"Leni reminds us that we are not powerless. We can choose connection over isolation, seek out and listen to diverse voices and conversations, and build bridges to understanding." --Parker J. Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak
IN A WORLD WITHOUT EASY ANSWERS, BEGIN WITH HEARTFELT QUESTIONS
In this profound blend of memoir and insight, clinical psychologist Leni de Mik invites readers into a journey from Nazi-occupied Holland to a life of healing, reflection, and purpose.
Rooted in her father's legacy in the Dutch Resistance, de Mik explores healing from trauma, reclaiming connection, and responding to moral uncertainty with courage and compassion.
Each chapter offers stories and "heart questions"-gentle prompts for journaling, self-inquiry, and deeper awareness.
Readers will discover how to:
- Rebuild emotional resilience
- Move from isolation to community
- Act with integrity in uncertain times
- Listen inwardly and live outwardly with care
Perfect for readers seeking emotional balance, inner clarity, and a path to compassionate action.
How Shall I Stand Between River and Land? is not just an invitation to self-discovery, but a timely call to action from one of our last witnesses to a pivotal moment in history. It speaks directly to those discouraged by cultural shifts, afraid for the future, yearning for genuine connection, and committed to building a more just world.
LENI DE MIK, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with a remarkable journey spanning continents and challenges. Born in Nazi-occupied Netherlands in 1941, she survived wartime hardship and immigration, experiences that shaped her profound understanding of human resilience. With over 40 years of clinical practice, Leni (pronounced "Lainey") has worked as a teacher, activist, author, and therapist. Rooted in her Christian Calvinist upbringing but deeply influenced by Zen and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, Leni was among the first certified to teach Cultivating Emotional Balance-a secular program emerging from dialogues between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading behavioral scientists. Dr. de Mik lives in Minneapolis, continuing to explore the depths of human compassion.
PARKER J. PALMER is a writer, teacher, and activist whose work speaks deeply to people in many walks of life. Author of ten books-including several best-selling and award-winning titles-that have sold over two million copies, Palmer is the Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as fourteen honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, and an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press. In 2021, the Freedom of Spirit Fund, a UK-based foundation, gave him their "Lifetime Achievement Award" in honor of work that promotes and protects spiritual freedom. He currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
