When the outcome of life isn’t what you expected, it’s OK to question God. That’s part of the message of Dr. Charles Bugg’s new book, “Lingering Grief,” which was released this month.
Bugg is a professor of church ministry and leadership at the M. Christopher White School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University. The book is a follow up to one he published in 1993, “Learning to Dream Again.”
Both books tell the story of Bugg’s son, David, who in 1983 was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. David was 10 at the time. David turned 35 last Saturday.
“Between radiation and surgery, David was left with cognizant deficits,” Bugg said.
It was through speaking with others about the first book and hearing their stories that Bugg decided to write “Lingering Grief.”
“So much of life is lived with expected changes — you know some things are going to come,” Bugg said.
“I began to think about what do we do with a situation with no funeral but a loss the same,” he said.
As a minister, Bugg has travelled different places to speak about David’s story. It is the responses and stories in return Bugg relates in the new book. “I’ve been amazed by their stories — the ability to adjust to what we can’t change,” he said.
While Bugg firmly believes faith is strategic to our lives, the book is not written from a Christian perspective.
“Part of the book is to say ‘Here I am a minister and I do have questions,’” Bugg said. “It’s equally important to understand it’s OK to ask God, to lament.”
Bugg is open to speaking to churches and other groups about the book and can be contacted at Gardner-Webb at (704) 406-3046. Copies of the book are available at Zion Baptist Church and at the GWU bookstore for $14 each.
