I love when my doorbell rings – the moment a guest shows up on my doorstep and seeks to come inside.
In the era of cyber-community this is my abode and even though I don’t get to interact with you instantly, I’m thankful you’ve arrived on the doorstep of my internet home. I hope you’ll stay a while.
Like many homes, most of the conversation here happens around the table. Almost everyone calls it a blog, and I will as well sometimes, but really it’s a table and there’s a chair with your name on it. It’s where I talk about my thoughts, hopes, questions, doubts, ideas, and inspirations. I’ll write about the projects I’m working on, books I’m reading, and my observations from the world we share. While they might seem like monologues, each post is intended to be a conversation starter; we are sitting around a table talking after all.
Back in the 1800’s respiration was defined by two primary modes: expiration – the act of breathing out, and inspiration – the act of drawing air into the lungs. We don’t think of inspiration in that context anymore, but isn’t it beautiful? It provides a deeper understanding of those moments that take our breath away. When beauty forces itself to be noticed, and we gasp, we’re inspired.
I didn’t know it when it happened, but Michael Crichton’s book, Jurassic Park, breathed the air of inspiration into me as a middle school student. Prior to reading his tale of genetically recreated dinosaurs running amok on a tropical island I loathed reading. His book awakened me to the power of words, and you reading this is proof of their influence.
I now spend my days with a book in my hand and a story in my heart.
Since that Jurassic moment, God used His words to introduce me to himself, to tell me how He created everything with words, and how His Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God is a communicator, a storyteller, and we’re all living the drama.
This is why I’m humbled to create with words. God was the first author, and His is the bestselling book of all time. Me, I’m just a guy, a mere mortal who wants to tell stories.
My first book was a memoir of my years playing football for the legendary Bobby Bowden at Florida State University. The project I’m currently writing is a narrative/non-fiction (if there is such a genre)
designed for college student athletes.
Lord willing, there are many more to come: memoirs, fiction for adults and kids, non-fiction, poetry, who knows. I write a blog called Discovering Writing where I share all about the craft.
In the meantime, I communicate with the spoken word when I preach from a pulpit, teach from a lectern, or talk with a group. I hope the words I expire become the ideas you’ll inspire and in turn, let them inspire you.
Thanks again for ringing the bell!
