“Order means light and peace, inward liberty and free command over one’s self; order is power.” – Henri Frédéric Amiel

I have always observed that I work more productively in a well-designed and well-maintained space. It was true for me as an exceptional education teacher, where I spent a lot of time tweaking the ergonomics of my classroom. And it is still true as a writer – even though I often let my study and my desk get away from me.

The focused work Rebekah and I have put in preparing for Christmas has me almost back on track again. I am getting carried along by the wave of cleaning and organizing and – as added incentive – my study is a “reception” room right off the front hallway so it’s front and center for anyone coming in the door.

So now I get to be creative at my fairly clear desk and with a backdrop of lights.

It has taken several months of trial and error, but my study is essentially done. And, much like there are always songs waiting for me inside a new instrument, this space is not too many weeks away from yielding its first book.

But there is a fine balance at play. While it’s hard to concentrate on my work in the middle of too much clutter, I don’t feel creative in a sterile environment either. So there are books and mementos and more crowded onto my shelves, books I’m in the middle of reading perched on various surfaces, guitars out and ready to use, notes for Bible study always in process. The space is hardly pristine.

But it is my space. I think our ultimate goal as we have restored this old house is that our home tells our story.

I understand that life is not about the stuff we accumulate and surround ourselves with, in houses that are ultimately vulnerable to storms and fires and floods, but I sure have fallen in love with this one.

And that, in the final analysis, is all that this blog is about. This is the place where my day to day life finds its voice.

Read my work for a while and I hope that – like hanging around at our house – you get to know me a little bit.

And also, I hope this blog challenges you to explore your own story – and to see where it fits into the Greatest Story Ever Told. Peace – DEREK