Have you ever heard the phrase, everyone has a story? I certainly have. In fact, I had always thought of it as cliché. Sure, everyone does have a story, but is it a story worth telling? I mean, really, does Joe Neighbor’s story affect the story of another average dude on the block? If you asked me that question five years ago, I would have answered with a resounding, “No!” But five years ago I was in a different place. My story was pretty generic. I was your average, white, middle class, Christian, male, with a gorgeous wife, two amazing kids, a good career, a stable faith, and very little to worry about. And while these constants have not changed in the past five years, circumstances have—circumstances that changed my perspective on a lot of things.

So let’s go back five years. One could say that my life was pretty much on cruise control…

• I was comfortable with my marriage. Yes, the life of a married man can be very challenging at times, especially when he “marries up”—and I married up huge. But things were good; no complaints (on my end, at least).

• I was comfortable as a father. Yes, the life of a father of two girls can be very challenging at times, but I considered myself blessed at the lack of “girl drama” I had heard reported from my buddies. Things were good; no complaints.

• I was comfortable with my career. Yes, the life of a firefighter and paramedic can be very challenging at times, but I had been in the business for quite some time and was really enjoying the team I worked with. Things were good; no complaints.

• I was comfortable as a Christian. Yes, the life of a Christian can be very challenging at times—especially if he misplaces a lot of faith in the people around him. But, overall, things were good; no complaints.

• I was comfortable in general. I had good friends. I had a close extended family. I had purpose in my hobbies, in my ministry, and in my volunteer work. I was living a very privileged life in the Midwestern United States. Things were good; no complaints.

But as in everyone’s life, mine began to take some turns—turns that I had not anticipated. Circumstances beyond my control (and, admittedly, some within my control) began to compound. I quickly found myself at the proverbial bottom, unsure how I got there, and unsure how to get out.

I don’t want to give away everything about my story now! You gotta come back and check out the stories to come. But let me give you the jist: I came to realize that our stories—ALL personal stories—matter. Being real about my own story has opened up opportunities for great discussion. And hearing about other’s stories has been crucial to finding a way back from the bottom.

So that’s why I’m here—that’s the purpose of my blog. I want to share my story, and hear the stories of others. I want to talk about real life, both the struggles and the triumphs. I want to create a space online where real community exists.

Why a blog? Simple. Real Stories—Real Life—Real Community

Be well…