“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
— Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

If you’ve ever put your heart into a project—a painting, a business, a song, a story—you know the feeling. The moment you have to finally let it go and hand it over to someone else for judgment. It’s terrifying. It’s exhilarating. It’s the moment of truth.

For me, that day is September 6th.

That’s the day the final reviews from my beta readers for Grateful Truce are due. This isn’t just a book to me. It’s 13 years of pain, struggle, redemption, and a hard-fought truce distilled into 200 pages. It’s my deepest failures and my most profound hope laid bare for others to see.

6 brave souls have the electronic book in their hands. Their words have made my cry, nod in agreement, and feel a sense of purpose I’ve never known. One is done and says it must be published. One has provided excellent feedback so far. And four… well, the silence from four making me patiently believe. Are they struggling with it? Did it hit too close to home? Or is life just getting in the way?

This process has been a microcosm of recovery itself:

• Vulnerability: Handing over your deepest truth.
• Trust: Believing that the feedback, even if critical, is for your ultimate good.
• Faith: Knowing that even if some don’t connect with it, the right people will.

On September 6th, based on their final thoughts, I will take the next terrifying step: sending query letters to five literary agents. This is the first massive step toward getting this message out of my hands and into the world.

I’m not asking for much. Just a chance to be heard. A chance to offer a third way to the millions who feel trapped between abstinence and relapse, AA failures and hitting another bottom.

So, if you have a moment of quiet on September 6th, say a prayer. Not just for me, but for everyone holding their breath, waiting for feedback, and hoping their labor of love was worth it.

This is the calm before the storm. And I’m ready to see what the weather brings.

— Chris
(Author, “Grateful Truce”)

Please like, share, and comment below: What’s a project you’ve put your heart into that made you feel completely vulnerable?