David Giffen’s “Redemptive Trauma” is a good reminder not to define people by their behavior.

Four years ago, I purchased a book titled “Redemptive Trauma: Confessions of a Defrocked Priest” by David Giffen, my colleague in Toronto. This memoir chronicles the significant events in David’s life. It delves into his reflections on past errors and his path to self-discovery and healing.

Although David and I have different life backgrounds and paths, he speaks my voice in this book. I resonate with Dr. Courbasson’s foreword for this book, especially the last paragraph:

“The Redemptive Trauma, a raw authentic story filled with pain and awakening, is a reminder to not fall in the trap of defining people by a behaviour and instead to try to understand the person’s situation and offer help to them and adopt patience as people walk through their own recovery journey. It is an opportunity to remind ourselves that no matter how old we are, what gender we are, what profession we practice, and where we come from, we all need and deserve to be loved and cared for. It is an opportunity to understand that vulnerability and openness are not be equated with failure, but instead they provide an opportunity to grow. No matter how bad things are there is hope.”