Stardate 01.16.2026
Writer’s block can feel like being stuck in mud — or worse, sinking into quicksand with no clear way out. When it hits hard, fear whispers that the words may never come again. I know that feeling well.
There were three defining moments when Wilson showed up just when I needed help breaking free.
The first came while I was struggling to write Live Long and Prosper. I started that book before I had enough life material to support it. Chapter after chapter ended up in the trash. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t find the right ingredients to say it honestly.
That’s when Wilson appeared — unexpectedly — during a shift at my day job. When no one came forward to claim him, I asked permission to adopt him. That simple yes changed everything.
For nearly five years, Wilson and I traveled together. He became an unexpected invitation. Strangers would stop, smile, ask questions, and then — almost without fail — begin sharing their stories. Those conversations now live on in The Adventures of Castaway Wilson.
Something remarkable happened along the way. As Wilson’s story flowed, Live Long and Prosper came back to life. What once felt forced began to move like manna from heaven. The second book unlocked the first.
Then came the pandemic. The momentum stalled. And eventually, Wilson disappeared from my life altogether.
Until Ireland.
While my wife and I were on a pilgrimage, my friend Bob — walking ahead along a river — suddenly shouted,
“Michael, it’s Wilson!”
There, floating swiftly down the river, was a red volleyball heading out to sea.
I was stunned. What were the odds?
In that moment, clarity returned. What if I hadn’t really lost Wilson? What if the adventure continued — even without custody? As I watched him drift away, a new vision formed: a coloring book capturing all the places Wilson might be now.
Just like that, the block was gone.
Wilson is still with me — in spirit, in story, and soon on the page again. Where in the World Is Wilson? will be the third project launched on St. Patrick’s Day, my favorite day of the year.
I tip my hat to Helen M. Swearson, the artist who arrived at exactly the right time and helped bring Wilson’s new journey to life — all for the children at our local hospital.
The wait is almost over.
📖 Scripture
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”
— Ephesians 3:20
🖖 Captain’s Addendum
Spock: “Fascinating. It appears creativity thrives when control is relinquished.”
Bones: “You mean when the universe stops arguing and starts cooperating.”
Michael’s Reflection:
Looking back, I see that every time I tried to force the story, it stalled. When I trusted the journey instead, the words found me. Wilson didn’t just help me write — he reminded me to stay open to wonder.
🌱 Closing Reflection
Today, I’m grateful for the unexpected companions God places in our path — and for the gentle reminders that even when something drifts away, its purpose may just be beginning. May you notice the quiet invitations waiting for you today.
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