The Journey Beyond

Living Beautifully in an Ugly World

Each morning we awaken to a new day, only to be assailed by news of a world gone wrong. The divisions, the greed, the anger, and the despair leave us worn out before the day even begins. We long to live a life of meaning, a life that makes our world a better place, yet our attempts to do so often seem to have the opposite effect.

The Journey Beyond invites us to take a fresh look at ourselves and our society, to move beyond the aggressive and polarized culture that keeps us trapped in a stalemate of hate and division. The deep-rooted challenges that we collectively face cannot be solved through partisan politics. To move forward, we must engage with each other outside the blinding and confining boundaries of party, recognizing the humanity of one another and identifying together the direction of our common health. This is not a simple self-contained action that we do; rather, it is part of our lifelong journey of becoming whole. This book is an invitation to journey beyond the propaganda, beyond the easy solutions, and beyond our own self-interest, where there is another way of being that we and our society desperately need.

The Journey Beyond is the second book in the Whispers series. In these books, professional photographer and award-winning author Erik Stensland explores what it means to pursue goodness, wholeness, and meaning, following the voice that whispers deep within all of us. He has written these books in the form of easy-to read daily reflections that look at life from a different perspective. Each of these readings is paired with one of his stunning photographs of the natural world, chosen to emphasize the message of the day.

If you are ready to open yourself, to take an honest look within, and to pursue the way of goodness, you will find this book to be a delightful and encouraging companion on that journey to personal and societal wholeness.