For my weekly writing spot on this site, see the One-Minute Mystic, with a new meditation posted every Monday. Also see The Village, the story of Misty Longings, England's most beautiful village, posted episode by episode earlier this year.       It's hard being a guru. But is it harder being a guru's son? Francis Schaeffer was the hot ticket in Evangelical circles during the 60s and 70s. He founded the L'Abri fellowship in the Swiss mountains, and in a movement seeking intellectual credibility, wrote books that seemed both intelligent and culturally aware. He soon found many coming to seek his wisdom – as well as the beautiful views. (If the sermons palled in the L'Abri chapel, the scenery through the window never did.) In time, these visitors included Republican politicians from America – and out of this fusion of Republican politics and evangelical religion, emerged the American New Right. Frank Schaeffer was the son of Francis, and in his new autobiographical book Crazy for God, describes his own spiritual journey in the shadow of his father. Of course, every child thinks their childhood is normal, so he thought nothing of climbing over forty people in sleeping bags around his house, when wanting to go to the toilet at night. "I thought every pastor's house was like this." And as he grew, caught up in the quiet nepotism of his father's ministry, Frank tried to do all that was right, and all that was expected, becoming his side-kick. Francis was now much lauded in America, and found himself hob-nobbing with presidents, and flying around in the private jets of various republican and religious leaders, from one event to another. And Frank went with him. By the time Francis Schaeffer died in 1984, this guru had modified many of his former views. But for the guru's son, the meltdown was to be more considerable. As one woman came up to him at an airport, and said that she was "just glad to have touched a Schaeffer", he knew there was no honesty left inside him. He had done all that was right, and all that was expected – until he just couldn't do it any longer. But what now – given that he no longer really believed any of it? Frank turned to writing, discovered a gift, and fiction flowed. "But every writer cannibalises their life," he says, "and I was soon in hot water with those who thought I shouldn't describe my family in this way. And many could not forgive me, for not carrying my father's torch." The cold shoulder of the guru's followers is very cold indeed. He still regrets playing such a major role in the union between evangelicalism and republicanism in America. "If it wasn't for us then, they wouldn't have got the power they did. The politicians – they quickly learned the rhetoric necessary to woo the evangelical vote." There are fond memories of his father, though. "When I got my girl friend pregnant, it must have been hugely embarrassing for him as a spiritual leader. But he was great – never less than completely supportive of us both." The girl friend is now his wife of many years. And Frank, slowly learning to be his own guru. More writings © Simon Parke