Thank you.

No, you remembered right. I did say in the book I felt different. And I did, for a very long part of my life. I still do in many ways, but I’ve also begun to find and celebrate the similarities I have with other people. You, for instance. We don’t even know each other, but in many ways we can relate. Since I’ve started writing, there are many people who have said I put into words the same things they feel–and some are people I would never have guessed would have those same feelings. So I’ve begun to rethink my “different” position. Different? Maybe. Or maybe only always the same.
I love these last words of yours: God-kissed and affirmed. Beautiful. I want to embrace that affirmation for myself.

I’ve passed your book on to one of my daughters for her to read, else I would find where you had mentioned having felt lonely and (I thought you said “different,” but you may have used another word and I interpreted it as “different”.) very sensitive. I think you called it seeing the world in 4D. That is such a perfect description! The first time I attended a writer’s workshop I sat at a table full of writers during the lunch break, all of them complete strangers to me, and, I suppose, sat staring in amazement at the way they visited! Borrowing from your words, they spoke in 4D! It was the funniest, most interesting, and riveting conversation that I’ve ever heard, and I didn’t even know them. Our only connection was writing! I came away from that experience understanding the gift that God had entrusted me with a little better. Instead of feeling personally flawed, I felt God-kissed and affirmed.

It is good to hear from you, my conflicted, transparent Mennonite friend. I love to hear that others connect with my story. I’m a little bit surprised every time to find that others experience the same emotions and struggles I do. A good surprise. I will have to think about what you said in writers being “different.” Maybe different in the sense that all artistic people are different, with an awareness of the delicate nuances of life and the ability to hold two conflicting worldviews simultaneously in their head. :) At least me, and I have heard that it is that sort of people which understand and can produce art.

Bless you, my dear, conflicted, transparent, Mennonite friend.

Sincerely,
From your new conflicted, transparent, Mennonite friend

Alright. Thanks for the tip!

Thank you. But Anything But Simple is not self published. Are you familiar with Herald Press?