Bone of My Bone - Grant Romoser-Claunch
Grant Romoser-Claunch and his family have been through hell. Their son, Simon, was diagnosed at a young age with cancer, and this book contains Romoser-Claunch's reflections on, and processing of, the diagnosis and following treatments. It is a deeply moving account, which - as the parent of a son whose age is similar to Simon's at the time of treatment - hits home a little harder than perhaps it would otherwise. At one point, when the hospital has just informed the family of the cancer's return, Romoser-Claunch writes: "During dinner Simon - only just having turned two years old - prophetically roared, "I'll beat it again!" Filled with pride and hope, trusting and believing it to be true more and more each time he said it, we all cried and erupted with cheers and affirmations." (page 104) Wow. I tear up a little even writing that out.
I can't imagine going through such a journey.
The book is not a retelling of the events chronologically, but rather is part memoirs, part theology/philosophy. Romoser-Claunch is a Christian, and talks about the ebbs and flows of his faith during this time - he occasionally mentions times where his wife's faith carried him through moments of agnostism. And all that makes sense! Theology can help us face difficult times, but we still have to all wrestle with God at times, particularly in difficult seasons.
In saying that, some parts of Romoser-Claunch's theology are not ones I share. He makes the point of calling the Holy Spirit "She", arguing that "Ruach and pneuma [translated as 'spirit'] are both gendered as either feminine or gender-neutral. I opt for the more personal feminine." (footnote on page 73). However, this ignores God's self-identification as male, including in passages such as John 14:17 when Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as "He." He also, in a move that I sympathise with but can't follow him on, allows the experience of Simon to 'convince' him "that it is ludicrous to believe that God sends people to eternal conscious torment, let alone allow them to "choose it." I would move heaven and earth for my kids, and the entire Christian belief is that God has done exactly that." (page 38). Yes, God has "moved heaven and earth" to help people gain salvation, but to argue that something that Scripture strongly cautions about won't happen because we find it "ludicrous", or can't understand how a loving God would allow it, is - in my opinion - limiting God's ways to our own understanding. I think a lot more discussion could be had around hell, but I don't think Romoser-Claunch's take is the answer.
In the end, I'm a little torn. The personal biographical parts of this book are affecting and powerful, and Romoser-Claunch does make some very insightful comments about dealing with trauma from a faith perspective - at one point he clarifies to himself: "Trauma isn’t prophecy. There is a big difference between the Spirit’s prompting and trauma speaking." (page 54) However, some of the theological parts of this book sit in a very different position to my own viewpoints and understanding of God's Word, and are ones I find a little difficult to relate to or justify from Scripture.
So, in the end, I will say that it is moving, and powerful, a testimony of one man's journey with his family through unimaginable suffering, and will leave the reader to wrestle with or query the theological assumptions on their own - many of which I do agree with or find challenging in a good way.
I'm glad Romoser-Claunch wrote this book. And I'm glad I read it.
Completed 4 March 2026.
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