I interviewed a most amazing individual named Carl James Joseph over the last few weeks, and wrote about him in Sunday's Blade (click here to read it).
James grew up Toledo but left in 1991 and has been walking around the world ever since -- through 47 states and 13 countries. He has no possessions except for a Bible, a rosary, and a toothbrush (good hygiene is important).
He wears a robe like Jesus wore. He has long brown hair, parted in the middle, and a beard. And he never wears shoes, even in the winter. He said he's not wearing a costume or pretending to be Jesus, he's just living as simply as possible and following in Jesus' footsteps.

Everywhere he goes, he preaches the Gospel. He relies on the largesse of strangers for food and shelter. And so far, after 16 years, God has provided for him. He has, however, developed knee problems from all that walking -- he can't even guess how many miles he's traveled.
I helped my oldest daughter move this weekend and to physically carry all that stuff, well, you realize anew the disparity between the normal American lifestyle and that of an ascetic evangelist and people in Third World nations. We accumulate so much ... and it's good and bad. I enjoy the luxuries and technologies of 21st century life. But I don't want them to interfere with the real meaning of life. Material things should complement our lives and not control them.
I am grateful for Tivo and surround sound and air conditioning and microwaves and wireless networking. They make things easy and provide a lot of comfort and pleasure. But I am more grateful for the gift of life. As Kurt Vonnegut once said, it's no surprise when somebody dies. It's more surprising that we continue to live. Our bodies are "fearfully and wondrously made," the Bible says. Every day is a miracle. An offbeat, cross-current preacher like James Joseph can help us to refocus our priorities.
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ROTARY TALK: I am looking forward to speaking at a luncheon this morning for the Toledo Rotary Club, at the Park Inn downtown. I've got my PowerPoint presentation and my outline all set to go.
I was warned that at least one Rotarian complained about having me as a speaker, saying it was "inappropriate" for the luncheon lecture. I sort of expected that and had planned to be careful in how I phrase things, as always.
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POSITIVE FEEDBACK: Most writers are artists -- sensitive souls who agonize over words and aspire to perfection. We are never quite satisfied and always want to push ourselves to the next level. But after 30 years, I have learned that rather than sweat blood in futile pursuit of perfection, you just have to let it go and move on. Do the absolute best you can do, of course, then don't fret and don't sweat the small stuff.
Negative comments can be learning experiences, and I've had my share, but it's always nice to hear positive feedback. I got one this weekend when my daughter, Dana, told me that a friend of hers was reading my book when someone, an avid reader, asked her what the book was about. She told him and then loaned it to him. Five days later, he returned with a note saying it was "the most mesmerizing book he's ever read," and that he was buying copies for friends and family. This from someone who had never heard of Father Robinson, never heard of the book, and knows nothing about Toledo. It proves again that my book can appeal to a broad, even global, audience.
That unknown reader's comments came at a perfect time -- when I was starting to feel a bit discouraged. It seems that God sends someone my way when I most need a pat on the back.
Toledo, Ohio, May 7, 2007