SHINY Shadows: Facing Fears, Forging Light – My Quirky ‘SHINY’ Blueprint After 13 Years of Keeping It Secret-Keeping Me Safe
Something’s coming. Oh, something’s coming—don’t you want in?
The future’s barreling toward us, loaded with its own demands… but He’s got bigger plans.
The future. Are you ready?
Many will throw mocks and laughs my way (and hey, I’m totally ok with that) at what I’m unveiling right now: my quirky blueprint, “SHINY: It’s a Way of Living”—the first time this white paper’s ever been fully published. It’s here. https://www.shinyyou.us/shiny-blueprint
As I weighed the roads ahead, I turned the lens on myself—like Sherlock Holmes himself, magnifying glass in hand, probing every shadow. The question that cut through the fog was unavoidable: What do you fear?
My answer came swift and unsparing: two shadows loom largest. First, a world where I’d be muzzled—barred from voicing my thoughts, my perspectives, my devotion to the King of kings, Lord of lords, my Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Second, the deeper cut: deliberate deception. It’s all too easy to swallow lies in this fractured age, to become both victim and vector, unwittingly wielding falsehoods against the innocent. So I anchor in God alone—and with everyone else? I’ve learned to proceed with caution.
Here we are, 13+ years have passed since my daughter’s tragic and unexpected death in a car crash. That devastating loss set me on a long, hard road filled with profound changes—many of them immensely painful-some of the bumpy roads self-inflicted but not avoidable.
In the years since, I’ve devoted an enormous amount of time each day to observing the movements of my own mind. I’m deeply grateful that I haven’t always liked what I’ve seen, as those uncomfortable truths have fueled true, lasting, and deep personal growth. I’ve studied history, the Bible, culture, and politics more intensely in these past 13 years than in my previous 37 combined. Through it all—evaluating my fears, confronting my flaws—I’ve become unrelenting in my commitment to combat evil wherever and whenever I encounter it, all while pointing others toward the Light of the world.
I’ve resolved to walk each day with utmost determination, refusing to be used for evil purposes. I know I have been in the past, and I could be again—when we’re honest, we’ve all been instruments of harm at some point. I’ve been wildly imperfect, but I have grown.
In these 13 years, I’ve read nearly 100 books, created my ‘quirky’ SHINY blueprint, created my own character named “Echo” and written short stories about him (perhaps someday I’ll publish them or turn them into an audio drama). I’ve taken several courses, driven over one million miles, flown more than 850,000 miles, and—despite swearing I’d never have another dog—now share my home with several.
I’ve set foot in 47 states across the USA and 7 countries, taken hundreds of Uber and Lyft rides, ridden a few trains, met over a dozen celebrities on planes, trains, and automobiles, (hahaha) and even sat next to and conversed with players from the WNBA, NBA, NFL, and NHL.
I’ve stayed at hundreds of hotels, met and spoken face-to-face with several influential leaders, conversed with dozens of people from all walks of life, and personally been on stage hundreds of times and delivered messages of love, hope, strength, courage, and compassion to hundreds of thousands.
I share this not to impress, but as a man who has observed the minds of many. These experiences have made it easier to examine my own mind—its flaws and strengths, the areas needing improvement and those that have already evolved, as well as its vast capacity for achievement and growth. I’ve genuinely tried to be better and grow, I say that with humble sincerity.
One area I need to refocus on is sharing my experiences and perspectives more openly. Are they unique? Probably not. Do they reflect what’s really happening in your life and your neighbors’? Perhaps!
I’ve never felt such a strong pull as I do now to share some of the deepest thoughts, emotions, and moments from my journey.
To those who choose to mock or criticize my thoughts and perspectives: (constructive criticism and good-faith conversations excluded), if my dogs aren’t excited to see you when you knock on my door, your words hold no weight in my world. If they’re not happy to greet you, it means you don’t know me personally at all—and you hold no power here. Follow and be part of the SHINY movement here www.shinyyou.us
