Comments on: Merry Christmas

By: Dano

Dano — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:33:55 +0000

Just finished reading it. Took me four days. Finished new years eve at work. My new years resolution is to make a better story. Great read. All I’ve been talking about in the last week.

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:34:54 +0000

First, praying peace over you and healing.

Second, I want to thank you for being a part of my journey and sharing A Million Miles with the world. I have read each of your books and was so excited when A Million Miles was published. I bought it, read it, read it again and promptly began to purchase copies for friends and family. It is a powerful, relateable book. Recently, I purchased A Million Miles on CD for my brother and he contacted me the other day to share how much it impacted him. It touched him far beyond what I had dared to hope… and I thank you because although I have no idea what will happen in my brother’s life, your words built something new onto a foundation that was laid in him and forgotten by him.

Wishing you a new year filled with growth and blessing…

By: tracey whitley

tracey whitley — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:43:59 +0000

don,
i just finished reading ‘million miles’ and you are amazing. i have read everything you have written and i cannot put your books down. they are amazing and they capture my heart in such a way that i can’t explain. thank you for what you do! you have now made my favorite book list longer. i teach 5th graders in east texas and mentor all day everyday. as i return to school at the end of this much needed restful break, i will be so refueled to love the orphans that i am priviledged to parent in the public school system, and to stay off the couch making memories and a greater story for them everyday.

By: Jessica McHugh

Jessica McHugh — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:30:15 +0000

Firstly, a Happy/Merry/Blessed Christmas to you and yours.
Secondly, my deepest condolences for the losses you and your dear ones have suffered. Though we may not know one another, we are indeed all related through the unifying blood of Christ, which makes us family. (This can be inconvenient, eh? Some Christians remind me of the Uncle we all have but no one likes to speak about…) Having said that, I have prayed a lot recently for the climbers, their families, their friends, and your friend in the ICU. I find myself praying often for people that I have never and may never meet. I can only hope that there is someone who is also out there doing the same for me.

This year, I have lost a marriage (and all of the accompanying family that is generally gained), a grandmother, an aunt, a brother, and a best friend. Not all through death, but their loss is felt just as deeply. It hurts. No matter how much I know of the peace that is available, or is to come, it still hurts. However, I have been comforted greatly by the love and encouragement of my Pastor/Father-figure and family. I’m thinking that’s why Solomon wrote that we are to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.

Here’s to a Happy New Year and a brighter tomorrow. Nothing beats the lyrics to my favorite hymn, “Be Thou My Vision:”

“Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.”

May you be as richly blessed as you have blessed, comforted, and enlightened those you may never know this side of eternity.
~ Jess

By: Korie

Korie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:59:47 +0000

Hey Don,
Sorry my other blog is stinkygreen.wordpress.com. Had a typo on your blog. It is super silly and just for fun. Not meant to be offensive in any way. Just an area to practice writing. I’m Italian and live in New Orleans, so I kinda let the language flow. Happy New Year!
Korie

By: Korie

Korie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:22:11 +0000

By: Lindsey Nobles

Lindsey Nobles — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:20:35 +0000

Merry Christmas Don. I hope you found peace, love, and joy this Christmas!

By: anne mccarthy

anne mccarthy — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:16:57 +0000

hi don,

this is belated, but i wanted to offer my sincerest of sympathies to you as you mourn the loss of your friends.

i never met david gentiles, but he was a wonderful pastor to friends of mine, and my memory of him through story will be one of kindness, silliness, joyfulness, and gentleness.

peace to you.

next time you’re in austin, i hope it is a happy occasion. i’ll buy you a cup of coffee at austin java. i’d love for you to meet my little girl.

By: steph

steph — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 06:45:00 +0000

lifting them up to Abba.

i don’t think there’s a way of putting this without sounding like a over-zealous fan, but i really appreciated some of the things you’ve expressed in your writing. God has used it as one of His instruments in His work in me. which i guess i’d find encouraging to know. so i’m passing it on.

catcha some day.

By: Don

Don — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:35:55 +0000

I started reading Million Miles yesterday as a Christmas present from my wife. Well, I’m half way through it and haven’t been able to put it down. Odd thing I’ve notice in reading autobiography is that I question whether the we truly define the work or does the work define us? I doubt whether anyone can truly write one with absolutely objectivity – autobiographies are always at best subjective, for we certainly cannot see ourselves as others do. Since our human nature forbids us to be absolutely transparent to others, even our spouses, true biography is equally a dubious and vain endeavor. I applaud Don for what I believe is his attempt at sincerity – something I believe I saw in Blue Like Jazz. So, is there going to be a movie or not? Inquiring minds need to know.

Whether or not transparency is your inspiration to write what you do the way you do, blessings on your continued work. Sorry to hear about your acquaintances’ Mt. Hood tragedy. What is the reaal story and what is to be learned?