My story works because of the characters who inhabit its narrative.  An amazing wife, two remarkable children, transformative parents, friends to share wondrous adventures, inspirational mentors, and antagonist who challenge me to think differently.

There are chapters in which the days are sun-drenched, breeze at my back, and I appear to be the first person to encounter this corner of the world.

Then the route closes.  The way I travel everyday shuts down abruptly.   I must detour.  It feels daunting, uncertain, and does not come easy.

Or the conditions are not as advertised in the brochure.  My expectations derail.  Hope must somehow rise above despair.  Finding safety versus pressing-on narrates each step.

However, the opportunity this moment is to take flight.  To spring forth with ideas and beliefs and share them.  To make visible that which is unseen.

Thank you for being a character in my story.  You allow the story to work and together we narrate that which was invisible by contributing a verse.