Building the House - Jere Denlinger

A man returns to work following a heart attack; he's encouraged to join a peer support group at his church as part of his recovery. He is strongly drawn to one of its members, and is surprised to learn how much they have in common. They do the same work, in the same area, and soon begin to meet. In the meantime, he's selected to church leadership, much to his surprise. Things get increasingly complex - spiritually and emotionally. Both are married, but their mates are successful, and not overly concerned with the relationship. However, concern develops as their friendship deepens, and they discover differences - professionally and spiritually.

They withdraw to reconsider; she's sure she's right, and he's sure he is! He's deeply frustrated by the loss of the friendship, and it gets only worse. Although his work as a therapist is flourishing, he suffers a series of serious setbacks - health, family, and a distracting relationship with an unlikely young woman he takes under his wing. His talented, hardworking wife is not pleased when she learns of it, isn't impressed with his 'crazy religion,' and they fall into a pattern of pointed discord.

She's a high achiever, and her unhappiness with the recent church relationship only accentuates her worries about the path he's on, and his string of 'unusual experiences.' He sees an angel; he has a dream about their grandson before he's born; he's 'baptized in the Holy Spirit,' and soon after, asked to be a deacon. And spiritually, throughout, he experiences multiple 'God winks' that force him to re-evaluate the source of his spirituality. As he battles to regain his equanimity, not to mention his health, he discovers a surprising ally.

In the process, he learns more than he wants to know about the complexity of the spiritual realm, and how love can sometimes show up in ways we don't recognize!