Spiritual Themes

The Resurrectionist series follow a teenage protagonist, William Stark, as he struggles with a confused faith and heart that prevent him from loving the girl of his dreams. Circumstances beyond his control compel Will on a journey of self-discovery and inner courage as he navigates a perilous netherworld in the spiritual realm.

 

Spiritual topics can be abstract and intangible for many young people, making them difficult grasp and comprehend. I wanted to write a story that created a bridge between reality and spiritually, making these topics more tangible and hands on while appealing to young adult readers as well as a broader audience.

 

The Resurrectionist is partly inspired by a fascination of near death and out of body experiences. The first account I read was from Dr. George Ritchie's book Return from Tomorrow. Dr. Ritchie shares his near death experience and recounts a fascinating tale; traveling through various dimensions of time and space with a bright spiritual guide whom he refers to as Jesus. Dr. Ritchie's book led me to study countless numbers of other experiences people have had with the spiritual realm. Many of the descriptions and themes from the Resurrectionist come from my studies and research into the spirit world.

 

What struck me the most about Dr. Ritchie's story was his travel to a dark and negative realm. The beings there were locked in a mental battle of will power against one another. The beings would project anger upon one another and try to hurt each other. Many beings of light would come to try and help these poor souls but nobody wanted to see or hear them. It was evident that these beings in darkness were not stuck there because they were being punished by some angry God, they remained there because they chose to stay. These beings were free to leave but for what ever reason they chose to stay.

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This reflects reality in many ways. Change is hard. Often, we find ourselves stuck in the same self-defeating patterns and don't know how to change. It often feels easier to remain where we're at. Maybe these poor souls felt comfortable being angry and negative towards themselves and others. Maybe the familiarity was easier than seeking out and reaching for the light and the help that was offered. The Resurrectionist is a story of seeking the light and a reminder that we are always guided by a higher power who is reaching out for us ... it's up to us to reach back.