Theme & Book

2012-2013 Theme: Reflection and Discernment


We are committed to the examined life; therefore, we strive:  To seek for a greater knowledge of all creation.  To reflect on our own lived experience of the world.  To discern the movements of our heart and reason.  To listen to the experience of other people.

2012-2013 Book Selection

Wine to Water by Doc Hendley (watch the trailer)

The captivating story of an ordinary bartender who's changing the world through clean water.

Doc Hendley never set out to be a hero. In 2004, Hendley-a small- town bartender- launched a series of wine-tasting events to raise funds for clean-water projects and to bring awareness to the world's freshwater crisis. He planned to donate the proceeds through traditional channels, but instead found himself traveling to one of the world's most dangerous hot spots: Darfur, Sudan.

There, Doc witnessed a government-sponsored genocide where the number-one weapon wasn't bullets-it was water. The Janjaweed terrorists had figured out that shooting up a bladder containing 10,000 liters of water, or dumping rotting corpses into a primary water source is remarkably efficient for the purposes of mass extermination. With limited funds, Doc realized that he couldn't build new wells costing $10,000 a pop, but he could hire local workers to restore a damaged well for a mere $50 each. He'd found his mission. Today, Doc and Wine to Water continue to help stricken peoples repair and maintain water- containment systems in places like Darfur, Cambodia, Uganda, and Haiti.

Doc is a regular, rough-and-tumble guy who loves booze, music, and his Harley- but he also wanted to help. Wine to Water is a gripping story about braving tribal warfare and natural disasters and encountering fascinating characters in far-flung regions of the world. It is also an authoritative account of a global crisis and an inspirational tale that proves how ordinary people can improve the world.

Rockhurst University will mail each new student a copy of the book and you should receive it in the month of June. Please make sure to read and bring this book back to campus as a reference!  

Past Readings:

  • How Can I Find God? James Martin (2011) Theme: Finding God in All Things
  • Tattoos on the Heart (2010)
  • Warriors Don't Cry (2009)
  • Better Off (2008)
  • Enrique’s Journey (2007)
  • Nickel and Dimed ( 2006)
  • The Pact (2005)
  • Warriors Don’t Cry (2004)
  • Frankenstein (2003)
  • Alive (2002)