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I received word yesterday morning early on that my Aunt June had passed.

I don’t know her exact time of passing, but something inside of me tells me it was possbily Friday sometime before I gave my first public reading/signing. Although I knew Aunt June had alzheimers, I still hoped in some small way that someone in the family would still be able to read some or all of my book to her. Afterall, she was the one who made it possible with her initial genealogy research, without which I would have never known of our Waldensian heritage. It was possible, although I was unaware of the severity of her condition, that she might remember either her research or even me.

As I witnessed to comforting new aquaintensces yesterday at the Waldensian Festival Meal, one of them made it clear to me that although she had passed and that due to her condition, she now knew. Yes, she now was able to read, know and feel all that I was experiencing, for now she was home with all those foregone ancestors, family and those of us still here. It was there, during the my first ever authentic Waldensian meal, in the Waldensian Presbyterian church in Valdese that I realized so much had come full circle.

Yesterday was a day of fullfillment and new discovery.I constantly kept reminding myself of why I was there and focusing on keeping it all in perspective. The more I talked to ancesterally connected people the more it became clear that our story, the struggles of those so long ago should be at least an inspiration for us today. Then there were people that showed up at the festival just to purchase the book after having read about it in the local papers. These were people, some knowledgeable and some not, of the legacy of the Waldensians. Some were hearing the story for the first time and to them, I tried to emphasize the spiritual journey they were about to take once they began reading the story, for it is one that traverses both sides of the struggle, which are both equally important. For some, it would be a difficult one…

Then there were the discoveries, the ones that give you chill bumps. More than once I found out characteristics, traits or events that I had not known about, yet I had written them into my book as part of my story. Characteristics, traits and events that were true…..some of which were yet to be fully realized. To understand why and how this happend one would only have to accept it as God’s will.

Today I will return to attend the Sunday morning service and to reconnect with some of the persons that I was only briefly able to meet yesterady.One of whom was very significant, the wife of the late Gus Tron. Gus had been very influenctial and inspiring to me early on and like Aunt June, without whom, the book might not have ever been started. It was my first time meeting her and like so many things yesterday, was heartwarming in and of itself. She was as sweet as could be and obviously one of the reasons Gus was so instrumental in being a vibrant part of the community here in Valdese.

Yes, so much to still understand and so much more to tell.

It says in the Bible that to much whom is given much will be asked.

So it has come to pass…

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Much to my humble astonishment, I have been receiving amazing response and feedback at my initial reading/signing here in Valdese NC. It appears my attempt to capture a small fraction of the spiritual nature of the Waldensian’s centuries-long struggle to preserve the Word of God has come to fruition. I can’t begin to explain to you the uplifting feeling of doing God’s work.

Much has been written and documented on these ancient Christians, but so much so that it often becomes a daunting wall of dates and statistics which eventually, but not intentionally, deflate the spiritual nature of their struggles and why they really did what they did. To come full circle in a sense, to start the journey in a place that has only a connection to the actual place, a virtual starting point if you will, is powerful. I don’t want to sound boastful, for I humbly and often try to keep focused on why I’m here, so much so that today’s daily scripture from my fellow Christian Willar Neal has again put me on the path we should all try to follow. For if we only partially seek the will of God, we find so much is given and so much more will be asked.

We don’t have to be genetic descendents of these ancient martyrs to be uplifted from how they lived and died. We need only take away the realization of how deep was their faith, how utterly grounded in the Holy Spirit they were such that nothing else of terrestial existence mattered.

How much have you sought and what will you do in order to be asked of……

Today bring another adventure in the journey that has begun. Follow your path and seek what you may have yet to find.

-Timothy W. Tron

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Come join me this coming Friday, starting at 6:00 PM, at the Trail of Faith church in Valdese, NC for the first public book reading/signing of my new book “Bruecke to Heaven: Children of the Light”, The reading will precede the second to last performance of the outdoor drama, “From This Day Forward” also held at the trail’s amphitheater starting at 7:30. 

This will in a sense be a coming-full-circle event, since the backdrop of the novel takes place in the year 1170 AD in the Cottien Alps from where the Waldensians originated. The recreated church at the trail is known as the “Temple at Ciabas”.  It was built as an exact replica, complete down to the iron bars and fortress like thick walls. The church was not only the spiritual center of their lives but often became the safe haven when the Waldensian villages came under siege. I am quite honored to be offered by my host, The Trail of Faith and the town of Valdese,  the wonderful venue from which I will perform my first public reading/signing. I couldn’t have imagined from the start that this would be where the journey would begin, but yet, here we are just a few short days from the big event. Our ancestors held precious the Word of God and fought, bled and died to keep it alive, and now centuries later, much like the might have done before starting off on their evangelistic missions, I too will begin my adventure from the same backdrop, albeit in North Carolina.

Although in contrast, I don’t plan to face an adversarial foe once I leave to begin my travels, the feeling of carrying on what was started so long ago beckons. I can only hope and pray the true meaning of the book is felt by its readers and someone along the way is spiritually lifted up enough to seek a stronger belief in God and just maybe….someone will seek to find Jesus in their heart.

This coming Friday will be the start. Whether its a success or just a passing entry in my journal, only time will tell. Regardless of the result, its a calling that has to be done.

Let the journey begin….

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“If you could float on the air of the earth, as if tides of unknown seas, perhaps you would understand, why I act like me.” – Timothy W. Tron, from my High School Days.

As a member of the cross-country and track teams, I was what they called a “Distance Runner”. I loved to get out on the open road and see how far my legs could carry me. There were times when I was in the moment and would look down at my churning legs and wonder how amazing it was that they were down there propelling me along the road, while I barely had to breathe to make it happen. Back then, it would take what now is my maximum distance just to hit my stride, five or six miles. Yet, back then, youth held no boundaries physically; I was only limited to what bounds I mentally placed upon myself. A long run on Sunday might consist of a twenty something mile run, which is more than I can do in a week at this time.

Today, it’s a different story. As I am now just beginning to reawaken the runner inside of me, I realize that I am trapped in a body that is physically much older than those high school days. As I strain in the heat, breathe heavy, legs feeling like they are lead weights, my mind wants to go faster, my spirit wants to soar, yet the constraints of time have bound me to this terrestrial constraint. Will I ever regain those days when there is no pain, only the free feeling of flight? I don’t know, but with each passing day, I now realize that time is a thief. It comes sneaking up, always present, never abating. Each journey out onto the road brings the realization that I have to listen more closely to the engine within.Yet, each time I regain a step or two where there are brief instances of that long ago time….ecstasy of earthbound flight.

Yes, time is a thief, but its also a wise teacher. This much I know.

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. – Ecclesiastes 9:11

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Book Update #2….Off to the Printer we go…...

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We are now officially off to the printer.

I’m going big and having faith that I’m being led to do so. Yes, we are having 3,000 soft-cover books printed.

Why? Several reasons, but I’ll suffice it to say, the last person that read from the book, while I gladly waited, was asked, “What do you feel?” To which she replied,”Go Big!!!”

My publisher asked me as well before we closed on the decision about where, what, when and how I was going to distribute the book. I started rattling off the latest schedule, which did not have the full slate that it does now, at that time. He didn’t hesitate after the first few comments to go ahead with brainstorming on avenues to make it happen. He seemed to feel it as well.

So now, we are days away from the end of the Kickstarter project,….still trying to teach folks what Kickstarter is and does, while in the back of my mind knowing I can’t wait for Aug. 10th, the release date.

Why? Again I have to ask myself is it really happening, because the first day after the book is release, Aug. 11th, I will be in Valdese NC. attending the 37th Annual Waldensian Festival with my own booth for the first official book signing. This may be insignificant to most, but it is one of the first Waldensian settlements to arrive in the New World, and wound up only being a couple hours from my current home. In addition, they have become a valuable resource of information from which to draw not only knowledge but inspiration for the book.

So, ready or not…..here we go.

Like a friend of mine who use to be in the Marines use to say, “Better reach down and hold on tight, this could get wild!!”

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As I sat on the tractor this morning mowing the pastures around the house, I couldn’t help to think that this was going to be anything but another ordinary day. As each mowed row passed, the sweet smell of freshly cut grasses and aromatic weeds mixed with the smell of diesel fumes to create a cacophany of odors that wafted into the consciousness. I rarely look forward to going to the doctor, dentist or bank. This morning was no different, yet it was a necessity in order to take the next step toward preparing for the eventual and hopeful book sales that were quickly approaching the horizon unlike this mornings sun, that was quickly making haste to rise to the apex of its daily path.

Time soon passed for when I had hoped to have already been at my irreverant destination. Begrudgingly I left the comfort of the mechanical seat upon which I rode, leaving more weeds to cut for another day, and went inside to gather the items I would need for the unplanned appointment. I figured if I couldn’t get in today, then it would be his will. In fact, the entire morning I was pretty much just doing what flowed, not imparting any personal preferences, rather allowing the knowing of what had to be done carry the day.

A seemingly short ride later I found myself in the parking lot of the bank. It was not yet noon, but the heat was already oppressive. It would at least be a brief respit from the glaring blaze of the sun to sit inside the coolness of the bank. One thing can be said for doctor’s offices and banks, they are both exceptionally cool, albeit one is a bit more uncomfortable than the other when your backside is hanging out one of those outfits made for half a person. Fortunately, banks don’t require such clothing.

To my surprise, I was able to quickly go into the office of the person that was going to be able to take care of my needs. Also to my surprise, the person that I had dealt with on recent financial matters was no longer with the bank. Both became opportunities for the wonderful encounter that I was about to experience. Had the previous person been available, I would had likely been meeting with them and never came to the realization that was about to unfold.

As we sat down and began to discuss the reason for which I was there, I began to describe the book and why I would need the new account. It was like turning a lamp on in a darkened room. The more I described and spoke about the novel, the brighter the radiance became to the point, it became apparent the message and Holy spirit was at work. We eagerly discussed the needs and appropriate items the account would need and then shared fellowship and scripture.

It was like no other banking experience I had ever known, and was definitely a blessing I had not envisioned.

After we were all done and I had walked outside to leave, I had to stop and take inventory of my thoughts, so overwhelmed with the excitement of coming possibilites and the feeling of this journey I’m on that is just starting to take hold…breathe….think.

The heat was still there and growing but felt good as I walked back to the car to leave.

I think I need to do banking more often….at least at this bank.

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I finished what will  hopefully be the last of the proof editing last night around 2:00 AM. The cover and galley had come back with two minor errors in each. Unfortunately, they had to be corrected and turned back in for corrections. This means that I will have to receive the edited proofs back Monday and finally approve them, once and for all.

What does all this mean?

I will have a printed book ready for public distribution on my new release date of Aug. 10th, one day after the Kickstarter project. Although I will have limited funds without a successful Kickstarter project, I will still be going ahead with publishing, just on a limited basis. There will not be any money for prints or note cards from the cover art until either the Kickstarter is successful or I have obtained enough sales of the book to help cover those costs.

I have tentative plans to start my book signing/reading at  one of the closest places of inspiration for the book, Valdese NC. Aug. 10-11th is their Waldensian Festival, which is held each year. This will be my first time being able to attend the festival, and some what making the journey of 18 years research full circle. I can’t describe to you how wonderful this will be. Regardless if I am approved to sell my book through the Waldensian Museum there in Valdese or not, just to start the journey there, the place that helped form the ideas  behind the book, will be a dream come true.

There are also plans underway to continue the journey the following weekend when I will be traveling to Auburn Alabama to attend my unofficially adopted niece’s wedding. We are trying to arrange, and yes I would love any suggestions, book signing/readings along the way. I would like to find something around Atlanta for Friday night and something for Saturday night in Auburn if possible. I would also be more than happy to speak to any groups or congregations about what the theological inspiration themes were written into the book.

I had a wonderful fellowship this morning at the Chatham Mills Farmers Market with a military chaplain and his family. I shared with them that I now feel like I am standing on the edge of an abyss where I’m about to step off into the unknown, with my faith being the only thing I can be assured of holding up the next footstep. Yes, it has become more than just a book, it has become a calling….

Let the light shine in the darkness, Lux Lucent in Tenebris….

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“Yes, my son, the angels speak to us often, and with our hearts in the right place, we can hear them. Never forget to keep God in your heart, for if you don’t, you will find the day you quit hearing them speak to you.”

– quote from Bruecke To Heaven by Timothy W. Tron

Having just submitted the final galley proof for the book, I am now left with the vacuum of emotion that remains. I can’t help feeling as if I’m standing on the edge of a great chasm, where there is nothing be emptiness beyond, an expectation of unknown things to come. I fear not for I have faith to lift me up, yet, it’s exciting knowing that there is and adventure about to begin.

Its seems that many times in my life I have been clipped and kept down to earth. When I was growing up, in order to keep the chickens from being able to escape their fenced in area, we would clip them by cutting the long feathers off of one wing. This would keep them grounded where we could more easily provide for their safety inside their enclosure. My clipping has been from the virtual aspect, whereby either circumstances or responsibilities have kept me grounded. There is nothing wrong with being well grounded, but sometimes we should be allowed to be set free with our visions and see how far they go. In this case, its the journey that the book will provide.

If it is successful, then its God’s will. I am not looking beyond what he provides, rather taking it one day at a time and being blessed by each new discovery the mission provides. In my opinion, the success or failure will not be measured by how many books are sold but rather how many lives are touched and hearts lifted up  by it. May the light of the Word be a beacon to all.

This is the journey…let it begin.

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The Journey Within….

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