Snapshots of a Survivor is a glimpse into the life of Steven Shaw, a former pastor in the conservative, evangelical community. By sharing details from nine days of his life affected by childhood sexual trauma, Steven invites you to see the life of a survivor from the inside out. Many survivors have similar stories of mundane days turning into living nightmares as they experience the triggers of trauma. Steven's story helps you to pinpoint moments of trauma that are often embedded in routine daily life. Survivors may struggle to articulate their suffering in the present. Clear connections between life now and events of the past are not always clearly understood. With the advantage of time, experience, therapy and wisdom, Steven is able to draw some lines from his past to those ordinary days disrupted by pain. Along the way, he helps the reader to develop sympathy for survivors. Living with trauma can cause a sense of deep loneliness and despair. When expected moments of happiness are disrupted by unexpected crises of pain, survivors easily lose hope. Steven's story does not feed false expectations. He is candid and honest that these traumatic interruptions are part of life. While the book does not offer a direct solution in the narrative, the dialog section invites the reader to find their own answers. In fact, the greatest contribution of this book may be the extensive discussion guide at the conclusion. While the narrative creates a setting of sadness, the dialog opens many windows for hope. By honestly engaging with the dark reality of trauma, readers are motivated to find ways to help survivors move towards light.
