title: The Peaceful Warrior: Memoirs of a Damaged Mind and Soul
author: Patrick J. Schnerch
description: Something terrible happened to that little boy. At an early age, something damaged his heart and soul, sending him into the folds of darkness. There, Patrick Schnerch would hide from the emotional turmoil, which jeopardized his sanity. This delusional place was his sanctuary away from reality. Trauma, up bringing, illness, and eventually alcoholism claimed yet another damaged soul. Decades would pass being oblivious to the real world. Trapped within the darkness, he would seek refuge from anything that could harm him. Memories were blocked out from his past since he did not participate to the realities of your world. Only fragments of his tragic past could be recollected. The author was haunted by uncovered secrets, which were the basis of his demise. Suicidal and with no place to turn, he was at the crossroads of disaster. Not quite being ready to cash in all his chips yet, Patrick had one more plan to execute to set him free. Dumbfounded at where to start looking for answers, he decided to unearth the details of his life starting at the very beginning and dissect every known memory in order to piece together an overall picture of his past. He started documenting those painful memories in order to discover the cause of his turmoil on earth. Slowly, pieces were falling together creating a picture that was making sense, discoveries unknown to the author were being made clear. Finally, after much soul searching, he found the missing key. He relived his horrors and found what he was looking for. He found his inner peace and was able to accept his past and put those torturous years behind him. He now stands tall; free from the darkness that has engulfed him for the past forty years. There is hope and a future waiting him in this world of reality. There are now goals and ambitions for a new life; the author has now made peace with himself and God. It is time to move on.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  ![](../images/cover.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../images/title.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Dedication](9780062263261_Contents.xhtml#ded01)
  
  
  In memory of Zena Gibson and Beth Lunsford: the librarians who showed me the
  world through books and taught me that true warriors never give up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  
  [Dedication](9780062263261_Dedication.xhtml#ded01)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Prologue - Philadelphia, 1876](9780062263261_Prologue.xhtml#pro01)
  
  
  [Chapter One - Natchez, Mississippi, 1873](9780062263261_Chapter_1.xhtml#cha1)
  
  
  [Chapter Two](9780062263261_Chapter_2.xhtml#cha2)
  
  
  [Chapter Three](9780062263261_Chapter_3.xhtml#cha3)
  
  
  [Chapter Four](9780062263261_Chapter_4.xhtml#cha4)
  
  
  [Chapter Five](9780062263261_Chapter_5.xhtml#cha5)
  
  
  [Chapter Six](9780062263261_Chapter_6.xhtml#cha6)
  
  
  [Chapter Seven](9780062263261_Chapter_7.xhtml#cha7)
  
  
  [Chapter Eight](9780062263261_Chapter_8.xhtml#cha8)
  
  
  [Chapter Nine](9780062263261_Chapter_9.xhtml#cha9)
  
  
  [Chapter Ten](9780062263261_Chapter_10.xhtml#cha10)
  
  
  [Chapter Ele