The Cross in the Closet (29 page)

Mom, I love you. For teaching me how to read and write and encouraging me when I felt unable to continue. For your strength and grace, and your example throughout my life. For your love of others. Thank you. To my wife, whoever you are, I cannot wait to know you. You’ve been with me all of my life and I yearn for the day
us
happens. To the rest of my immediate family, thank you for putting up with me. God owes you a good bottle of wine, or maybe a nice vacation. I know it hasn’t been easy at times, but your love keeps me going. Andrew and Maren, thank you for giving me two little nephews to corrupt! I promise to teach both of them everything I know about beer, cigars, and the great subversives that are my heroes.

To Joshua, my “Jonathon,” my beloved friend: You have never let me down, never let me feel alone, and never allowed me to give up. You not only pushed me into this mess, you also dove right into it with me. Now it’s your turn. I dared ya.

To John Harrison, my dear brother and first reader when I had no publisher or tangible idea how this book might make it onto the shelves, your encouragement is the reason I kept writing. I love you, brother! To Connie, thank you for adopting me into your family. I never knew I could have a second family and I owe so much to you. Thank you for continually talking me off the proverbial ledge while I wrote this book, and thank you for encouraging me that my writing “isn’t terrible.” To my mentor, Chad Estes, I am so thankful for you. To Kari Sherwood, for being an ever vigilant friend and for taking me to Portland Zoo! I am so thankful for you. To Shawn, you are the most beautiful man on the planet. Your heart is pure gold, and your friendship is priceless to me. Thank you for loving me as much as you do. To Will, Shawn, Samantha, Mel, Jay, Becky, and every other person who taught me just how much bigger God’s grace really is. I dedicate this book to you.

To Dave, my dear friend at Bluehead Publishing, thank you for giving me my shot. You made a dream come true, and you fed positivity and peace into me all along the way. To my editors, Charity and Isaac, thank you for turning a mess into something readable, and for helping me name this book. To Burke and the team at Allen Media Strategies, thank you for the invaluable support you’ve given as publicists. And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the owners and baristas of my three favorite cafés: Anna Bannanas, First Cup Coffee House, and Satellite Coffee. I spent countless hours writing and editing my book in these three little shops. They caffeinated me and encouraged me while I wrote, and I would never be awake if it weren’t for them.

In June of 2012, I launched an Indiegogo crowd-sourcing campaign to fund the cost of my publicists, and in eleven days I reached my $8,000 goal. Not only did I reach it, but in the days to follow I surpassed it by almost $3000. People from all over the world stepped up financially to help me make this dream a reality, and to all of you from the United States, Australia, Ireland, Canada, and my angel from Wales, know that without you this road ahead of me would be a lot rockier. Thank you for your support and friendship.

Thank you
: Analiise Salo ~ Benjamin Ady ~ Bonnie ~ Cassandra Perry ~ Daniel Puneky ~ David Barford ~ Jeff Abarta ~ John Atkins ~ Justin Throneberry ~ Kaan Williams ~ Manuel Lara Bisch ~ Megan Elliott ~ Michael Kazarnowicz ~ Michael San Miguel ~ Perry Ross ~ Rick Koelz ~ Scott "Gringo" Blair ~ Zachary Nawar ~ Sally Conning ~ Adam Buckheit ~ Adrienne White ~ Alfred C. Schram ~ Alysn Ford ~ Antonio Michaelangelo D'souza ~ Aylynn Marsh ~ Bryce Anders ~ Buck ~ Bud Wilson ~ Candice Reich ~ Chad Estes ~ Colin ~ Cynthia Coe ~ Daniel West ~ Darryl Yong ~ Dave Thompson & Corrigan Gommenginger ~ David Calkins ~ Deirdre Milligan ~ Douglas C. Sloan ~ James Saliba ~ Jamye Swinford ~ Jason Heffernan ~ Jaymie Ford ~ Jeffrey Yasskin ~ Jenée Arthur ~ Jesus Segura ~ JoÌÇl Larose ~ Joanne Goldsmith ~ Joel Guenette ~ John Mink ~ Jonathon Sehon ~ Josef Ottosson ~ Josh Yochem ~ Julie Quinn ~ Kara Lien Roberts ~ Kurt O. Richards ~ Logan Carlton Marston ~ Luke Vierboom ~ Lynette Petkov ~ Maria Kettleson Anderson ~ Mario Raul Jara ~ Mark Savage ~ Marq Hwang ~ Martin Eldred ~ Mary Courtney Blake ~ Matthew Doran ~ Melisa Wilkes ~ Melita Caulfield ~ Michael Lawrence Schwartz ~ Mike Raven ~ Miss Sophie Hume ~ Morgan McColum ~ Nathan Scott ~ Nicole ~ Patrick Curtain ~ Paul Karlsen ~ Paul Kinney ~ Pete Cooper ~ Remco Douma ~ Renio Uittenbogaard ~ RF Conway ~ Rhiannon Michell ~ Rodney Vincent ~ Rowan Dax ~ Rowena Knill ~ Samuel E. Goodwin ~ Scott Johnson ~ Shawn Hurst ~ Shirley Ostrander ~ Sonja Lisk ~ Stephen Cruz ~ Suzanne Patt ~ Talayeh Saghatchian ~ Terry Clees ~ Thomas Bartels ~ Tom Jasinski ~ Tyson Gene Peveto ~ Roger Steven Smith ~ Sally Conning ~ Beth Kavanagh ~ Dan Bold ~ Deborah Perreau ~ Eric Brandt ~ Ian A. M. Robertson ~ Jeannette Aracri ~ Kevin Hudgins ~ Kirsti Reeve ~ Kristy McAllister ~ Leslie Johnson ~ Lisa M Campbell ~ Marie Linders ~ Matthew Billingsley ~ Natasha Roussel ~ Nathaniel Keifer-Wheals ~ Sally Conning ~ Suzanne M Wonder ~ Juliana Claro Mourisca ~ Conley & Kate Black ~ Peter Musser ~ Andrew Taylor ~ Brian T. Kelley ~ Elizabeth Chapin

Timothy Kurek, a Portland, Oregon based author and speaker is tackling some of the front burner issues of our day. His unrestrained style of immersion lends a uniquely empathetic perspective, engaging his audiences with empathy, humor, and refreshing candor.

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