Thinking and Seeing for Better Being
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? Choosing Paul, Learning from Saul, and Letting Christ Live Where It Matters Most I used to treat the question, “Which historical figure would you like to meet?”, like party trivia. Pick your favorite:Jesus (gold-star answer),Lincoln (safe),Rumi (mystic points),Van Gogh (artistic flex),or Da... Continue Reading →
Daily writing promptWhat's something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.View all responses On Failure, Faith, and the God Who Gardens Our Losses The question sounds so clean, so full of promise:What would you attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail? It rolls off the tongue like courage, like freedom.But turn... Continue Reading →
Daily writing promptWhat would you do if you lost all your possessions?View all responses On Losing Grip, Finding What’s Left, and the Mess That Spills Out Once, not so long ago, I was poor enough that homelessness felt like it was pacing my porch. Creditors pounded as if they owned the hinges. Payday loans—devil’s candy—offered... Continue Reading →
What's the story behind your nickname? A count without a castle, learning to tend what matters They asked about nicknames. But some names are not just playful—they’re formative, false, or even holy. Sometimes names are less about thrones and more about thresholds. My name is Dean Graf. Dean means wooded valley.Graf means count—a land steward.... Continue Reading →
Daily writing promptHow do you express your gratitude?View all responses On Salmon, Firelight, and the Gifts We Don’t Earn The ferry dropped us here—with little gear, full hearts, and no real plan. The island would teach us what we needed. We didn’t set out to be minimalist prophets.We just wanted to make it to the... Continue Reading →
Daily writing promptHow important is spirituality in your life?View all responses When Thirst Is the Way Back Home How important is spirituality in my life?It’s not a podcast I play when I need to feel inspired.Not a Sunday box to check.Not a tool I keep on the shelf, waiting for things to fall apart. It’s... Continue Reading →
Daily writing promptDo you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?View all responses A Vision of Silence, Sandals, and Something Greater I collect quotes like rainwater.Some sink in. Some evaporate. Kierkegaard when I’m restless.Rumi when I’m cracked open.Lao Tzu when I need to breathe.Jesus—when I need to be. But I’ve... Continue Reading →
Living from the Inside Out: Why I Might Write a Book (Because I Clearly Need It) Life is Messy Let’s be honest: I need this book as much as anyone. Maybe more. Living from the inside out—by faith, by Christ’s wisdom, by something other than my own chaotic thoughts—is hard. Especially in a world that... Continue Reading →
Stop Thrashing. Start Trusting. A Lesson in Letting Go, Abiding in Christ, and Not Drowning in Effort The Riptide Lesson I’ve never been caught in a riptide. But I’ve dreamed about it. More than once. And these are not peaceful, floating-on-my-back, enjoying-the-waves kinds of dreams. No, in these dreams, I’m in deep water. Too deep.... Continue Reading →
Forming 2.0 