AUTHOR EXAMINES LIFE'S TRIALS IN NEW BOOK

Oran native Bob Menz says a combination of humor and faith can help others accept and overcome life's complexities. He outlines his strategies in a new book, "A Memoir of a Pastoral Counseling Practice."

Menz will be in Cape Girardeau at 3:30 p.m. Saturday to sign copies of the book at Barnes and Noble Book Store.

Menz works as the chaplain and counselor at Copeland Corporation of Sydney, Ohio. He is director of the company's employee assistance program, serving over 3,000 employees and their families.

Menz, who is an ordained minister and holds a doctorate in counseling, has spent nearly 20 years counseling people.

"There are some funny stories," Menz said. "Basically the book is a collection of stories and vignettes that reframe situations."

Reframing is a term for looking at a situation from a different point of view.

For example, Menz talks about "nice" people. "Sometimes nice is nice," he said. "Yet, nice can be phony or insincere. I suggest the opposite of nice is real."

The book has a section on theology. Menz reframes the 10 Commandments. "I don't change the meaning. I take the traditional meaning and offer another twist," he said.

For example, most people understand the literal interpretation of "Thou shalt not kill." But Menz said, "Sometimes you can kill a person's character, a person's spirit or a person's initiative."

Honor thy mother and father isn't a mandate on how to raise children, he said. It is written for adults to care for their aging parents.

"Even though the book is filled with meaningful humor," he said, "The intent of this work is to provide a critical and serious approach to life's complexities."

The book takes readers back to Menz's service in Vietnam and his decision to join the ministry and brings readers up to his recent travels with his wife.

A graduate of Oran High School and Southeast Missouri State University, Menz is the son of Robby and Vivian Menz of Perkins.

Among the stories and poems are some of Menz's experiences from Southeast Missouri. "Perkins is where I'm anchored," he said. "I may venture out and stay gone great lengths of time, but I haven't left in spirit."