It’s a book

Some of you who know me know that I like to write, a lot. I like writing a lot and I like writing a lot. Many of you have suggested that I write a book. Part of my challenge is that I am such a fitful, haphazard, undisciplined writer. I write what I feel like writing, not always what I should be writing about.

Yesterday I met with Len Vanderzee of Faith Alive and we talked about a book idea that I’ve been kicking around in my mind for the last few months. I don’t know if anything will come of it but I decided to give it a shot.

As yet I have all the work to do, the proposal, the contract, etc. Nothing is done and so it may in fact become the truth that nothing will get done, so all I have right now is intention and hope. We’ll see.

I’m actually writing this in the hopes of shaming myself into some form of discipline to do the sucker. The shame can’t be too great because I know the analytics of this blog. (Tens of people will read this post, at best. 🙂 )

What’s the book about? 

I want the book to be about the self. I’ve got a lot of long winded, fancy reasons to write about the self and if you read my blog my hope is that you’ll hear them. I’ll be trying out ideas on my blog, and maybe even drafts of chapters for the stuff that I want to write. It’s very much a project of discovery for me and we’ll see how I do.

Every writer I know is different. Some work in private, others blog every little thing. I’ll probably be towards the latter. It helps me to hear from people to know what they are hearing. I may not like what I hear, I may disregard it, be encouraged by it, or despair because of it but at least I’m getting a message from out there into my self.

The Reflected Self

If you really want a teaser you may check out the posts under the tags of the reflected self. David Schnarch turned me onto that idea and I’ve found it to be seminal in terms of shaping my theology and my pastoral understand of the divine selves and the other selves I share this world with.

I’ve also created a tag called “the self book”. I hope I remember to click it when I write something pertaining to this.

My goal is that the book be philosophical yet accessible, theological yet open enough for my atheist and non-Christian friends to enjoy, and pastorally practical, so that the reader can find pathways to greater joy, happiness and shalom even in times of struggle and loss.

A Christian Writer

Despite our reputation (and mine in particular sometimes) I believe Christians should be the most optimistic of people. I believe that our universe-narrative is the most optimistic that can be conceived, for the planet, for humanity, and for each of us as individuals. I know many of our doubt or disagree with this perspective, but I hope that in the course of what I write I might open your minds to it. I believe the world was made not our of chaos but out of joy, and our final destination is a cold, dark oblivion but a joyous, eternal symphony of culture and goodness. My hope is that the book will reflect this joy and invite myself and others more deeply into it. pvk