williamlobdell.com

This e-mail is from a dear friend who I don’t see enough. She also happens to be my favorite writer in America, which you’ll be able to see from her e-mail. She’s a major league talent. I know this is self-serving, and my dad instilled in me the notion of humility, but I can’t help it. This is exactly how I wished everyone experienced my book. This e-mail made it all worthwhile. Thanks, JF.

William,

Just finished your book last night.

First of all,

How healing and powerful that you masterfully and eloquently gave a voice to so many who have been hurt, victimized, shunned and kicked to the curb.

Did you have any idea when you were writing the story of your own journey that you would be validating and giving a voice to so many who did not have a voice? Or who in the attempt to have their voice be heard, be silenced. I am sure you can not imagine how far reaching that part of your story will be.

I want to say how I was struck again and again by the dichotomy of your journey - the doubt, confusion, questioning, disillusionment on the one hand, and the growth, new beginning, strengthening of your being on the other.

I was impressed that your accounts of the slime balls out there were as objective as possible, meaning, you let them hang themselves with their own ropes rather than rant and rave and getting your readers in a lather with passionate language, you simply stated what needed to be said and it spoke for itself, in a more powerful way. I loved hearing your feelings wearing the different hats you wear, experiencing this all as a: Christian, Father, Husband, Journalist, and finally a compassionate and admittadly not perfect human being. Because you let your reader in on more than just the Journalist William, you have more approachability, more credibility with your readers. We could be you and you could be one of us.

Part of me knows it may not make a difference - today. But how powerful to know that you can provide such detail and so many facts and perhaps have a hand in diminishing the power these people hold over so many. Perhaps you can open the eyes of some.  The whole thing is so messed up, messy, and confusing. Most of us can say the Catholic Church is corrupt, TBN is corrupt, but you gathered all the names, dates, and facts for us in one place. You let people’s real stories be heard with the utmost respect. And you help arm the layman with knowledge.

I love reading something that doesn’t just preach at me sentence after sentence. Hallelujah for the amount of question marks that were in your book. You allowed the reader to go through the questioning process with you - and - it wasn’t rushed, so as the reader, we were forced to think about those same questions. Rather than read your question and get the answer in the next sentence.
Could it be that a God who took a personal interest in me and the rest of humanity simply didn’t exist?” Followed by “I felt like I was quickly approaching a turning point in my life.”

As an aside I learned a lot about the career of a jounalist, those tid bits were extremely interesting to me. Although not the main part of the story, very interesting hearing how the media is percieved and received in different circles. I loved how you let us come into the newsroom with you and be a fly on the wall with little conversations that took place before the big stuff broke.

Great chapter on Hell by the way. Growing up Jewish, I remember my friend told me if I didn’t go to confession or believe in Jesus I would go to hell. The funny thing is she remembered saying it and as an adult brought it up and apologized to me. We laughed about it and I assured her it wasn’t the only time. Obviously, even as a kid, the thought of my entire family going to hell was so absurd.

I have never been able to connect with a traditional God. When people bow their heads in prayer, I always feel a little out of place and with my head bowed, I end up keeping my eyes open, peeking around and spending my time wondering what other people are praying about, because I just feel like I am trying to have a fake conversation with no one at the other end. I do tell myself to think positive thoughts or concentrate on what I am grateful for, but I just kind of send the vibes into the universe than speak to a fatherly figure. Like your prayer breaks on your run with Hugh, I was laughing at the “I was talking to myself and felt stupid doing it.” on page 202.  I have emphisized the big picture in all aspects of Judiasm for my kids.  Passover - I tell the story and tell my kids each year in houses all over the world, Brazil, England, Israel, France… people are doing a seder and telling the same story. We are connected through that tradition and should be proud of it. But I do not emphasize the God thing. In the telling of the story I always remind my kids it is about being grateful for freedom while remembering that so many are still not free. Do I even need God for that story and that lesson? Am I less of a Jew? Less of a person?

My warm fuzzies from a Jewish Childhood were about being at Grandma’s house of Passover with the whole family. The Matzah, the gefelte fish, the four questions and playing with my cousins. God was not the memory. Family, and tradition was the memory. And so it was with all the “religious” events in my life. Dancing the hora, lighting the menorah, listening once a year to the Rabbi blow the shofar.  Even the Hebrew prayers, the blessings over the wine and bread were just familiar blurbs like saying “Jack be Nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jumped over the candle stick.” before tearing into the challah. Nothing to do with God for me. But being Jewish gave me an identity, a road map for giving my children traditions and that is what I hope to impart to them. Matt says making pancakes every Sunday is tradition. Ok, I digress and I am sorry, I imagine everyone now feels the need to share a part of their religious journey with you. You have kind of given all of us a sense that our feelings, no matter how weird they may be, are safe with you.

So back to your book now,

Great writing style - direct, honest, easy to follow, down to earth and at times humorous. And as I said earlier, your writing, like your personality is very approachable. Love the Mark Twain, C.S. Lewis, James Joyce and other quotes you used and where you used them.

Reading your book is like hanging out on the couch and having you share your story with chips and salsa and a box of kleenex on the coffee table. The kind of conversation, where  intimate subject matter is shared openly with a trusted friend. Like this:  I might say in response to your acount of becoming born again: “I’ve always wondered what goes through people’s heads when they are actually accepting Christ as their savior ” dip another chip into salsa,  insert another chip into mouth, chew, swallow. Listen more. Followed later with… “He didn’t even acknowledge the photo album or help him with the school project? Pass the kleenex.” Wipe tear.

In other words, you covered the full range.

By the way, Matt enjoyed your book as well! As you know he is a former Catholic and now an unapologetic Atheist. He always says, “Why does a religion have to claim ownership of human tennants?”  Hey have you ever thought of speaking for the Ayn Rand institue in Irvine. The head guy there is so cool, I’ve heard him speak before. It just reminded me because Matt is a big Ayn Rand fan.

Well you did it! The book was everything I knew it would be and more. I am so proud to say I know you. You have helped me more than anyone in believing in myself as a writer.

Your biggest fan and neighbor on “this unexplored shore.”