Bullying. Taunting. Teasing. We have played a part in it. Some of us have been the victim. Many of us have been the offender. Through Troubled Waters will help explain the real dangers of this behavior. Wrestling with the discussion questions will help readers overcome, whether they are the victim or the perpetrator.

The playground was a nightmare. Physically, it was plenty large enough for the students’ needs for physical activity, but it would never be large enough to escape their torments, teasing and bullying. I was often called retarded. There was a lot of ‘accidental’ shoving in the hallways or in line.
Because of the negative attitudes of others, I would spend a lot of time by myself. Since they did not want me around I was not asked to join them very often, but I chose to be alone equally as often.
Many times I would not even go outside. I would find a place in a corner of the school to spend by myself to avoid their taunts. Our teacher and other staff would try to encourage me to join the other kids, but no one ever asked me why I desired to be alone. On those days I did venture outside, I always felt unwanted, unaccepted and usually the last to be chosen for any team activity.

Pastor Ken Hinkley is the pastor of two small churches in western Maine. He has been in the pastoral ministry for almost twenty years and has met many people who have varying degrees and types of handicaps.

Ken has had an interest in writing since his teenage years and has written many poems, short stories, and other projects. The most notable is The Journey of a Heart, a collection of poetry that traced the life of a woman from the time of her engagement through the many trials and joys of life, to the end where she faces her own death and thanks God for all the blessing she received.

As the pastor of two rural churches, he and his wife Linda are kept busy ministering to the people of the area, particularly through the food pantry Linda oversees.

When he is not glued to the computer, Ken loves to read, garden, and do wood crafts in the basement.