not right! It concludes with, “maybe a skeptic can be redeemed…through being genuine, listening to a call, and assertively acting upon it.”
REFLECTION #7:
This Reflection speaks of the hole in St. Francis of Assisi’s garment that seems to represent the poverty of Spirit mentioned in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In this Reflection, two opposite opinions are contrasted: the poverty of Spirit and authentic greatness. These two stand head to head. The struggle is between remaining a person with a hole in the soul (poverty of Spirit), and one who is striving to overcome this hole and use their talents and skills to become the best they can be.
REFLECTION #30:
Oil and Vinegar is a poem about how, one day at a local mall, I saw a discouraging sight: youth handing out in the food court, mixing only with those of their same race. This was very disturbing to me…”It’s like vinegar and oil / thin layer connecting / oil rising to the top / no tendency to claim “I’m better & you’re not” / (seemingly) / but still separation !
This horrified me, in this age of inclusiveness and hope for unification–to see our youth all huddled in groups of their own race: Blacks, Latinos, Asians, whites…I ended the poem with “and still still still the mall is segregated…who winds in seclusion?
REFLECTION PPS (post post script)
The book actually has 57 Reflections, the last of which is a tribute to my father, who passed away, at age 97, just as I was concluding the final draft. My dedication of the book reads “This book is dedicated to my dad who showed me how to become a man of significance”…which is what Reflection PPS is all about! This letter about my dad, to my family, is entitled “No angel could have done it better.” It describes a very personal incident when my father surprisingly came to my aid, in a way I will never forget. It is a truly heartfelt Reflection about a great man who affected so many people’s lives positively.