In all joy, there is sadness; in all sadness, there is joy. When faced with a challenge in 1984, this statement of paradox does not make any sense to Marvin Wilmes, author of Beyond the Horizon, a memoir. In this tale of his early life Marvin comes to terms with this adage as he connects the dots from the effects of a 1963 childhood drowning accident and his own crisis of faith that tests him to the core of his soul. Marvin spins his tale with moving honesty as the reader journeys with him to see what lies "Beyond the Horizon." From his humble roots growing up in the shadow of his father's younger siblings, Marvin takes the reader on a journey through a defining year of loss for him in 1963. Fate takes him into the military where he comes to terms with the loss of a childhood faith, but fails to properly grieve the loss of an older cousin. His ultimate challenge yet awaits him as he interrupts his career to come home to assist his family in the wake of his mother's terminal illness in 1984 when his mother's short, curt note stating that this will be a better year for everyone is anything but that. With seven children remaining at home, there are many challenges his family goes through and it is through the simple faith of his mother and the imperfect faith of the local parish priest that he eventually learns more about himself, the process of letting go and moving on and the grace of forgiveness. Beyond the Horizon is a stirring story of the perseverance of faith and determination in the face of insurmountable odds and a testament to the existence of unexpected miracles in the midst of adversity.