Clifford Wendell

Clifford Wendell was a most unusual boy for his age. He did notengage in life physically in team sports or clubs; instead, he was like abenevolent editor of a great, unfinished book. He loved to read, and hetreated it much like a sport. He would immerse himself so deeply intothe story that he would inhabit the life of the main character and fly offacross the oceans, into space, or journey to the desert. He wastransformed by the adventures in each book.As time went on, his imagination grew and invented originalstories that carried him to any realm and allowed him to experience lifefrom any point of view, age, or character. One day he would be visitingLawrence of Arabia, and on another, he would follow Neil Armstrong tothe moon and beyond. Throughout his travels, Clifford had become asamurai warrior, a secret agent, a pilot, and a racecar driver simply bycalling upon the blended memories of a hundred adventure stories. Heloved to fancy every imaginable situation, and when he did, he becamehis own great hero—daydreamer extraordinaire.Clifford spent many hours watching and observing people andnoticed an odd disconnect between who they wanted to be and whothey actually were. Responsibility had dulled their inner spirits. Hewas saddened by the struggles and obligations that prevented thesepeople from time at play. He could not understand why people did notmake a greater effort to live a more playful life, imagining any lifethey wished to live and then living it.Clifford wanted to achieve two important goals more thananything. First he wanted to see space—but not just see it—touch it,swim in it, and speed through it to discover other worlds. Second, hewanted to fill the pages of his own book with his own adventures.Clifford must have had 30 or 40 single-page drafts, each the start of hisnew creation, but mostly unused modified versions of the original. Itwas only a matter of time before his own 14 years of life would unfoldone word at a time onto the pages of a riveting book for his adoringfans. He fantasized about owning a bookstore where he could sellsigned copies. He could even picture his book standing upright andnestled against the others in the library with his name emblazoned onthe spine in gold letters. If only he knew what was inside those pages.So taken was he with the idea of writing a book that wouldchange the world, he committed himself to the goal. Changing theworld may be difficult, but his world would never be the same. Hewould write his book, but it would contain far more than his storyalone. He would include the stories of hundreds of characters and ahundred adventures. It would become the greatest story ever told andwould span the lives of every would-be dreamer that ever knewClifford Wendell.However, this story is my story—my testament to one of therichest imaginations I have ever known. I am the Princess ofMozambia, and this is a story about my friend (whom I loved), whoawakened the dreams of countless others. He inspired me to believe inthe fastidious nature of the perfect dream where our stories, ourdreams, and our adventures are brought together—blended just right—so we can celebrate our lives and be joyful recipients of God’s endlesslove. With it, we must love our neighbor, love ourselves, and dare tokeep our dreams alive. Get to know Clifford Wendell as I have knownhim, and your next adventure may be more real than you everexpected. Perhaps your story will become the greatest story ever told.