Inhabitable Shalom: Relational, Restorative Theology Answering the Grief of an Empty Chair

Description

he death of Steven J. Bruening’s father in 2021 sparked this writing, transforming these pages into his personal grief journey. Adopted as a Vietnam War orphan through Operation Babylift, Bruening was later diagnosed in the
early 1990s, surviving full-blown AIDS alongside the painful realities of LGBTQ+ discrimination. He demonstrates that true shalom requires patience, honesty, and love.
Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, Bruening blends trauma research with spiritual insight. He presents his original framework of interpretative domination, which confronts the destructive attempt to control a person’s narrative. Paired with his unique concept of scar-aware peace, he transforms Whatness (what we profess) into Howness (how we treat our neighbors). This compassionate work invites readers to turn fragile relationships into places of true belonging.