The Rhythm of Leaves: A Novel

The Rhythm of Leaves is a story of a small town in Southeastern Colorado that becomes split over the issue of whether it's appropriate to hold peace meetings Wednesday nights at the local church. Some believe it is unpatriotic and is not supporting the troops in Iraq, while others say it is a matter of conscience in a war of questionable necessity.

Clara Jennings, a 38 year-old, recently divorced, single mother, Is the new pastor of the Church of the Holy Promise. She has come home from Alaska with, Joel, her fourteen year old son and moved in with her parents to try to make a new life in the town where she grew up. After serious consideration, Clara decides to continue the meetings, while her father, Will, a Vietnam veteran struggling with post traumatic stress disorder is adamantly against them. Eventually the split that threatens the unity of the town also threatens the family.

As an in-depth look at what it means to be a good citizen, a Christian, and a responsible human being, The Rhythm of Leaves takes a close look at the costs of war. Not the cost of bombs and aircraft and munitions, but the deep wounding done to the individual human spirit, and even that of a nation. This is a story of the legacy of one war carried over into another.

From Shakespeare:

"Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague!
See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.
All are punished! All are punished!

The Prince in the final scene in Romeo and Juliet.