Gò0dNews for Everyone
Chasing A Dream ’ve always been a dreamer. My wife sometimes tries to reel me in from my wild ideas. I often end up telling her, “I’m just dreaming.” You see, my dreams often tend to involve money, and my wife cringes at the thought of spending money. Shaunna puts the “gal” in the word frugal. I guess you could say she’s a frugal gal. About five years ago, I expressed my dream of publishing a novel. She had read earlier iterations of this story but also knew I had not revisited it in a few years. As I started reworking the story, I grew anxious. What if people didn’t like it? What if it ended up being horrible? My wife is a detail-oriented person and will drive me crazy with a plethora of questions about any one of my ideas. Instead, she asked only one question: “What’s your goal?” She did not ask about my “goals” but focused instead on a single goal. She wanted to know what I felt was the most important outcome. Without hesitation, I answered her. “I want my story to have a positive impact on someone’s life.” Before I had a moment to think and add to it, she said, “okay,” and walked away. It left me wondering, was it really that simple? Together, we forged ahead in publishing not one, but three novels, the beginning of a series. I traveled to conventions and bookstores signing novels, selling books, and talking with anyone who would listen about my writing experiences. People are kind and gracious toward me and tell me how much they enjoy the books. At one convention, I had a small group of young people stop by my table to see me. There were many celebrities at the convention, and it was not cheap to get into. When I asked them who they came to see, they said, “You.” I laughed, assuming they were joking. One girl looked at me very seriously and said, “No, we drove from Ohio to Knoxville to come see you.” It was a great moment. My eyes grew misty. I had to hug each of them. I felt honored. The best, however, was yet to come. Some time later, I stood in a bookstore with a stack of books in front of me. A line formed in front of the author next to me. I stood there staring into space. Then, I saw someone I recognized from an earlier convention. I specifically remember the gentleman telling me he only
36 // March 2020
read ebooks. I laughed to myself at the sight of him in a bookstore. When he saw me, he made his way over. Mr. E, we’ll call him, started with, “You probably don’t remember me.” I replied that I did because he only read ebooks. He laughed and agreed that was still true. What he said next floored me. Mr. E continued, “I wanted to come see you. I read your first book and I’m working on the second. I want you to
know that your book has changed me. I wandered from God because I’ve been hurt. But your books have me talking to Him again. I’ve still got a way to go, but I’ve started down that path.” I cried. No misty eyes. No fighting back tears. I simply cried. Shaunna’s question rang in my ears, “What is your goal?” Something else came to mind as I stood there: Psalm 37:5-6. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” As an author, I had been vindicated and validated by God. Writing may never amount to much more than a hobby. Perhaps one day it will. But that’s not really my dream, is it? About The Author
I
by Kenyon T. Henry
Kenyon T. Henry is the author of the young adult Christian fantasy series, “Chronicles of Stephen,” and the founder of Next Chapter Convention & Xpo. He and his wife, Shaunna, enjoy being active in their church and community, and spending time with the kids.
