Naked in Hastings

Not much ever happens in West Michigan, but today this item in the Grand Rapids Press caught my attention. Just this morning I was writing about the Prophet Isaiah who, on orders from God, went naked for three years in order to draw attention to the evil world. Back then, however, law enforcement was a bit more lax.

A Hastings man attracted attention of horn-honking motorists as he disrobed on an afternoon stroll. By the time he got to Hastings Library, he was naked. Police received several calls just before 4 p.m. Monday about a naked man walking on East State Street. “When Hastings police officers arrived, there were several cars behind him honking their horns since he was, indeed, naked,” Police Chief Jerry Sarver said. The explanation: “He told police . . . God wanted us all to be peaceful and that this world was an evil place.” Police arrested the 42-year-old man for indecent exposure.

Writing Mode--writing grind

For the past month I've been averaging more than a thousand words a day---part of the process of fulfilling another book contract. I go into "writing mode" with that kind of daily word count for every book I write and it never gets any easier. Some people set aside 6-8 specified hours a day; I can't do that with my short attention span, but I force myself to write words throughout the day.


The schedule doesn't mean we don't have fun. The other night we were out biking, hiking and kayaking and about 10 days ago got away for two nights (computer in tow). We went north along Michigan's beautiful shoreline and stayed near Petosky in Bayview, an educational community owned by the Methodist church, founded in the late nineteenth century. The beautiful Victorian homes are part of the draw.  We stayed "on campus" at the old Terrace Inn shown above. Below is an old Victorian house.

Summer's over and I feel a sense of sadness--more than that, heaviness of heart. Not because of the passing of the season. I love autumn, and everything is going almost too well for John and me, the writing and the business. But just this week I've learned of very unfortunate situations among friends and family, three former students among them, dear ones, whose lives are messed up and relationships are in deep trouble. Only weeks ago I was feeling on top the world---no longer.