The Beginning

All of us are authors. Even if we hated English class, we all write. Our paper is time and the writing is our actions and choices. We are all authoring a story. A life story.

I've heard of amazing life stories that inspired me to live for the highest things. Other stories have torn my heart with their tales of cruelty and injustice. This library we call the world holds billions of stories of which I am writing one. One story. One life story.

This blog begins almost 25 years after my life story began. Its beginning is born out of a desire to communicate my story over the next year of my life. I'm moving to Zambia in September. I will be working with orphans at a school run by Lifesong for Orphans (www.lifesongfororphans.com). 209 orphans and vulnerable children attend this school. There are approximately 15 adolescent boys in that group. These boys will be one of my focuses for the next year as I come alongside them as a big brother and mentor. Here in the States I have 11 biological younger siblings, soon to be 12. In a real way, I'm about to add 15 more. 27 siblings seems like a lot.

Actually I have more than 27 because for the past year and a half I've been working with teenage boys in Peoria, IL. It's been a great opportunity to give, learn and teach. Without my knowledge, it's been training me to work with orphaned boys in Zambia.

Thanks to all of the boys, parents and co-laborers that have been a part of the ministry here. You've played a part in something that's about to stretch all the way to Africa. Isn't that great? Your life stories will touch people you've never met in your life.

So too will all of our stories. We will all touch people we've never met in our life. Through relationships, communication, choices and actions, we will touch more people than those we see and meet on a daily basis. A blog is no exception. My hope for this blog is that it will tell an inspiring story. A story of redemption authored by the Redeemer.

For my readers, may you look beyond the author of this blog and see the Author of life. The best life stories are those penned by this Author who names himself The Beginning and the End.