November 15, 2008
Dear Friends,
Like most everyone else, I spend a fair amount of time these days wondering about the economy and the future. While I try not to worry or obsess over what’s beyond my control, it’s difficult to avoid a certain level of concern.
I’m struck by our seemingly innate tendency to over-simplify a terribly complex situation. In some ways that’s probably an understandable symptom of fear.
We also tend to over-simplify solutions. We seem to believe that there’s some sort of magical resolution to complicated problems, and we invest immense amounts of time, energy, and resources seeking the silver bullet that will make a problem vanish.
Silver bullet thinking is dangerous. Numerous poorly conceived plots are concocted to resolve financial, personal, or societal dilemmas. Get-rich-quick offers and guaranteed-results Internet dating sites are a couple of examples. Most of the time these simplistic schemes actually make matters worse.
If I’ve learned anything from my personal journey, it’s the principle that foolproof ideas only expose more accomplished fools. Most problems aren’t created instantly, and they can’t be solved by silver bullet solutions.
It’s easy to pretend that the journey of Relentless Grace occurred because of a senseless accident. While the injury certainly triggered a difficult series of events, most of the struggle traces to a series of choices made many years earlier. Depression and hopelessness arose not from circumstances but from my reactions to them. Those reactions were conditioned by a string of unfortunate decisions that shaped my character and left me completely unprepared for the challenges that confronted me.
Success and failure are rarely the result of singular break-through events. Instead they’re the product of thousands of small, almost insignificant choices. Character flows, either intentionally or haphazardly, from those choices. Silver bullet remedies cannot instantly reverse a course set over many years.
The lesson of Relentless Grace is not one of heroic resolution. Improvement and problem solving usually occur incrementally, over a long period of time, and in community. My recovery and movement from “survive” to “thrive” happened because a lot of people didn’t give up on me and refused to allow me to give up on myself.
And most of all I believe it happened because God refused to give up on me. In His faithfulness I found hope that sustained me.
The message of Relentless Grace is one of hope and the assurance that God is always there. God may not provide the silver bullet answers we want, but He always provides the long-term promises we need to move forward in difficult times.
Here's something I had some fun doing. Click this link to view a short video trailer for Relentless Grace. I hope you enjoy it.
The books have arrived! You can probably imagine my excitement as I ripped open the first carton and saw the complete product in finished form. I'm sure I was a small child the last time I opened a box with that much anticipation.
Thanks very much for the interest you've expressed. The first mail orders were shipped this week, and now I feel a new sense of expectation as I await feedback and reactions.
I hope you're planning to attend our release celebration on Sunday, December 7 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Everyday Joe’s Coffee House, 144 S. Mason Street. The staff of Everyday Joe's has been extremely gracious in offering their facility for this celebration. Please plan to stop by and visit, meet some old and new friends, and allow me to sign a book for you.
If you'd still like to order a copy, there's a button in the right column that will provide more information.
Please forward this announcement to friends, family, and former students or parents who may be interested. If you know someone who might appreciate or benefit from a story of hope, accomplishing impossible dreams, and overcoming obstacles, consider ordering a copy as a gift.
Any book's success depends on personal communication to spread the word and create a buzz. If you're interested in some simple ways to help with building the buzz for Relentless Grace , this page has some suggestions.
Personal News
On December 2 I'll speak to the clients of 180 Ministries in Denver. 180 is a highly successful drug/alcohol rehab outreach program of Teen Challenge International. I'm excited to hear their stories and share a bit of my experience with them.
I’m seeking additional opportunities to share the message of encouragement and hope with both general and faith-based audiences. I’d welcome the opportunity to visit your community and your organization or church, meet your friends, and share a bit of my story. If you know someone who is looking for a motivational speaker, please contact me or forward this information to an appropriate contact.
If you are engaged in raising funds for a group or individual, send me an email and let’s discuss using the book to support your efforts.
I continue to be amazed by the locations from which my website receives hits. Your assistance in forwarding information about my message is humbling.
Blessings,
- Please visit my web site:
http://www.richdixon.net or www.relentlessgrace.com - I’d love to hear from you. Send me a note at: rich@richdixon.net
- Join the conversation about Relentless Grace at: Relentless Grace blog
- Read my blog post every Friday at: SetFreeToday.com
- To update your contact information: rich@richdixon.net
- I promise I won’t distribute your address to anyone for any reason.
