Called Blog
Thoughts & Musings on Calling
Friends, the book-loving folks over at Goodreads are giving away two free copies of my new book, Called: My Journey to C. S. Lewis's House and Back Again.
The drawing is for this week only, so, you know, head on over and enter. And if you know of any friends who might appreciate the read, be sure to let them know.
It was a strange feeling walking into a local gas station and seeing my own face staring back at me from the newsstand.
It was an even stranger feeling buying a copy to go along with my morning coffee when my wife asked. I made sure to fold the paper over when I placed it on the counter, hoping to avoid any awkward looks, or even more awkward conversation.
Writing Called felt like getting naked in front of a crowded room.
Some of the people you know. Some of the people are perfect strangers. Either way, the fear is what they will think, and whether they'll laugh.
That's why I chose to start the book by turning to the wisdom of Mr. Bob Dylan himself:
"Bob Dylan once said a poem is a naked person. I’m not much of a poet, but I hope you’ll excuse me if I go ahead and take off all these layers."
Erin was giving a book reading when we first met, from her chapter in Talking Taboo: American Christian Women Get Frank About Faith.
I was in my final year at Duke Divinity School at the time; she was just a year out of the same program. We soon realized that we shared a number of things in common: we'd both recently traded a PR career for theology and we'd both lived in the Pacific Northwest (Erin works withParker Palmer and the folks at the Seattle non-profit Center for Courage & Renewal).
When I noticed Erin also had a book releasing in early 2015, I suggested swapping book reviews, crossing my fingers she'd think it was a good idea. She was generous enough to agree. Thanks, Erin.
"You know what would be cool?" I asked Jen as we made plans to celebrate the launch of my new book, Called: My Journey to C. S. Lewis's House and Back Again. "To throw a full English tea."
"You know what else would be cool?" I continued when she didn't shake her head at my first suggestion. "A C. S. Lewis themed photo booth."
