Fortifying Families of Faith

Emerging Son is an autobiographical memoir about a man's journey to a purposeful midlife from youthful uncertainty. The author's quest to recreate the happiness of his youth takes him from the newsroom to the courtroom as he launches a career, from the Midwest to Rome as he deepens his faith, and to South America as he builds a family. Tom Bengtson looks to his father as an example but ultimately discovers he has to look within himself for answers to life's questions about faith, family and work.

The book opens with Tom recalling the lessons he learned as a kid when he sailed with his dad. Sailing teaches him to pay attention to details, to forget about things he can't control and to make the most of what he has - lessons that prove valuable as Tom later becomes a writer, entrepreneur, husband and father.