How one becomes a Sci-Fi writer.

How does a boy from a small suburban town in Maryland just up and decide to become a Sci-Fi Writer....?

Simple...

I grew up wanting to be an astronaut!

Yes believe it or not I grew up most of my childhood wanting to be an astronaut. By 10 I was completely convinced I'd command a space colony by the time I was 30. Pretty far out there right. Well due to things I couldn't control, and the events of 9/11 I then decided I wanted to save the world. Henceforth focusing my attention and dreams on careers relating to the military, policing, and Homeland Security... Needless to say those careers probably wouldn't tke me to space.

Upon realizing I probably wouldn't be going to space unless they started space tourism, my creativity became my Space Shuttle. In my teens as Action figures became obsolete, my imagination took me to the internet and to libraries where I could pretend to leave Millersville and go on far off Space Adventures. Needless to say having space depicted by some complete stranger didn't do it for me.

So I booted the old family computer running that old Windows XP operating system and opened up Microsoft word. I loved writing, outside Astronomy, and Social Studies it was the main thing I was good at in school.I put all three together, they decided to rendezvous with my imagination and the rest was history.

I'd spend countless hours coming up with these far out space dramas, and thrillers. It was so awesome. When the stress of high school would hit, I'd just go downstairs to the office in our home and write for hours until bed time.

Through playing football, choir, and even wrestling, writing was always my favorite past time. Much like I do now, I'd write notes on note book paper, or back then in the drafts of text messags on the good old Flip phone and then take it home to my computer and write.

Believe it or not, I had compiled up to 25 stories unedited on my family's computer at the end of 2007 when it finally came to an end. Yet I'm still sure my parents believe those megabytes from the story files was the cancer to the computer. No mom it was viruses!

But anyways... I never stopped my obsession. I started realizing this was no longer just a pass time or really cool hobby I did by myself... No this was an Art, and it should be treated as Art.

In college I had a lap top where I was able to freely create my art. I don't know when the idea to publish crossed my mind to publish. But I know it was in my apartment at Stevenson that the idea that I legit could become a sci-fi writer arose.

At SU my books revolved around outer-space and alien species entirely. Far off worlds that only my imagination could create! Wars and rulers and unlimited travel. I was able to go to space and have a front row seat from the chair of my desk into some of the most insane and out of this world conflicts! They were my worlds, they were my creations! I had great pride in my work, and those few eyes that have read the books in my first series "Guardian" know exactly what I'm talking about.

I still have no idea if I'll ever publish those 5 books. But we'll see. Obviously you can tell I used ot have a lot of time on my hands.

After I was done Maniac, I wanted to test myself in a way I had never been able to. I wanted to write a book that took place on Earth, and solely Earth. I wanted to take away the space ships, the aliens, the time difference between now and then, and shrink it to about 50 years in the future on a very familiar yet extremely different Earth.

I envisioned Maniac to become my ultimate Challenge...

Maniac was supposed to take me out of my comfort zone. Now one thing is for sure. I love politics. I dabbled a bit back in college. I wanted to put Politics and Sci-fi to work, yet give it a tangible feel in a world we could all walk through. Maniac was created for that exact reason. IT takes place in the year 2063 and is absent of Aliens and space travel. I'm sure there's a whisper or two of future travel. I'm not entirely sure!

Oddly enough my first book that'll be released to the public will be a book so completely out of my comfort zone of writing. Which makes the thought of future sales and interest completely mortifying. But I know at the end of it all I do have faith.

So back to the Space cadet I was and still am. I do have plans of going back to space in my stories. It's where it all began for me. It was my inspiration and I'm going to do it complete justice. Stay tuned for that!

But until then Enjoy Maniac when it hits those digital Shelves in December. I'm excited to share my art with all of you. It's going to be a crazy ride.

And you know what.... Who knows maybe one day my dream of space travel will come true. Until then, I'll keep typing....

The Artist-.

Greetings from Kirtland!

Today, Colleen, Maxwell, and Kevin and I took a 6 hour road trip to visit historical church sites in Kirtland Ohio.

After going to Palmyra earlier this I didn't think any site could come close!

I was wrong...

Being inside of the temple where the savior and prophets visited touched me in a way I can't quote describe. It was powerful. Singing one of the first hymns sung "The Spirit of God" in those walls with the rest of the group set the tone for the rest of the day!!

The feelings grew stronger and the spirit more abundant as we went to the Kirtland visitor centre and took tours around the community. The Newell K. Whitney store simply blew my mind.

Being in the school of the prophets and reading out loud one of the accounts of a man who was there and what he saw touched me and brought me to tears.

Now we sit in a field as summer bugs sing thier sweet song. Everything feels so amazing!

Such a great day!

Gerald-

Ideas come at the most Random times!

So as a writer some of my most greatest creations have come at random times! No seriously, I one time  had an idea for a story on my way to the grocery store. You just cant predict when an idea will flood your mind.

When an idea comes into my head, it's almost like my mind writes the story within minutes, and then I begin writing. My mind stores this story until it is fully written down in a document. I'm seriously it's like the craziest thing ever. So I wanted to share exactly how I came up with the idea for "Maniac!"

So I remember it was right before the Summer NanoWrimo (National Writers Month) competition in 2013. The point of this competition was to see if you could write 50,000 words in the course of a month. Surprisingly I was a lack for ideas, and I desperately desiring to write something new. Something that I had never written before.

Up until Maniac,most of my stories surrounded far off cosmic wars and alien warfare. I wanted this book to be completely different, I wanted it to be almost tangible but just out of reach of possibilities. I was laying in my bed one night, and I was listening to the newest Kid Cudi album that was out at the time, and the song "Maniac" came on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT4hcbSNq6U

So anyways, I'm laying in bed, and my mind starts going wild as the song plays. Within in minutes I had created this near futuristic world full of political and sociological inequalities. I had created characters, and tragedy, and I had found my title within the song! Thanks Cudi!

This idea was too great to just turn over and fall asleep to. No I opened up my laptop and started typing at the speed of sound. I stayed up all night writing the outline. I created multiple characters and relationships. I wrote a backstory to how America got so messed up and the events that took place from today to the year 2063! I had a story and I knew what had to come next. I needed to begin writing.

Now at the time I started working for Verizon, and didn't have a lot of time to devote to writing 50,000 pages in one month. Nor did I think my book deserved to be rushed. So I continued writing at my own pace. The story was amazing. I fell in love with the characters.

The main character wasn't this night in shining armor. No he was a confused soul searching for his place in the world. At times I loved him, at times I despised what he did, and then there were times I felt down right sorry for him. When I was about midway through, I knew this story would define me as a writer. This story challenged me. I was writing a story that wasn't always the good guy. I was writing a book that I had to keep some part of it grounded in reality. This story would be huge if done right.

I became addicted. The stories of these characters were so gravitating. I had never felt this sensation while writing a book. I began to become Jimmy, and found myself having to pull back to reality. I devoted over a year to Maniac. I wrote day in and day out. I fell in love with my characters and their world. I had never gotten so caught up in the story.

When the story ended I cried a bit, and did my traditional payer for good luck in the post production and publishing efforts! I shut my computer and stood up and stretched feeling I had created a masterpiece in my own mind!

So jump forward a month and a half and here we are. I'm sitting in the student commons area at my school, one day closer to accomplishing a dream to become a published writer!!

So check here often for updates and Like the official Facebook Page for "Maniac!"

Thanks for all the support!!

The Artist-

"They're like an Onion"

So as most of you know I writer, and I've been writing for years. Most of my stories circled around amazing fantasy worlds that seemed so out of reach that none of us could ever imagine living in. The main characters, though multi-dimensional, seemed to be merely supermen that were virtually indestructible. And pretty much for years and years that was the character I had wrote about.

Coincidentally, that was the mindset I held myself to, that I was some seemingly indestructible superman, that words, or emotion, or physicality could not harm. As I've grown as a writer and as a man in the last 10 years since I've began writing, that mindset has diminished, so now my characters of today....

My characters of today resemble most of us, when face with a traumatic or seemingly deep decision. They are not supermen, and for the most part they only want to do what's right. I was talking with Colleen about my character Jimmy from "Maniac", he's what one may call an "Anti-hero". Like he has a good heart and had a great objective, but his motivation pushes him to do some sketchy stuff. Like myself, most of my characters go through a transition, where they begin as one person, and by the end they've completely changed.

The funny thing about my main characters from my two newest stories Jimmy from "Maniac" and Lincoln from "Un-Justice" is that most of the book you don't know whether to love or hate them. and I think that creates such a unique and interesting dynamic to the story! It keeps you interested and enthralled in the story, always wondering what the heck is going to happen next!

These new multi-dimensional non-supermen, are fun to write about, because they challenge me to step out of my comfort zone, and grow as a writer.

Most importantly I hope future readers will enjoy these two stories once they are released!!!

Remember to follow me on Twitter for more updates and keep reading right here!

Twitter- @GMaxRoy_614


Hard at work I am!

The Artist-

Changes with the wind...

In the last three years I've seen more radical changes in myself than ever before...

Radical doesn't necessarily have to mean bad... No it can mean great things.

The changes I've made have been for the better. I've grown more in the last 3 years than I had in the first 22. 

Change is good, and change can be for the better as long as that change is based on something good!.

At 25 I sit here pondering my past changes and smile towards the future!

See ya there

The Artist-

Hate to be a cliche....

Hate to be a cliche, but to find out more about this current project I'm working on, follow this blog! or follow me on these various social networks.

Twitter- @GMaxRoy_614
Instagram- @Lost_Kryptonian
Vine- Gerald to the MAX!!!!

Yeah those I'll be posting updates on this project and others!!!

Thanks

The-Artist-

And we're off!!!!

So I told myself at the beginning of the year, I was going to do something big! I told myself I was going to do something that I had never done before that would change my life....

To be honest At first I was talking about getting married...

But like most things in my life, Heavenly father has a plan of his own!! I have been writing since I was 14 years old. That's 11 years of my life I've devoted to an art form which I have been able to express myself in ways I'd never imagine.It's my passion.

Well in the beginning of the year I had been working on the manuscript for "Maniac" my newest book. I had been distracted by a lot of things going on,and had neglected that story until two months ago, when I told myself I was going to finish the manuscript before I turned 25 on June 14 of this year... Then on the Monday of that week, right before a Family Home Evening with my ward, I finished the story!

I felt so accomplished, I had been working on it for over a year and it was finally done!

So now what  happens?

I realized instead of the countless other stories I've written throughout the last decade, I was going to publish! I was ready for people to read my book, and to experience my art. Now one thing I've learned is you can't do it alone. So I created my own writing team "Max Literature Group" or MLG if you want to be cool! Max of course being my middle name, and the name of my grandfather on my mother's side.

I decided I'd self publish to Kindle after receiving opinions from others who were into E-Books. So I wanted to take this time to introduce you to my production team. My manuscript is in Post Prod, and I wouldn't be able to accomplish this without the help of my friends....

Gerald R. (Myself)- Founder/ Author

Colleen M.- Chief Editor

Mario M.Co-Editor/. Photographer

Brittany O- Graphic Designer

Alex H.- Photographer

Brandon M.- tech specialist 

With the manuscript in Post/Prod and the team united, we're setting for a release date just before General Conference, in late September. It's so amazing to finally accomplish a dream of mine that has been around for 11 years! I have an amazing team, and am so blessed with the talent Heavenly Father has blessed me with! Stay tuned for further updates and information! 

And we're off!!!!!

The Artist- 

10 Things I've learned in the past 25 years

So the last couple of weeks I've been doing a lot of reflecting and thinking about the first quarter of my life... I found myself at times asking "what have I learned?", "what have I accomplished?"

So I decided to share with you my thoughts, and stuff I've learned in the last 25 years!

1) how to turn "NO" into YES!!- All my life I've had people tell me I couldn't do this or do that! I turned it into a game of proving people wrong and never giving up.
2) Graduating College in 4 years isn't always realistic- I'm 25 and still in school. Oddly enough somehow I've been blessed with a "big boy" job, but I'm still in school. Might have helped to not change my major twice, but the Lord has his plan!

3) Planning isn't always fool proof- most things rarely happen when you plan them. And sometimes they rarely go as planned! Did I ever expect to be working in the I.T. world behind a desk at 17? Heck no! In fact I always saw myself either in the military or in Law Enforcement, but sometimes our plan isn't THE eternal plan. Sometimes we have to let faith take the wheel.

4)Faith- There was a period in my young adult years around 22, where I simply had no faith in anything other than myself... and even that was limited. Finding faith in a higher power other than myself was the best thing I've done with my life in my recent years!

5) Never be afraid to be yourself- So I'm very big into fitness. Spotts, writing, singing, anime, Sci fi... etc. I feel like at times especially when we were young, that we were expected to fall into a certain youth social group (jocks, goths, preps, artists, hipstets, preps, etc). I've learned, and the one thing I've seen my peers learning is that dabbling in multiple different activities is more than acceptable, and more or less expected! Life on this earth is too short to be one demensional...

6) Love what you do- I think it was a Sunday school lesson I taught where I really understood this. Now honestly in the last 10 years I've had some crappy jobs, from retail slavery to horrible sales. Those jobs sucked! I can only be honest! But they didn't have to suck. I was young and didn't take time to find an aspect I enjoyed. One thing I've learned is to find an aspect about your job and love it.... I love helping people. I do tech support, handling federal and business accounts. It's not always a walk in the park, but I get to help people. I try to hold on to that.

7) Learning to serve others-  I've been blessed to serve others. I've learned it's litterally like the greatest therapy ever! Going back to a break up I had earlier this year, I remember finding peace in helping others, it was through others I was able to recover myself!

8) Family first- my family is deeper than blood. There are friends I consider "extended siblings" likewise I love them and my family dearly. I've learned in my life without family, there's no point. My family has come through for me more times than I can count!  I'm ever grateful for them.

9) Smell the roses- life sucks sometimes, but that's no reason to be down. Make the most of it. Our time on this earth is a blink of an eye in comparison to eternity after this life! Enjoy the time here. Make the most of it. The struggle may be real, but that's no reason to crumble under pressyre! Remember there's an eternal plan and have faith!

10) age is honestly just a statistic- so I've prob been annoying my friends and family about my groaning of turning a quarter of a century. Sorry guys! I see my Cousin Don. Well actually it's my dad's cousin, but this dude is 50 years old and is a beast in the gym, and would give me a run for my money any day! I see my sister Tiera at 20 who gives me advice I'd expect from someone twice her age! Age is honestly what you make it. I don't know how long I have left in this world, but I'm not going to waste it sitting down, I'm going to do the most and live happy. I shall stay faithful and serve when I can. I will continue to learn and grow. Growing old isn't bad, heck it's pretty awesome! So here comes 25, and to 25 more years I say bring it on!!!

The Artist-

Let The Fun Begin!

So after about 14 months, I've finally finished my manuscript for my novel "Maniac". When the year began u told myself that I would finish it before I turned 25 this year. Well it was completed 5 days before the big date!

So now what...?

Well for starters, the fun proofreading and editing game begins. I plan on self publishing by the end of the year, while starting the parallel sequel "Un-Justice". There's also photography and graphic designing that needs to be done.

It's exciting though! I've been writing since I was 14 years old... I always wanted to write! But felt committing to writing might be an unsteady field of work. So I went to college for criminal justice/counter terrorism, and now here I am somehow in the I.T. field. Not sure when that switch over happened.

So here I am...

Nearly 25, and I'm about to live a dream of mine! Even better I get to work with my closest friends on this project, and I'm so thankful for them. Thanks Colleen and Mario!

so stay tuned! I'll be utilising this and other social media forums to update on the progress!!! This is so very exciting so stay tuned!

The Artist-

Faith through it all

If this trip has taught me anything, it has taught me the power of faith..., 

So we the 4 bros of the apocalypse were finally on our way to Harmony PA where the Holy Priesthood was restored! As I'm driving I see out my left a sign that read 

               "scenic overlook" 

The explorer and photographer in me decided impulsively to go down the dirt trail to the location. There were signs reading "warning" and "posted no hunting etc". I disregarded the signs and went down a hill to the Lake. I think once we rode over the massive mound of snow going down, it hit me this might be a bad idea..., 

We get down the hill and the views are legit perfect! 

Just simply perfect! It looked like the area I dream of building a Lake house on when I retire some day! 

Well of course we're right outside Ithaca NY, and it's cold! A storm starts coming in and we decide to get back on the road. I start the car up, and start driving up the hill when the tires start spinning... 

"We're screwed"I thought to myself! I kept try and nothing was happening. So we decide to get out and start pushing, putting David in the driver seat, meaning Jason, Jared and I to push. I decided to go into beastmode and push.... Beastmode failed me... The van wasn't going anywhere. I was getting pissed off and frustrated. 

Eventually I calmed down and Jared came up with the idea to use the perfectly placed gravel mound on the property to build traction tracks for the van. The two of us in the 20 degree wind and snow got to work. On the property we found a wheel barrel and a little shovel and one of those farming rakes. Mind you the gravel mound was pretty rock hard! 

We chiselled away filling the barrel with this gravel to build the track! Countless trips up and down the hill I begin to get frustrated! I'm blaming myself and virtually chewing myself out because no one else was seeming to do it.

Jason chimed in between my rants, "there's no point in complaining, we're here now. Have faith" 

He said faith..., something in the midst of my anger and fear had become clouded. After that moment we all had our own silent prayers throughout the building of the trail. 

We were still facing trials. We had one shovel, three dudes outside the car and a lot of work to do. I prayed to my Heavenly Father that we could find another shovel and that the storm would calm down.

So first off the storm began to slow and I could feel the temp raising! I was so relieved. After that, I felt the need to go to the lake house and look for another shovel other than the small one we had... Jason found a smaller shovel and even them, I rejoiced. I felt compelled to check more and then I found a real shovel! I shouted in joy! This would indeed expedite the process! 

We got to work, Jason, Jared and I began clearing snow and laying gravel! David over and over again tried to get up the hill, each time getting an inch closer! 

Again I grumbled and complained, and again Jason checked me for my faith. I stopped being stubborn and gave my hope to God. We had given it our all! We had done as much as we could, and Jared gave a vocal prayer! It was in Heavenly Fathers hands now.... 

David got the signal to drive back up the hill, we were worried about the ice mound as he raced up the hill and our makeshift trail... HE PUSHED THROUGH!!! We all shouted and cheered as he made it up the hill, exchanging high gives and hugs and shouts of joy! We returned everything to the way it was and walked up the hill to him! We got in the car and now we are on our way to Harmony PA! 

 

Back in the car and on the road we all mutually agree that this is the best vacation ever! 

So I'm sitting here now recollecting the event! Everything happened for a reason. And it couldn't have been a better spot to get stuck. At the location there were three shovels, a massive mound of gravel and a wheel barrel. Everything we needed was there. Most importantly faith was there! Faith that no matter what Heavenly Father would take care of us! 

I'm so grateful for  my bros and our collective minds and strength, and I'm more thankful for a Heavenly Father that loves and cares about me at all times and hears my prayers! I say that in the name of Jesus Christ our saviour Amen..,

Right now we're out of Ithaca and the storm is gone and it's sunny roads ahead! Such an amazing experience!

The Artist-

The feel of the grove

Words can barely do justice for how much peace I feel in the sacred grove...

My body and mind feel at peace. I feel completely away from the outside world! It's beautiful. The heavy cloud cover has slightly broken to show a bit of blue and radiant sunlight! 

I can feel the spirit as I walk these trails and kneel in prayer off the beaten path. The stressors of the world have no voice here. Only the serenity of God's creation reside. I know I was heard out here in prayer. 

I know my father in heaven walks this path with me here in this grove and outside! I know Joseph Smith to be a prophet. I know there are prophets and inspired leaders on earth today as in ancient times... I can feel it in my bones everyone one of us is here for an eternal reason and I know Heavenly Father has a plan for me. And I say these things in the name of our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen 

The Artist 

We finally made it!

We made it to Rochester! After 6 hours of traveling from Maryland up here, were safe! I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds! I'm so stoked to walk historical sites and learn more about my faith! 

Stay tuned 

Goodnight 

The Artist- 

Times like these!

I know no matter what these dudes got my back! Just the ride up is legit!! Def a good time! 

Thoughts on the way....

As we enter Pennsylvania state lines I sit in the passengers seat contemplating the importance of this trip. 

As all of you know I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, almost 2.5 years ago. It has long since been a dream of mine to go to Palmyra which is essential where my religion began. Looking back at the last few years especially the last few months, it's no wonder why The Lord decided to hold me from going on this trip until now! 

I go not with expectations. I go with hope I'll be able to feel the spirit at the sites of some of the most powerful and historical moments in my church's history! I hope to learn history and information to share with those who may not know a lot about my faith. I go with faith that three of my best friends and I will grow closer and create memories that will last for ages! 

That's. my thoughts, and I can't wait to explore tomorrow! 

The Artist- 

And we're off!

Packed into a Kia Sedona the 4 bros  of the apocalypse (myself, Jason, Jared, and David) head to Palmyra for spiritual enlightenment, and adventure! 358 miles stand between them and their destination! What adventures await? Stay tuned! 

This is gonna be awesome! 

From left- (Jason, David, Jared, Myself)

The Artist-

My morning commute

I stand all amazed at our 21st century style. As I maneuver  my way through the dc metro area through public transit. 

It's 545am when the MARC train arrives. Countless people pack in to the vehicle built for speed. There are students, soldiers, business men and women, a couple of random individuals just traveling and then there's me, an observer on the way to work this morning. 

I take notice of the exits and any suspicious activity. A mindset I got from wanting to become a cop... Everything is safe! 

I turn my music on and sit back. The train starts to move.... I look around and everyone is linked into their personal devices, streaming music, reading emails or news, it's apparent to me we're all one step away from becoming cyborgs. There are others sleeping... I sure hope they don't miss their stops! 

Once at Union Station there's a hold up... 

"Passengers there is a delay, there is a train in distress" says the conductor. 

You can feel the increased heart rates as contemplations of lateness to destinations begins to rise. It's like ten minutes later. I start even considering the thoughts. 

"Did I miss my metro?" 

"Do I have any late forgiveness left?" 

"I wonder if I can still run to the cafe for breakfast?" 

"Will we get out of here?"

The questions run through my head, as indie electro sub genre pumps into my brain from white headphones that act as transmitters from my 4 inch world connecting device! 

The wait gave me enough time to notice a regular on the MARC train who likes to sketch photos of people... Not gonna lie it's a little weird, but at least he's good at it. No real difference from the word sketch I'm doing of my commute here in this post. 

We're set free and the mad dash towards the metro begins. Union Station is a madhouse! There's no peace here. Everyone is in their own world. I notice a person giving change to a seemingly homeless lady; hope in humanity restored for the day! 

It's back to the race against time to the metro. Being a novice rarely taking public transit i pause my music. and I ask someone a question referring to my stop. He kindly instructs me and I then thank him and return to my music with my metro card in hand. 

I get on the metro and it takes off! I sit in my seat thinking of my Friday night plans! I get excited knowing there's only like ten more hours until the weekend. Stops like "Gallaudet", "Takoma" and "Brookland" pass before I reach my stop in downtown Silver Spring. 

Getting off there's a problem with my metro card. 

Get it fixed; check! 

As I trade a smile with the cute girl coming towards me. The moment passes of attraction for I'll never see her again. 

It's cold outside... Everyone bundled up. My peacoat holds warmth but forgetting my gloves as I type this narrative has become an apparent struggle. 

Still I type... 

I sit here waiting for the bus, still semi impressed a sheltered boy from the suburbs has managed to maneuver DC metro at ease so far... 

Still waiting and it gets colder. More linked individuals start to file in the stop. Buses come and go, I wait for mine

I see a bus stop and run to it! A nice older lady stops me from getting my hopes up for it is the wrong one. 

Finally my bus is here and I can get warm! On Facebook I trade dialogue with an old friend about how we're mid 20s in the professional world as compared to childhood dreams of wanting to become power rangers... The struggle is real. 

I return to reality checking the clocks.... I hope I make it on time! 

It becomes apparent in our society, we're obsessed with this obsession to get "there" on time! Stops pass and go, much like the trains. It's amazing to me to see how many older people are managing smartphones and not looking a bit confused. 

I dose off... Only to be awoken by Spanish singing... His happy tune is a change of tune from this grey friday. 

We are nearing my office building. The rather spontaneous energy I possessed at 6am is now diminishing as the Romanticism of riding public dies and the realisation I'm nearing a dreadful 9hrs builds.... 

I arrive at my office packed into an elevator. There's a track playing from my workout/gym playlist as I make it to my desk giving me a little energy before I sit in my seat... 

Lets start the day..... 

The Artist- 

:)

You know what, I think things are starting to look up! 

Yeah it's a shorty but I don't care, today was flippin awesome!

The Artist-

The struggles can teach

I'm laying in bed thinking to myself just how crazy the last month alone has been! Already 1 month into 2014 and life has again thrown in plot twists galore! 

Things change... 

Events you planned are no longer in the picture. What once was isn't right now! You're entire life can be shaken upside down in the blink of an eye. 

Relationships once strong can end due to forces outside your control. Sicknesses may break you down. Family illnesses may distract you from the rest of the world making you go almost insane... What you once planned may not be in Gods plan! 

And that's just it... 

It's easy for us to cry "why me?" It's easy for us to beat our own asses over something we had no control over! But let's try something new in 2014, if you already haven't! 

Let's instead ask "what is God trying to teach me?" "What does the universe have in store for me?" 

It's so easy to get wrapped up in our own plans and desires that we can often forget who's in the driver seat! 

Now I've got to admit I'm personally guilty of this! I find myself whining or complaining about stuff not going my way. Blaming myself for the uncontrollables.... 

As of late I've found peace in trying to ponder the lessons that can be learned out of times of trials. I've worked on accepting things aren't always going to go my way! 

The girl you thought you were going to marry might not be so... The job you applied for didn't select you... You're car breaks down! 

So many trials we encounter... But as I said let's try to encounter those dark times like a student in a college class. Look at those trials as a lecture! Take notes and then strive forward! 

That's all I have for tonight.... 

The Artist- 

My Journey of faith

So last year I posted a talk, which gave a loose story on my conversion to the church and my finding of God. Well I loved that post! and to be honest it's the number one read post on this blog. But I felt I didn't give my conversion the explanation it deserved.

About three weeks ago in my English composition class, we were given the assignment to write about a life changing moment. I decided to write it on my baptism, and the journey that led me to the font. I loved writing this story down. I loved getting it on paper, and it helped me truly remember how far I've come in only the last few years. I hope all of you enjoy this story, and it can do something for you. What that something is... I have no idea, but I hope you get something out of it. so here it is... The full story of my conversion into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....

Enjoy

My Conversion

            When people think of life-changing events, they think of first cars, graduations, marriage, first children. At twenty-four years old, I've only accomplished so much, but what I have accomplished has brought forth  blessings without measure. That is the story I am here to tell today: the story of my conversion and baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most people I know were baptized as children or babies, depending on which church they belonged to. I took a more elongated route that introduced me to the baptismal font at twenty two. But before we jump ahead let’s start at the beginning.

            Growing up, my family was Baptist. I didn't really understand what that meant, outside of faith in God and Jesus Christ. I barely went to church, but knew the scriptures through my grandmother and my parents. I had a moderate understanding of the faith of my parents, but as a child I lived for Saturday morning cartoons. Power Ranger, Pokemon, Rugrats, fox kids were the pinnacle of my childhood weekends.

                I can remember while sitting in front of the television, and seeing commercials, for “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”. Usually it was a commercial featuring a little kid doing something nice or sweet. It would catch my very short attention span for just a few seconds to make me wonder, “What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?” The show would return, and like a flash of light, the thought would disappear. As a little boy, I didn't think I’d get the answer to the question that had appeared in my mind for those brief seconds. Nor did I ever get my mind off of anything other than becoming a Power Ranger, the latter of which never happened. I can remember growing up, the word “Mormon”, I remember it leaving my mouth or being in the mouths of others, but there was no real meaning behind it. I had never met a Mormon or at least I didn't know if I had. To be honest, I didn't know anything more than the commercials.

            Growing up, I did a good job staying out of trouble. Outside of a few school yard fights, I was a good kid, although very hyper and lacking an attention span needed to complete most tasks without being reminded. I competed in varsity football, earned decent grades, and balanced singing in my school’s choir, while working a part time job in high school. I never touched drugs or alcohol. I never got in trouble with the law. Like I said, I was a pretty good kid throughout high school and middle school.

            College came in 2007 and I began branching out on my own. I was again inquisitive. I was again searching for the answers to the questions of the universe: “why were we here, where did we come from, Republican, or Democrat, War or Peace”.  Influences were all around, pulling me in every direction. Influences in politics, creation or origins of man, and  in social norms were abundant in the college environment. The good boy from my earlier years was starting to slip into a sea of influence that would suck me in for years to come.

            During 2008 and 2009, Mormonism was again on my television screen. However this time it was portraying a more radical side, the polar opposite from the commercials from my childhood. Depicted were the polygamist sects that everyone kind of knew about, but rarely discussed about except to discriminate against the mainstream Latter-day Saint population. Shows depicting Mormon polygamy like Big Love & Sister Wives, as well as the endless coverage of Federal strike force invasions of Polygamist compounds were all over. You couldn't turn on the news without hearing something new about it. Of course I was aware there were two sides, unlike everyone else around me who seemed to mesh together the various sects, but I still didn't know what the Mormon church really was. I wanted to know who the real Mormons were.

            One day, my friend Ron and I were driving down towards DC to help with a monster truck rally. En route we drove past a building. Although I didn't know at the time would change my life forever. While on 495, half awake and a little hungry, I peeked my head out the window of his red Chevy pickup truck and saw one of the most beautiful works of architecture I had ever laid eyes on. I saw the Washington DC Latter-day Saint Temple. It just rose over the hill as if it were floating. The white marble brightly shone in the sunlight and the golden spires rose into the heavens. I turned to Ron and asked, “Dude, what is that?” He then replied, “It’s the Mormon temple. Haven’t you seen it before?” My memory jogged back to trips on this highway when I had seen this temple before, except my childhood memories of  those early family trips referred to it as a castle belonging to some type of royalty stationed here in America. That moment was just so amazing. I truly felt something staring out the window.

            Weeks passed, and the image never left my head. At the time, I was working at Shoppers, grocery store. I worked along side of a non-Mormon veteran who had seen the world named Bob. We would talk about family history and religion and one day he told me about the Mormon temple, that very same building that I had seen only a few weeks earlier. Bob and I traded thoughts and I’m sure my curiosity was no longer hidden. He told me about the family history center near the temple and how this religion possessed the largest family history database in the world. I found this so amazing, and just so powerful, because at the time I had never heard of anything like that. My mother being adopted had always made me interested in family history.

            I had a friend at the time named Desiree. I remember talking about the church one night with her and she told me she was a member. I was dumbfounded; I couldn't believe that I had found a member, someone who I trusted who was actually a member of this church that had taken over my mind. I began to ask questions pertaining to polygamy and the history of the church. MY curiosity again continued to grow.

            I soon realized that I needed answers. As someone who enjoys writing and had grew up wanting to be a military journalist, my natural instinct was to sit in a library behind computers and books until I answered my questions. That’s what I began doing between class. It became an obsession. I saw on the church’s website, Mormon.org, that I could order their scriptures and DVDs. I ordered a book called the Book of Mormon along with some DVDs. I felt in my heart I was coming closer to finally having answers. I felt as though I was coming to an end in my journey. I had no idea that my journey had only just began.

            A few days after placing the order, I sat on my living room couch drowning out the school day with useless television (ironically enough it was Big Love), when  a knock on the door came. I got up and opened the door to two young boys about my age in shirts and ties. I looked at them not knowing who they were. I then noticed their name tags bore the name of the church that I had so many questions about. One of the boys said, “Hi we’re with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we have something for you!” He opened his back-pack and handed me a Book of Mormon. I remember holding the book in my hands. I had no idea what it was to be honest. I knew answers resided in this blue book. I could feel answers were in the minds and hearts of these boys. We spoke that afternoon for about fifteen minutes before we said a prayer and I bid them farewell.

            I went back to my couch and glanced through the book. I really had no idea what it was about, except that it meant a lot to this curious church I was investigating. I began reading, which quickly bored me. I preferred what I’d read online. Again my attention span came back to attack me.

            Days went by, and the missionaries continued to call. I’d talk to them on the phone, but I’d always find ways around meeting them in person. I told my buddies about my new investigation. They voiced their concerns, and being the peer pressured kid I was, I took their opinions over what I felt in my heart. I was worried about what others would think of me looking into this church. I was so scared that I’d lose friends, and family because of this. I knew  wars were being fought overseas in His name, but I was far from ready for a war with my family and friends, so I stopped pursuing as openly and directly. I had let fear defeat me.

            The following year, I went away to college, leaving behind the community college which had become the temple of my investigation. In that year, I began to party like everyone else. I began disobeying my parents and descending into a spiral of recklessness and destruction. I was in this darkness since I had stopped openly researching this church that had brought so much peace and curiosity. I was now away from my family, and  forced to make new friends. Breakups, drama, and nights barely remembered followed. I was on another sports team which only drove and increased the recklessness. I had stopped caring and instead of yielding to my spiritual side and the curiosity that was inside of me,  I was now a servant of the more temporal and destructive things in life. In the summer before leaving for Stevenson University, my family and I had the biggest blow up I could remember. It left relationships tarnished and fragile, and I went to college barely mending those relationships. I had lost any type of faith that had remained from my childhood. I had no direction outside of wanting to become a Baltimore City Police officer. I barely went to class, and when I did I barely paid attention. I showed up to practice and sporting events and parties, which were all I cared about at the time.

            I was an insomniac. I had no sleep pattern whatsoever. I was writing a novel at the time, and couldn’t have cared less about sleep. Most homework and writing was done between the hours of midnight and 6AM, as well as research of this church continued. I again became privately obsessed with trying to discover these answers to the questions that had been on my mind before I entered Stevenson. A part of me knew between the wild nights that I was not in the right and that there was more to life. So I continued researching up until the day I left for summer vacation. This time, I researched so privately not even my closest friends knew what I was doing. I never returned to Stevenson after that year.

            After returning home, the fighting with my parents continued.. Looking back, I knew I was the one in the wrong and they only wanted what was best for me, but I didn't care. I wanted to do what I wanted when I wanted. I wanted to be a man. I moved out of their house summer and in with my grandparents. I was 22, working a horrible window sales job. I had no real direction.. I had no idea how to become a cop or the route to take. That summer changed me. I went through many trials that summer with friends and family, which led me to the September when I finally admitted enough was enough.

            I called my old friend Desiree and told her I wanted to know about her church. What began as simple curiosity became an urgent desire to  personally know this church.

            To help me learn she invited me to the temple on 495. I remember feeling as we walked the around the grounds and went into the visitor’s center that I had been there before. In the visitor’s center I was surrounded by answers and surrounded by this church that I had been curious about since I was a little boy I was so happy to be there.

            A few weeks later she invited to her house to watch a huge conference being broadcast all over the world. I remember listening to the words of the leaders of the church. Each word sank deep into heart. I had given up fear\ and let in desire. I was ready to make a change in my life. That night I got home and downloaded every Latter Day Saint app there was onto my phone, and continued researching until I met with the missionaries from my congregation here in Odenton. Their lessons were so beautiful and relieving. It was an escape. Eventually after going to church and meeting life long friends, and learning more. I was eventually baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on October 30^th 2011.  I finally knew why that church in my childhood commercials was so special

            Two years later my life has dramatically changed, I have direction, faith and overall the peace I had been longing for my whole life.. My curiosity still exists, but I now know where the answers lie. Despite the challenges I wouldn't change a step of the journey for anything. It’s made me who I am today! It wasn't easy, but I know now that the Lord had better plans for me. It has been an amazing ride, that’s far from over. Over the last four years, I know Heavenly Father directed me through the paths of life to reach the stage I am at right now. I have a true and honest faith in Christ and the Lord, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I know this church to be true, and I know the trials I faced were necessary for my development as a man.  

The Artist- 

If you'd like to know more about my faith or have any questions, check out these websites 

Lds.org

Mormon.org 

Give peace a try

So I was discussing this with two of my friends concerning an issue at work. Simple situation of a co worker that likes to ride me about my beliefs...  

Simply put I've been having a tough time dealing with it. Now naturally I'm a very emotional and passionate person. My first thought is to lash out. But then logic kicks in and tells me "chill out bro!" So anyways during these conversations, on discussing how to deal with it, I came to one conclusion against all my primal instincts... Attack with love... 

Now like mostly every neuron in my body is up in arms over the notion to love someone who's been giving you crap for the better part of four months! But then I think about my background... 

I'm a black Mormon! Both sides of those fences come from fierce trials, persecutions, and injustices. The same goes on in these modern days to some degree! 

So my point is I look back on both groups... For example, my African American heritage is filled with leaders much like Martin Luther King jr. Who stood for peace as a means for change. It's quite plausible to believe he could've called for uprisings and riots as a means to avenge, savage bombings on churches, people being hung, and the brutality that existed back then, but no! He stood for peace, to change a very volatile and confused world. Writing this blog post for all of you is a micro result of that peaceful movement! 

Then I go to the Mormon inside of me. In the 1800s these were a people chased from town to town! People were tarred and feathered, Children killed, families displaced and all because people didn't believe what they believed. Now the pioneers and by the sheer growth of the church, could've taken arms and legit done the same. But they didn't. Outside maybe a few altercations, they remained peaceful and faithful! I think if history had been different and the pioneers had been violent then I don't know how glorious the image and the history of the church I love so much would've been! 

So I bring if back to 2014! Today all of us throughout the world are persecuted in one way or another! Lets try love. Lets try peace. Lets forgive those who trespass against us. This world we live in is ever changing! Lets go against the norm of negativity, and discord, and try peace and love for a change! 

The artist-  

Final name change!!!!!

Ok friends, this is the final name change for a very long time! It was getting out of hand my friends making the confusion between "the watchtower" a publication by the Jehovah's witnesses. 

So from here on out my blog will be known as "All Along The Watchtower", which is based on the song by the late Jimi Hendrix. Which was the original inspiration for me titling this blog "the Watchtower"... 

You're welcome Stacey, Ryan  and Jason! 

Any who, stay chill and have a great day! 

The Artist 

What in the world

So I'm sitting in class here nervous because a complete stranger is reading my conversion story I decided to write for a class assignment. Which now I feel stupid as I think about it! I share my conversion and my personal stories with all of you, and never have a care in the world. Maybe the difference is, for a good part of this audience, I've never met you nor will I ever have the privilege.

The thing is I was totally planning on posting the story online in the next few days. So there's no reason to be nervous.

Well there's my random rant, hope everyone is enjoying the week. If you're like me stuck under this polar vortex or whatever it is, stay warm friends!

Take care...

The Artist-

One by one....

Well ladies and gentlemen, the team's coming together!! This is exciting news! 

Jason R, one of my best friends will be the first one joining the team as primarily a sports analyst and co-team leader! He'll also be writing other stuff!  This is really exciting news! 

Look for a profile post on him in the very near future!! 

Get ready for 2014...

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Years!! 

The Artist-