Ok Lord, Now What?: From Suicide to Living a Life with Purpose

By Harry Trapp Jr.

OK Lord, Now What? details the author’s journey from battling his own depression and struggles after returning home from deployment to living a life of focus and purpose to help others on their struggles and how they, too, can recognize and live the life they were called to live.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973664338

Harry Trapp Jr.

Public speaker, Author, and Senior leader with the Department of Defense, Harry’s following his life mission to help others get through the same battle he struggled with after returning home from deployment. Born and raised in Maryland, Harry has traveled across the globe in support of Military operations and the United States Department of Defense. After multiple overseas tours, he struggled with depression and anxiety until finding a new purpose in life. It was in this that the idea of 22 Today ministries was born. A ministry to change the narrative on veteran suicide, saving twenty two or more lives a day. Together with his wife Janie, Harry now serves to create awareness in the community and increase support for others struggling with suicide and to support families who have lost loved ones tragically. A heart for people and a passion for Christ, He has set his eyes on helping people step out of darkness and into the love of God.

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Copyright © 2019 Harry Trapp Jr..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-6432-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6431-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6433-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019906233

WestBow Press rev. date: 06/13/2019

CONTENTS

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction to this book

Chapter 1   On the Floor, Broken

Chapter 2   How Did I Get Here?

Chapter 3   Getting off the Floor

Chapter 4   Ask and Identify Your Now What

Chapter 5   Make a Plan, Include Helping Hands

Chapter 6   Action!

Chapter 7   What if my now what isn’t right now?

Chapter 8   IEDs And SOPs

Afterword

Notes

References:

FOREWORD

The information age we live in has had a strange effect on culture. Social media was created to connect us. It hasn’t. In fact, you could make a reasonable argument that social media has created the most anti-social generation in history. And the reason? It’s become little more than a digital mask we wear. Nobody puts who they really are online. We misrepresent ourselves, hide behind filters, and put up images of what we wish our lives were really like. It’s this digital mask wearing, this hiding behind a false image we convey to the world around us that’s led to a culture of people digitally connected yet profoundly isolated. As a result, so many people, if they were honest, go through life surrounded by people, yet totally alone. And far too many of us are convinced that whatever we’re dealing with, we’re probably the only ones. The solution to this issue is one of the rarest things you’ll ever find in our culture: genuine, raw, unfiltered transparency.

And that’s exactly what you’ll find in this book.

I met Harry on a Sunday morning at my church, several months before he told me about this book. My first impression of him was that he had a pretty fantastic beard. And let’s face it, I wasn’t wrong. But as I’ve gotten to know him personally, I’ve seen his incredible passion for people who have lost their way. But that’s not what sets Harry apart. Many people in this world claim to have a passion about various causes. What sets Harry apart is his willingness to do something about his. This book is the product of that.

Very few people are willing to lay their lives open to the degree that Harry does in the pages you’re about to read. He isn’t afraid to take you to the darkest corners of his life. He isn’t afraid to take the filter off and show you who he is. And it’s his fearless authenticity in the midst of our culture of playing pretend that makes his book so needed and so powerful.

There’s a lot of things I could say to conclude this foreword, but I’ll simply say this: If you’ve ever felt as though you’re the only one who’s done what you’ve done, you’re the only one dealing with what you’re dealing with, you’re too far gone, or no matter how good the future might be, it can’t outweigh how bad your present is.

Harry wrote this for you. He wrote this so you wouldn’t have to feel alone, or like where you are is where you need to stay. And what I’m confident you’ll see in his story is that there’s a future on the other side of hopelessness.

He is the living proof.

Ryan Cox

Pastor, Severn Covenant Church

To my wife Janie, to whom I love you means so much more

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book is one that has taken a lot more than just time. It took a strong circle of support and many loving and caring people who have been there for me in order to see this come to fruition. It wasn’t easy to write, pain tended to rear its ugly head at the worst time to throw my schedule off track and create one more delay. Without the following people Ok Lord, Now What would not have been more than just a dream in the mind of a broken man.

To my wife Janie, to say you have been my rock and my encourager would be an understatement. You’ve been my accountability partner when I needed it and you have been my quiet friend when I needed that too. Thank you for letting me tell everyone our story. Your unwavering dedication to this mission means the world to me and I look forward to life ahead! You are a treasure, one that shines brighter every day.

To my friend, my brother Dartanion. Our conversations, your council, and your discerning ear have enabled this work to come to life and truly be