This inner child work is releasing dynamics and depths in my creative writing I've never seen before. As I continue to develop the stories and characters, it's a roller coaster of emotions from laughter to courage to sorrow.

I grew up mimicking the faith of those around me; watching, following and loving God, loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. But, I wanted more: to serve my country, test my mettle; see if I could hold life and faith together as a US Marine. So I enlisted. The Drill Instructors said: “Unlearn everything. There’s a new god: me.”

My Men’s Right of Passage (MROP) at Ghost Ranch hosted our mob of about a hundred initiates and the experience was special. On the day of our fasting and silent wandering, I  paired up with a man about my age and off we went.