The Astonishing Dream of Job is a short novel, set in modern-day Israel, that's driven by spiritual lessons and anchored in a reinterpretation of the biblical Book of Job. When a valuable piece of twelfth-century pottery resurfaces, it's discovered that the real treasure lies hidden within its walls in the form of an ancient text.Long-time friends Pieta and Lou travel to Israel to uncover more information about this text that reimagines the story of Job not as a real event, but rather as a dream stemming from Job's reaction to internal stress. Already gaining attention in the media, the text has the potential to change how human beings relate to suffering by offering a new understanding about the difference between suffering with rather than suffering for the self. On a quest to understand human suffering, Lou and Pieta make their way through Israel's beautiful but often unsafe countryside, where they meet antiquities dealers, rabbis, and fellow seekers. Their ultimate goal is to help bring this message to the world. Pieta's quest is driven by his mentor in the States, and Lou is driven by a desire to better understand compassion-the subject of his life's work. As they glean further insights into the text, they learn that love is the ultimate and highest goal to which humans can aspire, but they also discover that there is a distortion about self-love that says that loving oneself is narcissistic-a belief that ultimately hinders this universal quest. As the novel progresses, readers learn that Pieta is in search of a codex that will help his mentor uncover the final portion of the text, and hopefully reveal the ultimate prescription for human suffering. All along the way, lessons about suffering, self-love, and compassion are unveiled. The final message is that to suffer with ourselves, we must love ourselves. At a time in history when we have worn out the fated "why" of life, Job's inner experience gives us deep meaning about how to bring meaning and purpose to our lives.
About the Author: Ernie Vecchio is also the author of The Soul's Intent and Big Tail - Small Kite, as well as the founder of the Institute for Compassionate Living. In his extensive career as a trauma psychologist he discovered that when ego or personality was stripped away, his patients had a unique opportunity to recover a truer and authentic self. In most cases, he observed them establish a relationship with soul, spirit, and ego that were aligned with their heart's desire. He calls this process mediating within or finding one's place of compromise. The result was a more meaningful life and choices that were purposeful and goal-oriented. In his twenty-five+ years of working with severe trauma patients, he developed a psychospiritual understanding of that which divides us all: self-judgment. Those willing to explore and heal this division internally discover a broader and more compassionate view of the self. The result is forgiveness and a personal freedom to simply BE. He practices in West Virginia and consults nationally and internationally. www.theinstituteforcompassionateliving.com.