Earthblog

To all gentle ID readers and lurkers:

You may have wondered why I stopped blogging so suddenly a few months ago.  Well, it is like this:

For several years, an editor had been asking me to write a book on discerning charisms. On July 27, she contacted me once again.

I wrote back that while I sensed that now was indeed God’s time for me to focus on writing, I had just begun a book on an critical topic: parish-based evangelization. I explained that we (CSI) had been asked to give presentations in Rome during the Bishop’s Synod on the New Evangelization in October, 2012, and wanted the book to be available by then. But after that, I could begin a book for Our Sunday Visitor on discerning charisms.

At 6:30 am the very next morning, I received an urgent e-mail inquiry: “Do you have a publisher for the book on evangelization?” If not, OSV was very interested in publishing such a book and could get important projects out in a hurry. And by the way, the acquisitions team was meeting in a few hours, so could I get an outline to her in an hour? Needless to say, I spent the morning scrambling to refine the book outline and send it to the editor!

By 2pm, my editor called to tell me that the team was very enthusiastic, wanted to publish the book, and could have it out by June, 2012. All I had to do was get the manuscript in by January 10! I’ve been told by people in the industry that having such a major publisher make a decision this quickly is unheard of! This was one of those times when God so obviously opens a door that all you can do is say “yes” and walk right through.

My whole world revolved on its axis.  There went the rest of my summer and my fall.  As of today, I only have a little over 11 weeks left to finish a major book covering everything the Institute has learned over the past 14 years in calling Catholics to intentional discipleship!

Here’s where we could use your help. I was already scheduled to teach the usual deluge of workshops between Labor Day and Thanksgiving!  I am often on the road 70% of the time in the fall, but that sort of schedule would have made it impossible to finish the book on time.  So except for absolutely necessary trips, I have had to drop everything from my schedule. That has included events that would have brought in much-needed income for the Institute.

We need your generous financial help to make up the income that we will not earn through events because I’m chained to my computer. This is a huge opportunity for the Institute, one that will give our work a whole new level of visibility and credibility in the minds of pastoral leaders throughout the English speaking world—and with the Bishops attending the Synod in 2012.

Your year-end, tax deductable donation will ensure that we get through the crucial January 10 manuscript deadline ready and able to respond to all the amazing new opportunities that will open up because of the book.

If you have benefited from what you have read here on the blog or from one of our live events or formation resources, please consider prayerfully helping us at this critical time.  All  you have to do is click on the bright yellow button at the top right of our webpage that says Donate Now.

St. Catherine and St. Dominic will be very pleased and we will be most grateful!