Fearfully, Wonderfully Made

When Steven Knipp found his lover dead from an AIDS-related suicide, he was forced to confront his soul-crushing reality; he was only twenty-nine and suffered from the same deadly disease. It was 1991 and AIDS was on the rampage. Gay men were dropping dead from a virus that had no treatment or cure. Faced with his impending demise, Steve was trapped in a vortex of blinding grief and terror, fearing he would never find love again.

Then he met David Jaeger, a gay Catholic priest grappling with demons of his own. The two men, who considered themselves damaged goods, found the love and companionship they desperately needed--even though it meant living their lives in secret.

Fearfully, Wonderfully Made is a riveting memoir about unimaginable loss and the healing power of love. At its core, it is an uplifting tale of hope and fortitude and a powerful reminder that we all have a choice: to live fully in the face of death, to choose love over fear.

ABOUT THE TITLE:

Fearfully, Wonderfully Made is often used in a spiritual context and is derived from a verse in the Bible, specifically from Psalm 139:14 (New International Version): "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Fearfully, Wonderfully Made can also be understood as a poetic acknowledgment of the complexity, intricacy, and beauty of human beings. It reflects an awe-inspiring recognition of the remarkable nature of human anatomy, physiology, and psychology. In this context, 'fearfully' implies a sense of reverence or respect for the sophistication of our design, while 'wonderfully' emphasizes the marvelous aspects of our existence. It recognizes the amazing characteristics of human biology, genetics, and the marvels of evolution that have crafted such a diverse and capable species.

This magnificence is also present in our daily lives as we experience exuberant moments mixed with horrible ones. We are reminded that everything we go through is meant to evolve the whole of our species toward a more enlightened version of ourselves.

This memoir reflects just one version, among the billions of lives on the planet, of two people who loved each other.