Born Again

Born on a ship crossing the Atlantic, the narrator enters the world amid loss and constant motion. Raised by a fervent Methodist preacher whose sermons moved from town to town, he inherits both a sturdy physique and a fierce, stubborn spirit. The early chapters trace his childhood, marked by a tug‑of‑war with his father over truth, faith, and independence. As the boy grows, his father's paradoxical blend of scholarship and dogma shapes a restless yearning for travel and meaning.

The story opens with a simple yet striking act of compassion: a destitute man, after receiving a dime, chooses to give it to an even more wretched stranger instead of feeding himself. This moment, observed by the author, becomes a quiet tribute to unselfish love and sets the tone for a narrative that blends personal memoir with broader reflections on humanity. Listeners will follow his itinerant journey across America, encountering odd events and confronting the clash between learned doctrine and lived experience. The first act promises a thoughtful exploration of identity, resilience, and the quiet heroism found in everyday choices.