Several years ago, I got an idea for a story. I scribbled it down quickly, and then put it aside. I went back to it a few times, but just couldn’t figure out how to make it work. Fast forward to earlier this year: My husband approached me and said that he felt that it was really important, and worth finishing, so I picked it up and tried again.
I worked for a long time, but couldn’t do it. Finally, I prayed to ask God to help me. I was sitting at the keyboard, and after the prayer, I raised my eyes to the monitor. It was like I suddenly put a pair of glasses on and what had been blurry became clear. I saw my way forward; I realized what the story needed, and I started to rewrite in earnest. What I had started as an act of obedience became almost an obsession, and I wrote until late in the night.
Several weeks later, the story, which I had previously titled “The Dump,” was finished. I asked my friend, Ashley, to proofread it for me, and she made some wonderful suggestions, which I adopted. Over time, I continued to change it, as I re-read it and got new insights. Eventually, I cut it off and let it go. They say paintings are never really finished, only abandoned, and that is a good way to describe how this felt. I knew God wanted me to get it out there and stop polishing it, so I did.
To date, we have given away more than a hundred copies, and I feel like it’s time offer it to a broader audience. So at the bottom of this post will be a link, and you can download the story to read or to print. (The first is a file for reading, and the other is a PDF that will print as a digest-sized book.)
If you are one of those who have already received a physical copy of The Courage to Move and would like to print more copies, then the book version is for you. You can take that file right to the printers and make copies, or print it on your own home printer. You will need a “saddle-stapler” to staple the pages together, though.
If you have never read the story, the first version is for reading. You can print that one out, too, of course. The book version is not “readable,” in that it is set up to print as a book; the only consecutive pages are in the middle.
I have retained copyright, but for now will offer it free to whomever wants it for personal use, or to give away to a friend.
The conditions for this free use are 1) The format (text and illustrations/cover) of the document is not be changed in any way and 2) It is to be given away, not sold.
What’s it about? It is hard to describe. It is a story about redemption, betrayal, and ultimately, hope. It’s an extended metaphor, but it stands on its own. It takes place in a city dump, and the main characters are the homeless men who live there. They meet someone who has the power to change everything for them, but they have to trust him first. It is a little bit mystery, a little bit love story, and a little bit drama. It is suspenseful, yet fit for a general audience.
I pray it blesses you, and if it does, give it away to someone who needs it.
Download if you want to print it as a book:
Now in an audiobook!
This file contains the audiobook version of The Courage to Move with the “Afterword.”
About the audiobook: It’s all Tony. He has a way of bringing out the feelings in the story, and of giving the characters a 3D reality. I hope you get even more out of the story when you hear him read it!
The intro saxophone is played by Tony, as is the keyboard ending music. (Our piano needs repair!) The tune comes from the little-known hymn, “Who Could It Be,” written in 1907 by Fred P. Morris; the waltz tune was composed by Robert Harkness, (who composed 2500 hymn tunes!)
We were looking for music, so I began looking through Tony’s collection of old hymn books.
I was drawn to the lyrics of the song, but it was a difficult song to play because of all the sharps and flats. I couldn’t find it on YouTube, but finally found a .midi file on Hymnary.org. It was technically “perfect,” but as a midi, it was soul-less, and I wasn’t sure we should even use the hymn.
Finally, Tony pulled out his saxophone and played the first line, really slowly, and I knew that was it. Played slowly, it shows the sadness and despair of life without God. Played like it’s written, as a lilting waltz, it is triumphant!
But most of all, the lyrics say something subtle that we don’t hear much: Jesus is not only the One who lifts us, unexpectedly, from wherever we are suffering; but He is the only One who could, and the only One who would. God is the only One who has enough love for the unlovely. He recognizes, in us, the invisible beauty He made in us, for we were made in His image! What could be more beautiful? He has the power to renew us, to establish us, and only He can lift us up!
If you want to listen to this little song, I went out on a limb and recorded a version of myself singing it. It’s not perfect, but I know you’ll get the feeling of what it’s like to dance in your heart over the goodness of God after you hear it. And if you laugh, then that’s a bonus for you!
Download your free copy of The Courage to Move audiobook below:
Download the hymn “Who Could It Be?” sung by Carolyn Fuller, (recorded on a cell phone!)
The Fullers Four 
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