Soul Fuel
2019 by BGV Global Limited
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ePub Edition July 2019: ISBN 978-0-3104-5364-2
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Art direction: Jennifer Showalter Greenwalt
Interior design: Emily Ghattas
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A few special, great men and women have shaped my life and my
faith, and this book could not have happened without them.
First, many of the stories and anecdotes have come
from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, who have been kind,
loyal friends through so much of my journey.
Likewise, so much friendship and inspiration for the book
has come from my best buddy, Charlie Mackesy, who has
always lived with freedom, courage, and kindness.
To Jim Hawkins, whom I continue to do a daily reading
with every morning by email, and who is such a loyal,
fun, wise human being that I love very much.
And to Chris Stanley-Smith, who led me to faith as a
nervous, awkward, and struggling teenager. What an
incredible example of a man you have always been.
And finally to Shara and our three boys, who continue
to show me day by day how to do faith in action
with love, kindness, generosity, fun, and loyalty.
CONTENT
SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK ME about stuff Ive done. Theyll mention my reaching the top of Everest or surviving a jungle or crossing an oceanthings that they think are successes. But to me these are the least interesting part of my story. And the truth is that behind every summit, every award or achievement that makes it into a neat headline, there is a string of failures. My life is much more of a collection of struggles, doubts, and fears, some of which I overcome, some I dont.
A more relevant question might be, where does my strength come from?
The honest answer is that I often dont feel very strong. Life can be a battle. We all feel that from time to time. But any strength I do have seems to come in the quiet moments at the start of my day. It comes when I am on my own, on my knees. It comes from taking time to be still with God.
God. For many of us, thats a difficult word. So might be the words church or Father. To some they might even be painful or negative. But lets try to see beyond the words to the force behind them. That force is love. Lets remember that if our Creator really is who He says He is, then He is good. He is calling us home, in a way that is powerfully unique to each of us. Hes on our side, your side. He is holding out a hand, no matter how far we think weve fallen.
So God is love? I think so. I mean, that is all that Jesus ever wanted to share, isnt it? Love. The force He brought was goodness personified. This love is there to hold us, guide us, strengthen and rescue us. Its a power that I know I can turn to, however far away I feel.
I dont turn to God to be religious. In fact, I really battle with religion as such. It seems so divisive and full of rules. Both those things turn me off. Church often portrays itself as so neat and perfect. Life is neither of those things. I kneel simply because it is where I find strength. This book will reveal that. The whole notion of strength through weakness, connection through honesty, and power through humility is a journey, and I am not very far along the road. But I stay on it, as best I can, because my heart feels it is good.
Even with a lifetime of faith behind me, I find the journey hard. I often mess up. I find myself teetering on the edge more often than you would imagine. So for me, starting my day with God really helps. It is like food. Like good fuel for the soul.
Thats what Soul Fuel is about. Its the chance to share with you the kind of fuel I rely on every day to try to keep my life on track. Like a firesteel or a length of good rope, my faith is another essential in my arsenal for survival. But it is so much more. Its my backbone, the heart of it allthe greatest source of any strength I have.