The author has been divorced for about ten years (as of 2010). In most of this post-divorced period, his role as a father has been deemed unnecessary, even illegal. The conception of marriage that he formed as a young person and envisioned as an adult has been marred by circumstances that he believes could have been overcome without divorce. Yet, he still believes in marriagethe commitments and promises.
A Once and Always Father is about his marriage, divorce; and the post-divorce circumstance of being separated from his children. The "divorce industry" is the backdrop of a compelling story of fatherhood, family and faith. Coinciding with his commitments (and promises) is a very powerful force that he perceives as not only able, but is actually working to dismantle fathers, families and even faith if that were possible.
H. Kirk Rainer draws upon his observations and experiences as a husband and fathercoupled with the works of numerous resourcesto compose his story. The first part is composed of personal accounts that begin with courtship and continue beyond the divorce. As the story develops, relevant sources and dialogue augment his accounts with details of no-fault divorce, non-custodial parenting, and the single-parent family among other subjects. In all and through all, he takes the reader into the "two worlds" of the once parent, now non-custodial.
