Book Critique-Quest for Wellness
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Arts Humanities
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Apr 3, 2024
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Quest for Wellness Book Review Assignment
H. Coker Palmer III (L29848037)
CPL645: Chaplain Resilient Leaders (B01)
Presented to Professor Paul Greer
February 11, 2024
Contents
Summary
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1
Critique
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2
Application
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3
Conclusion
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4
Bibliography
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5
ii
1
The pursuit of overall health is vital to a person’s ministry and must be fulfilled for a person called to serve God to accomplish their tasks to fruition. Through the ease of junk food, fast food, sedentary entertainment, and social media platforms people can now do nothing more than loll themselves to a bliss of laziness at their convenience. Mark and Michele Sherwood have
written a wonderful book to help overcome the unhealthy lifestyles associated with modern society titled The Quest for Wellness: A Practical and Personal Plan for Optimum Health in Body, Mind, Emotions, and Spirit.
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This paper will examine what the writer has ascertained form the reading of the book. The thesis of this paper is to show the overall theme, critical analysis, and application of the book.
Summary
The Sherwoods have written a book designed to help a person in all aspects of their body,
soul, and mind. There is a significant biblical basis for their claims. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He stated, “You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37, New American Standard Bible
1995).” They (Sherwoods) have taken this command to heart and prescribed a method for a person to regain their wellness if they have lost it, generate wellness, if a person has never attained it, and sustain a healthy lifestyle after goals are achieved. Their purpose is stated in the introduction. The text states, “To truly care for your loved ones, you have to care for yourself first. When you aren’t being your best self, you can’t help others.”
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The book is divided into three phases to accomplish the task of total wellness. The holistic approach starts with the first phase which enables a person to stat on a journey of health 1
Mark Sherwood, Michele Neil-Sherwood, and JJ Virgin, The Quest for Wellness: A Practical & Personal Wellness Plan for Optimum Health in Your Body, Mind, Emotions, & Spirit,
(United States: Mark Sherwood), 2015.
2
Ibid., 7.
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step by step without pushing a beginner to overreach their goals. The second phase of the program shows the person how to increase their healthy lifestyle to make permanent changes to their mind, body, and spirit. The third phase of the program begins when the initial goals are achieved in a person’s life. The third phase of the program explains how to maintain the health reached by following the first two phases. The next section will examine specific areas of the book where the writer is in a agreement or disagreement with an explanation of the opinion. Critique
The book was enjoyable and practical. It is very detail oriented and achievable to obtain the goals it outlines for a holistic approach to a person. As stated above, the person consists of more than a body and mind, and the authors develop a program for the entire person. The introduction and first few chapters introduce the process of health well and explain clearly why the authors developed their theory of wellness. One of my favorite quotes form the book states, “Many people are rather mindless wanderers through life. They ‘go with the flow,’ rarely stopping to question why they are doing what they are doing.”
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This statement from the 3 chapter
reveals that the authors see how most people are living their lives without direction. It is almost as if the general population is on autopilot without seeking a purpose.
I like the incremental steps to the program. The second phase of the program instills in the person a platform to build upon the lifestyle changes in phase one. Adding to the physical, emotional, intellectual , and spiritual wellness of a person, phase two emphasizes more restrictions on the diet while increasing the body’s and mind’s capabilities. Sherwood, Sherwood, and Virgin state, “We all have values, although most people don’t often take time to identify their values. Choose to be intentional in doing this. Reflect on what you think and 3
Sherwood, Sherwood, and Virgin, The Quest for Wellness,
37.
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believe.”
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A well-established trait of a Christian is to know their values and live by them. James the half-brother of Christ stated, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead (James 2:26, NASB 1995).” The authors do a good job of helping a person
realize and live by their values in phase two.
The only disagreement I have within the text is that Christ is not mentioned. I read through the book and did a search in the online format of the text without finding Christ mentioned. I understand this a is a chaplain class and that a chaplain lives in a pluralistic world. Whenever I walk into a room, I leave my religion at the door and carry Christ in my heart to the patient. In clinical work, it is vital to be open-minded to help the healing of the hurting by being a minister of presence with whoever I might encounter. Writing a book is different, I am exposing myself to the world without shame. I do not know if the writers are Christians or does their mention of God point towards a broader view of salvation. I prayerfully hope they did not do so to promote their book to a wider audience by avoiding the offensive nature that Christ can bring to the unsaved. The next section will view the applicable aspects of the book and how it can relate to my ministry.
Application
I am both a chaplain intern and a youth minister. These two ministries require opposing approaches to ministry in many ways. Sherwood, Sherwood, and Virgin state, “Bread and chips are not only bad for a weight-loss plan, but they are also bad for the maintenance of even blood-
sugar levels!”
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As a youth minister, I must have a detailed and open-minded approach about my Christian faith. I must be energetic, ever-thinking, and have the stamina to maintain the energy to
endure through the long nights and many hours of counseling and study for me to be the best for 4
Sherwood, Sherwood, and Virgin, The Quest for Wellness, 141.
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Sherwood, Sherwood, and Virgin, The Quest for Wellness, 156.
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the sakes of my students. Unfortunately, the authors stepped on my toes with the statement about
chips and bread. I am overweight and getting older. I must remain healthy to manage my weight and my ministry with young people better.
As a chaplain, my ministry requires me to have patience to listen and focus to find the stressors in others’ lives for me to provide counsel of healing. I must stay committed to the people to which I minister. Sherwood, Sherwood, and Virgin state, “A great person is a person who is committed to doing the right things and doesn’t back off that commitment. If he makes a vow, he keeps it. If he gives his word, he is true to it.”
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I must keep private the things told to me and keep my word to not reveal the hurtful aspects of people’s live that they share with me.
Conclusion The Quest for Wellness
can be a wonderful book for a person ready to make a committed change to their lives for the better. To be the best minister and provider for others is vital and can
be accomplished with a heartfelt and determined change of heart, mind, and spirit towards the wellness of the person. This book will help. Stay committed and stay focused to what and who matters by following the easy to understand and helpful guidance the book offers for the resolute person to accomplish. 6
Ibid., 158.
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Bibliography
Sherwood, Mark, Michele Neil-Sherwood, and JJ Virgin. The Quest for Wellness: A Practical & Personal Wellness Plan for Optimum Health in Your Body, Mind, Emotions, & Spirit
. United States: Mark Sherwood, 2015.