The new book from GTS: Reading The Cross of Love, The Pain of Poverty

 From the Foreword by Father John Dear

In this powerful spiritual memoir, The Cross of Love, The Pain of Poverty, Gerry Straub shares his roller-coaster journey from the world of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, where he was the producer of the leading soap opera General Hospital, into the world of the poor to “put the power of film at the service of the poor.” Few people in history have had the experiences Gerry has had—traveling into the worst slums on the planet to shed light on the poorest of the poor.

Perhaps it was inevitable that Gerry would one day leave it all behind, move to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, take in a few orphaned children, and start a large children’s orphanage, all with no money. His book is an account of “harsh and dreadful” “love in action,” the kind that Jesus advocated, the kind that Saint Francis practiced—the kind that we too might pursue, if we dare.

If you read between the lines, if you listen carefully, if you let go of your presumptions and your fears and widen your heart as you read this memoir, you will catch glimpses, even in the midst of pain, grief, and poverty, of the Kingdom of God—signs of hope, even beauty and joy. If you accompany Gerry in his pilgrimage around the world into the poorest places on the planet and go with him to Haiti and meet the children of Santa Chiara, you will see that, besides carrying the cross of love, they are getting ready for resurrection.

Gerry Straub’s mythic pilgrimage, as described in these pages, is one we can all make, one that Jesus and Saint Francis invite us all to undertake in our own particular circumstances. If you dare drop everything, take up the cross of love, and follow the risen, nonviolent Jesus, like Saint Francis and Gerry, into the world of the poor in selfless service, steadfast compassion, and universal love, you will taste the resurrection. You, too, will hear the good news: death does not get the last word. Life and love will one day overcome. That’s the promise of the Gospel and this book.

Purchase it here. All profit goes to Santa Chiara Children's Center.