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I found Finding Hildegard to be engaging, informative, and inspiring. It's a beautifully written memoir that would appeal to everyone from the faith skeptic to the devoutly faithful. Koskela masterfully weaves his story of finding his own life uprooted with that of a medieval female saint and the result is an insightful, vulnerable, and honest look at spirituality and God. Most of us have felt disillusionment with the church and will find Koskela's honesty refreshing and inspiring as it leads us to dig deeper into our own faith and relationship with God. - NYT Bestselling author Melanie Shankle ( Sparkly Green Earrings, Nobody's Cuter Than You, and The Antelope in the Living Room ) Writing redemptively, frankly, with humility and transparency Gregg highlights some of his own failures as he moves from self-pity and self-justification to confession to praying a blessing on others, and in the repetition of a process that is never once-and-for-all, finds a healing, life-giving path. Author Lisa Graham McMinn ( Growing Strong Daughters, The Contented Life , and Walking Gently on the Earth ) Gregg Koskela writes with such tender loving kindness. Trauma and agony bubble up throughout the book and are revealed delicately, yet the reader cannot escape the pain and devastation involved. Gregg's desire to dig deep into his own motives, ego, and privilege are inspiring in a world seemingly ruled by corruption and deception. Gregg Koskela bridges the gap between a medieval mystic and the modern reader making the prayerful, poetic passion of Hildegard accessible and relevant. As someone who is has felt disillusionment with the church, I identified with his struggles and found his candor refreshing. His deeply personal revelations and willingness to be vulnerable make me reflect upon my own experiences in the church and life. Gregg has an unusually clear understanding of and ability to share Hildegard's insights. As I delved into his book, I was moved as he openly shared how Hildegard's spiritual truths resulted in his ongoing personal healing. Gregg has written with a clarity that allows the reader to understand and act on Hildegard's teachings. This well-written, perceptive memoir not only opened me anew to the relevance of history, but also to the universal truth of the Jesus story and the cross we all bear if we seek to love. I highly recommend this book. Finding Hildegard digs deep and turns medieval wisdom into timeless truth.

Gregg Koskela writes with such tender loving kindness. Trauma and agony bubble up throughout the book and are revealed delicately, yet the reader cannot escape the pain and devastation involved. Gregg's desire to dig deep into his own motives, ego, and privilege are inspiring in a world seemingly ruled by corruption and deception. Gregg Koskela bridges the gap between a medieval mystic and the modern reader making the prayerful, poetic passion of Hildegard accessible and relevant. As someone who is has felt disillusionment with the church, I identified with his struggles and found his candor refreshing. His deeply personal revelations and willingness to be vulnerable make me reflect upon my own experiences in the church and life. Gregg has an unusually clear understanding of and ability to share Hildegard's insights. As I delved into his book, I was moved as he openly shared how Hildegard's spiritual truths resulted in his ongoing personal healing. Gregg has written with a clarity that allows the reader to understand and act on Hildegard's teachings. This well-written, perceptive memoir not only opened me anew to the relevance of history, but also to the universal truth of the Jesus story and the cross we all bear if we seek to love. I highly recommend this book. Finding Hildegard digs deep and turns medieval wisdom into timeless truth.

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I love exploring...people, places, words, truths. I love encouraging people toward honesty, toward being their best selves. Writing is one way I try to live out those loves. After spending decades as a pastor, I no longer have that as my job. Our faith community shattered, and I'm still unraveling the shrapnel. Over the last year I've immersed myself in the writings of women from the middle ages, mystics like Hildegard of Bingen who have grounded me and given me new (and ancient) spiritual life. After taking a spiritual retreat in the place of her birth and life in Germany, I've written a book about what she is teaching me. Finding Papa is one of the projects closest to my heart. My grandfather was the kindest man I ever knew. My desire to understand him and present him to the world has uncovered all the things he stuffed: a dad who left, anguish and guilt over atrocities in World War II, and a brother who committed suicide, to name just a few. It's become a written journey exploring vulnerability and honesty, and my own story and truths are woven through it. I hope to finish it soon and move toward publication. Elaine and I have been married almost 30 years, and have three children. Aubrey will graduate high school, and Hayley will graduate college, in June of 2020. Natalie is pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is married to Nolan.

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