It’s coming up on ten years since my book, Baseball in Fort Wayne was first published. In my most recent book, Listen Up, Kids, I share the events that allowed that dream to became a reality. It’s a remarkable story that really shows the way God is faithful to his children, how he is always preparing and ordering our lives and how our plans sometimes involve paths we can’t see – but they are paths that God already knows quite well.
When My Book Became Possible
Taking aim at something big is one thing. Achieving it is something completely different.
Like many of the people who read this blog, I dreamt of one-day seeing my name of the cover of a book I had authored. I worked hard at it and, though it did happen, it took a lot longer than I thought it would.
It’s funny that some of the hardest things to actually do are often summed up with simple common sense that makes it seem like anyone can do it. In baseball for instance, we say “See the ball. Hit the ball.” We don’t give thought to the countless hours of training and technique adjustments that are necessary, nor do we consider the focus that’s required to do that when that ball is coming in at a ninety to a hundred miles an hour.
In another example, when we look up directions on Google Maps, we’re “just looking for the path from point A to point B.” We don’t, however, give any though to then complexities that exist and have to happen behind the scenes to make that amazing technology seem so simple.
When it comes to books, people often think (as did I) it’s a lot easier. “Write it. Publish it. Cash the royalty checks.”
It really wasn’t that simple.
It was, more like everything in life that’s worth pursuing. It’s took many hours of persistent practice, constant improving, flexibility in vision, and experiencing many failures along the way.
Publishing My Book Challenged Me
After the struggle of honing my craft at every outlet possible while working at a career, raising a young family and earning a master’s degree, I gained the opportunity of a lifetime. I had a signed contract with a committed publisher. Four months from that time would see my dream achieved.
Then reality set in.
4 months??? – CRAP!
I had a contract, yes. But I would soon be sucked way out of my comfort zone and would have a brutal road ahead of me.
For instance, among the many tasks I had to quickly complete were, selecting and identifying the people in nearly 200 pictures and writing the narratives for each one of them. I’d also have to write chapter introductions and do a heck of a lot of research.
I had to start networking with people, most of whom I didn’t know. This was incredibly difficult for a shy and introverted soul like me. This was undoubtedly the most difficult aspect and I almost tried to back out.
Then there was the task of selecting a cover image and optimizing all the images, which meant learning more skills I previously lacked. As all this was going on, I had to get word out and identify potential retailers for books signing opportunities.
Oh yeah, the book signings! Talk about a severe disruption to my cozy life. You mean, I like, have to actually talk to people – I just wanted to write a book. Fortunately, it did mean talking to people and it even took me into the world of public speaking
My Book Led to Personal Growth
The experience of writing and publishing my book allowed me to get a good means for learning about the publishing industry. It forced me to enhanced my writing ability and I got to rediscover a genuine love of history.
I gained good fortune by developing a comfort level in talking with people – even complete strangers. Thankfully, the book’s subject matter – local baseball history – gave us a quick and easy common ground to start and build conversations.
In addition that, I overcome a fear of public speaking and have since gone on to be keynote speaker at historical societies, special events, and club luncheons.
All this was very personally rewarding. But the most valuable reward is one I never even considered, nor had I thought it was even possible. I experienced the great joy of helping others – and building people up.
But the Library Doesn’t Want My Book
Well after my book had been on shelves, a recently new co-worker – Adam approached me and asked a peculiar question.
“Indeed, I am,” I said with a bit of shallow pride.
Then, he explained to me how a relative had given him a copy of Baseball in Fort Wayne. She told him it had been checked out and read so many times, it had to be decommissioned from the library.
How Cool!
My Book Utilized My Talents
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. – 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
As I have reflected upon it, the biggest blessing of writing my first book – the achievement of a grand life dream – was the ability it provided for me to serve others. I had not expected it and I had no idea it could happen.
After the my book was published, I was suddenly thrust into an “expert” role of sorts, being called upon for a lot of questions, interviews, and such. That was great and I enjoyed it – still do from time-to-time when I am called upon.
But even better than that, because of my book, I had many people coming to me for assistance in locating pictures of their fathers or finding information about their grandfathers when they played in Fort Wayne or in and around northeast Indiana. You could read the joy in their email responses, or hear it in their voices when a piece of their past had suddenly been filled.
It’s sort of like the genuine joy on the face of a new believer the moment they know Christ.
Above is verse from 1 Peter. I think it is very apt here. The verse that immediately follows it takes things a step further to explain how to use the gifts we’ve been given. Commenting on the two, John MacArthur summarizes it very well.
I was thrilled when Adam brought the book in for me to see. As I thumbed through it, it seemed to be in better shape as I had expected to see. Still, it had clearly been read many times over and had shown the wear and tear of us.
My Book Was Never Really MY Book
So, why does this make me happy?
Because it provided a tangible example of what I really wanted to see happen as I wrote the book. It proves that people are genuinely interested in my local baseball history and that they are consuming it!
Several years after my book’s release, I received an honor from the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA). During the honors banquet, I told the group that – even though my name is on the cover – the book is not mine. The book belonged to all the men, women, teams, personnel and fans who lived the story that made the book possible.
For, without them, my dream would have never come true. I’m just the guy who got to use my gifts to tell their stories.
We believers are fortunate and blessed well beyond my small example. We have the opportunity to tell lost souls Jesus’s story. In the process, we play our own little roles in building up God’s kingdom.
To God Be All Glory. For Ever. And Ever.
Amen.