Someone once said writing is like driving at night. The headlights illuminate a limited distance, but you can make the whole trip that way.

My journey into writing began in that fashion. God provided light for the “next step.” He prodded me with signposts, advancing me little by little. Though slow on the uptake, I realize now that finding purpose usually involves years of preparation. Here’s how it happened to me.

One day, over 25 years ago, I could barely address an envelope—a troubling realization. Tiny muscles in my hand simply froze, and I couldn’t move the pen. Fearing it was symptomatic of something far worse, I went to two different neurologists. Both came up with a condition known as, “Writers Cramp.” While that term is used interchangeably with “Writer’s Block,” it’s not the same. Writer’s Cramp is a medical anomaly that’s physical, not mental. And, it’s not from overuse like Carpal Tunnel. In fact, they don’t understand what causes it, and no known case has ever improved.

In a way, I felt relieved. The major motor muscles in my hand still worked. I could play piano and type. Other people coped with worse disabilities. Mine seemed relatively benign.

Then…Continue reading