After Joanna shut the door behind them they circled around to the front of the church and stood alone in the sanctuary. They wanted to take a closer look at the magnificent crucifix displayed above the altar.

As a work of art, it was astoundingly powerful, simply because it was so realistic. The lifelike face of Jesus looked down in agony, and appeared to be on the verge of speaking at any moment. Despite the great suffering depicted in the eyes, the tilt of the head announced the presence of a peaceful, open heart.

“He looks as if he is one breath away from death, and yet he exudes so much love,” Mitch said.

Carolyn unconsciously twirled the stem of the rose in her hand as they both looked upward. Then she reached into a pew, removed a Bible, and thumbed through it until she found the passage for which she was looking.

“Now I understand, Mitch! Do you know what Luke, chapter 23, verse 34, says?”

“No, actually I couldn’t remember which one that was when Joanna mentioned it. What does it say?” He locked eyes with the figure on the cross and was drawn in deeper.

Carolyn walked over, stood next to her husband, and squeezed his hand as they both lovingly looked up into His face.

“It’s the moment when Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”

Acknowledgments

WRITING A BOOK is a time-consuming and complicated process, and is truly a team effort. First and foremost, my wife and I would like to thank all our family and friends who have encouraged and supported us along the way. There are too many of you to name here, but you know who you are, and we will be eternally grateful for your help. Your faith, love, and support have lifted us up through our dark times.

As if by divine intervention, John Roadfuss appeared in the midst of our storm. My wife and I will always be grateful to John for the compassionate spiritual counseling and guidance he provided that helped to restore our faith and hope.

Technically, Michael Fragnito is the ghostwriter of The Ravine, but through this process (and our in-depth conversations concerning spiritual matters), he has become a friend. We met Michael at a time when the direction of The Ravine was at a crossroad. His creativity and willingness to fully embrace our journey helped to make this book a reality.

Peggy McColl and Judy O’Beirn are my Canadian heroes—there are truly no chance meetings and I met these sisters for a reason during the early days of the book. They both have amazing hearts and have guided and supported me, not just as the professionals they are, but as friends.

Janet Kirkman is a true friend, believer, and supporter. She was truly the guardian angel of our book, and we thank her for being with us every step along the way.