THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE: Psalms From the Wilderness of Breast Cancer

by Susan E. Goff

In the winter of 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning to change our world, Susan E. Goff, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, was rocked by a diagnosis of breast cancer.  A writer and a visual artist, Goff channeled her creative energy through the disruptions, crises, fears, and opportunities as these two realities converged.

 The psalms in this collection tell of her journey, tracing the events from the initial screening mammogram through her treatment and final surgery. The psalms reflect a journey filled with sorrow, laughter, and (mostly) unshakeable hope. Those who faced, or are facing, their own such journeys will find solace and reassurance in Goff’s outlook and words, and may be inspired to tell their own stories just as boldly.