I try not to read other blogs and posts before I get this blog written each day.  I find I get too influenced if I don’t come out of my own space.  But today I read my friend Steve Watkins’ NoteADay blog and it was about Rick Warren.  Steve we met at the Hot Springs Film Festival along with his wife Dana back a few months ago.  Steve has been featuring different people who have had an influence on him personally, one a day on his NoteADay blog.  Today he wrote about Rick the pastor of Saddleback Church and the author of “The Purpose Driven Life”.   I read this book when it came out fifteen years ago maybe.  Remarkable book and it was in the news for a long time.  I have my copy on the shelf here.

Anyway, Steve quoted Rick this morning and I want to bring that to you now.:

“Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.”
― Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

As that relates to me, I do think that my bout with cancer has had this very effect.  The last five years of my life has been shaped by the aftermath of my diagnosis no doubt about it.  My own personal decision to share my experience has been a good one.  It is really the only way that we can learn from one another.   I’ m gob smacked by this quote.  Or maybe it is God smacked, as came up in conversation recently.

Thanks all of you for helping out with this project.   We continue to walk our Caminos.  And the trail calls me right now.  Out in the rain for me.  Alperfect, love, Felipe.