Kingdom Journal

Writing is something I have been doing since early childhood.

Telling stories has been the bouquet of balloons that keeps my feet off of the ground. Especially in the times where life just wasn’t pretty. Knowing that something so much more beautiful existed —even just in some other realm of thought and emotion— made even the most traumatic experiences endurable.

Poems, short stories and lyrics were always my favorites. In my late teenage years I began to write scripts. It was then that I fell in love with seeing a lengthier tale shared.

While I have never directed a production to my complete satisfaction, I always fell in love with the characters in the scripts.

I may never direct again and don’t take much to the stage these days but I will not abandon that part of life… at least not until a few more stories are told.

Though that chapter of my life has closed, the stories run far beyond any ending I can foresee. 

Writing has always come easily. Dreaming and imagining was my entire world the majority of my life. Writing is the easy part. Seeing it play out in my head is easy. Getting to know the characters like I get to know a neighbor is matchless in beauty by few things.

Sharing my work however, has not been the easiest thing for me.

Even in scripts, even ones I wanted people to quote later, I held back. I’ve always held back and I feel that is why I’ve never known quite what is possible.

I have roughly 26 notebooks and journals of details. Details of stories I’ve yet to share. 
With anyone. 
Ever.

It was not until the most recent months that I have wanted other people to know these details as well but I think it’s time to try.

It has been over two years since I last attempted to share a story. It was my final stage production of a script that was written in a month.

I had been given an opportunity to write for and travel with a company I had long-since admired. They promised a chance to see the world, meet influential people, earn a living and see my work enjoyed in the major cities of the nation.

I turned them down. I wanted more than anything to pursue my education and just see what it was like to live a “normal” life for a change. At the heart of everything, I just wanted to see if I could fit in to the life I’d seen presented to me over the years.

Some would say that was the most idiotic thing I could have done. Whether it was or not, I suppose I can’t say for sure. What I do know is that I’ve learned so much, in those two years just observing the world around me and knowing what I truly do and don’t stand for.

Yes, it was a missed chance, but I would not be the same person if I had taken it. Yes, I missed one grand opportunity but gained about a hundred other ones. I’ve met so many amazing people, learned new skills, learned things about myself and humanity that surprised and challenged me.

Mainly, I’ve fallen in Love with people I used to just pretend to like, I’ve learned to have faith in God and gained a healthy dose of humility and compassion I didn’t have before.

It’s hit me recently that I would have missed out if I took that road. It’s hit me lately that I’ve been in the right place all along. Do I feel I missed my big chance? Not at all… even if it was a stupid reason that made me stay (like I’ll ever “fit in” haha)

God knows what He’s doing even if I don’t. He knows where we’re going, even when I don’t. But the cool thing is, He doesn’t leave us in the dark. He guides us but we’ll never know it if we don’t take the time to look for Him and hear Him when He calls.

I said all of that to say this: At the insistence of one of my favorite magazine editors, I am taking steps to making the first of these stories a reality.

My creative challenge for today is the first of many of its kind.

Today, I started the first chapter
on a project I will simply refer to as “Tea”

You’ll never know until you try… May you begin that next chapter in your life as I have today.

Let the Revival Begin.