Looking Back, I Can See the Connections
Author Steve Hartwig during an interview with The Nica Guy, Vladimir Alonso, at ViaVia León, reflecting on how seemingly unrelated experiences can become part of a larger story.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 📖 Romans 8:28
When I first arrived in Nicaragua, I could not have imagined the path that lay ahead.
I came seeking a place to retire. I was looking for a warmer climate, a slower pace of life, and a place where I could live comfortably. Writing books was not part of the plan. Neither was becoming involved in the local skateboarding community.
Yet over the years, small connections began to form.
I met young skaters in León. I listened to their stories. I watched their creativity, determination, and friendships. What began as simple conversations gradually gave me a deeper appreciation for a community I had barely noticed before.
Those experiences eventually inspired Ride The Fire, a novel set in León and shaped by many of the people and places I had come to know.
Even then, I did not see where the story was leading.
Recently, copies of the book arrived in Nicaragua. Through ViaVia León, I had the opportunity to meet again with Cristian, Edgard, and Marco—three skaters whose passion for skateboarding continues to inspire the next generation. Sitting together, signing books, and watching them flip through the pages was a moment I never could have predicted years ago.
Not long before that, I sat down with Vladimir from ViaVia for an interview about the book, León, and the stories behind it. That conversation opened another unexpected door and introduced the project to people far beyond the skatepark.
Looking back, I can see how many seemingly unrelated events were quietly connected.
A move to Nicaragua.
A friendship.
A conversation.
A skate session.
A book.
An interview.
A new opportunity.
At the time, each one felt small. Together, they became part of a much larger story.
Perhaps that is one of the ways God works in our lives. We often want to see the entire picture from the beginning, but more often He asks us to trust Him one step at a time. Only later do we begin to recognize how the pieces fit together.
Today, I can look back and see connections that were invisible to me years ago.
And I suspect there are still connections being formed that I cannot yet see.
God is still writing the story.
👉 Explore the books here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
Small Opportunities Can Lead Somewhere Unexpected
Steve Hartwig sharing a meal with Bismarck and his family in León, Nicaragua, illustrating how simple friendships can grow into unexpected opportunities and lasting stories.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. 📖 Zechariah 4:10
Sometimes we wait for a big opportunity before taking action.
We imagine that meaningful change will arrive through something dramatic.
A major decision.
A life-changing event.
A door that swings wide open.
But many of life's most significant opportunities begin in much smaller ways.
A conversation.
An introduction.
A simple act of kindness.
A willingness to take one small step.
Looking back, I can see many moments that seemed ordinary at the time but eventually led somewhere unexpected.
At first, they appeared insignificant.
There was no indication that anything important was happening.
Yet God often works that way.
He frequently begins with small things.
A seed becomes a tree.
A friendship becomes a partnership.
A single opportunity opens the door to another.
And then another.
One step leads to the next.
Recently, I was reminded of this truth once again.
A simple conversation about one of my books eventually led to new connections and opportunities that I never anticipated.
Nothing about it seemed extraordinary in the beginning.
Yet it became another reminder that God is often working behind the scenes in ways we cannot yet see.
The challenge is that small beginnings are easy to overlook.
We may dismiss them because they do not seem important enough.
We may assume that nothing meaningful will come from them.
But God sees possibilities that we cannot.
What appears small today may become something much greater tomorrow.
That is why faith often requires us to take the next step before we understand where the path is leading.
We are not responsible for seeing the entire journey.
We are only responsible for being faithful with the opportunity in front of us.
Perhaps there is a small opportunity in your life right now.
A conversation you need to have.
A door you need to walk through.
A step you have been hesitant to take.
It may seem insignificant.
But sometimes the smallest opportunities lead to the greatest surprises.
And sometimes God uses a simple beginning to accomplish something far beyond what we could have imagined.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
Sometimes God Gives Us More Than One Dream
Author Steve R. Hartwig pauses in León's central plaza, reflecting on how God expanded his plans far beyond what he originally imagined when moving to Nicaragua.
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
When I moved to Nicaragua, I came with a simple dream.
I wanted to enjoy retirement in a place with a warm climate, a lower cost of living, and a different culture from the one I had always known.
That was enough.
I wasn't looking for a new career.
I wasn't planning to write books.
I certainly wasn't imagining that one day I would become an author.
At the time, I was simply looking for a place to call home.
Looking back now, I can see that God had plans that stretched far beyond my own.
The dream I carried with me was real.
But it wasn't the whole story.
Over time, new opportunities appeared.
Some arrived through friendships.
Some through challenges.
Some through experiences I never could have anticipated.
What began as a retirement adventure eventually became something much more.
I discovered a love for writing.
Stories began to take shape.
One book led to another.
Then another.
Before long, I found myself doing something I had never once imagined for my future.
I had become an author.
One of the things I've learned is that God often gives us a dream that is large enough to take the first step, but not so large that we can see the entire journey.
If we could see everything ahead, we might become overwhelmed.
Instead, He reveals the path one step at a time.
What we think is the destination often turns out to be the beginning of something else.
That doesn't mean every dream changes.
But sometimes God takes a good dream and expands it into something greater than we imagined.
Not because our original dream was wrong.
But because His plans are bigger than our perspective.
I am grateful for the dream that brought me to Nicaragua.
But I am equally grateful for the dreams that appeared after I arrived.
The friendships.
The stories.
The books.
The opportunities to encourage others through writing.
None of those were part of my original plan.
Yet each has become a blessing.
Perhaps you can see something similar in your own life.
Maybe there was a goal, a decision, or a dream that started you on a particular path.
And maybe, along the way, God opened doors you never expected.
Sometimes He gives us exactly what we ask for.
And sometimes He gives us even more.
The first dream may be what starts the journey.
But it isn't always the last dream He has in store for us.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
The Journey Changed Me Too
Author Steve R. Hartwig and his dog Brandy sitting beside the Pacific Ocean at sunset, reflecting on how life's journey changes both the path and the traveler.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
📖 Romans 12:2
When I first arrived in Nicaragua, I thought I was simply beginning a new chapter in a new place.
I could not have imagined where that journey would eventually lead.
Over the years, I have written books, built friendships, explored communities, and discovered stories I never expected to tell.
I have met people from many different backgrounds.
Some became friends.
Some became part of my stories.
Some became part of my life.
Looking back, it is easy to focus on the places I visited and the experiences I had.
But there is another part of the story that is easy to overlook.
The journey changed me too.
Every meaningful experience leaves a mark on us.
Every friendship teaches us something.
Every challenge strengthens us.
Every act of kindness reminds us that we are not walking through life alone.
Even difficult seasons have a way of shaping who we become.
There were times when I felt uncertain about the future.
Times when doors seemed closed.
Times when I wondered what purpose certain experiences would ultimately serve.
Yet God continued to work through each season.
Not always dramatically.
Often quietly.
Patiently.
One step at a time.
Today, I can see that the greatest changes were not always happening around me.
Many of them were happening within me.
My perspective changed.
My understanding grew.
My appreciation for people deepened.
My faith became stronger.
The journey was never only about where I was going.
It was also about who I was becoming along the way.
That may be one of God's greatest gifts.
He does not simply lead us to new places.
He uses the journey itself to transform us.
And sometimes, when we pause long enough to reflect, we realize that the path behind us has shaped us in ways we never expected.
The destination matters.
But so does the person we become while traveling there.
Some Gifts Arrive Unexpectedly
Author Steve R. Hartwig with friend Ingrid in León, Nicaragua, reflecting on the unexpected friendships and relationships that have enriched his journey.
Every good and perfect gift is from above... 📖 James 1:17
When we think about gifts, we often imagine something we hoped for.
Something we expected.
Something we asked to receive.
But some of life's greatest gifts arrive differently.
They come disguised as experiences.
As friendships.
As opportunities we never planned to pursue.
As journeys we never intended to take.
If someone had described parts of my life today years ago, I probably would not have believed them.
I would not have imagined living in Nicaragua.
I would not have imagined the friendships that would grow here.
I would not have imagined writing stories inspired by people and experiences I had not yet encountered.
Yet many of those things have become meaningful gifts.
Not because they arrived exactly as I expected.
But because they arrived exactly when they were needed.
Sometimes God gives us what we ask for.
Other times He gives us something better than what we knew to ask for.
Something that stretches us.
Teaches us.
Changes us.
Often, we only recognize those gifts after enough time has passed to appreciate them.
Looking back, I can see many blessings that first appeared as ordinary moments.
A conversation.
An introduction.
A new friendship.
A chance encounter.
None of them looked like gifts at first.
But many of them became exactly that.
Perhaps that is one reason gratitude grows with perspective.
The longer we walk, the more clearly we can see the blessings that were quietly placed along the path.
Looking Back, I Can See It Now
Author reflecting on his journey in León, Nicaragua while watching young skateboarders in the central plaza near León Cathedral.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord... 📖 Jeremiah 29:11
There are seasons of life that only make sense in hindsight.
While we are living them, they often feel uncertain.
A decision here.
A conversation there.
An unexpected friendship.
A new opportunity that seems small at the time.
None of it appears connected.
At least not yet.
We try to understand where we are going.
We look for clear answers.
We want to see the entire road stretching out ahead of us.
But life rarely works that way.
More often, we are given only the next step.
And then the next.
And the next.
Looking back now, I can see how many moments I once considered ordinary eventually became important.
People entered my life at just the right time.
Doors opened when I wasn't expecting them.
Experiences that seemed unrelated slowly became part of a larger story.
I could not see it then.
But I can see parts of it now.
Not because I have all the answers.
But because distance has given me perspective.
That is one of the gifts of reflection.
It allows us to recognize God's hand in places where we once saw only uncertainty.
Perhaps that is why faith often requires trust before understanding.
We are not always meant to know the whole plan.
Sometimes we are simply asked to keep moving forward.
And then one day, we look back and realize that God was guiding us all along.
Sometimes God Opens Doors Quietly
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. — Revelation 3:8
We often expect important moments in life to arrive dramatically.
A sudden opportunity.
A clear answer.
A single moment where everything changes at once.
But many of the most meaningful doors in life do not open that way.
Sometimes they begin quietly.
Through ordinary conversations.
Unexpected introductions.
Small acts of kindness.
Moments that seem unimportant at the time.
Looking back, I can see many moments in León that felt small when they first happened.
Simple conversations.
People offering help.
Brief encounters that later became lasting connections.
At the time, none of them seemed especially significant.
But slowly, those moments began leading toward other moments.
One introduction led to another.
One friendship opened the door to another conversation.
One unexpected connection created opportunities I never could have planned myself.
And perhaps that is part of the beauty of faith.
We are not always meant to see the entire path ahead of us.
Sometimes God simply asks us to remain open,
to keep walking forward,
and to trust that He is quietly working through people and circumstances we may not fully understand yet.
Not every open door arrives with great attention.
Some open softly,
almost unnoticed at first.
And only later do we realize how much was waiting on the other side of them.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
The People Became Part of the Story
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. — Romans 12:10
When I first began writing about León, I mostly focused on the city itself.
The streets.
The atmosphere.
The old buildings.
The skate culture.
The rhythm of daily life.
At the beginning, it all felt observational—
as if I were standing slightly outside the story simply watching it unfold around me.
But over time, something changed.
The city itself was never really the whole story.
The people were.
Little by little, familiar faces became part of my daily routine.
A neighbor stopping to talk outside her doorway.
A skater waving as he passed downtown.
A shop owner remembering my name.
Small conversations that slowly turned into real friendships.
None of it happened quickly.
Most meaningful relationships rarely do.
They grow gradually through ordinary moments repeated over time.
And looking back now, I realize many of those people quietly shaped this journey far more than I understood at the beginning.
Not only the stories I write—
but my experience of León itself.
That is one of the things I love most about this city.
There is still space here for people to truly know one another.
Not simply pass by each other,
but become connected through daily life.
I think that is part of what makes a place begin to feel meaningful.
Not just the buildings or streets—
but the people attached to them.
And maybe that is also one of God’s quiet gifts.
Sometimes He teaches us through places.
And sometimes He teaches us through the people He places along our path within them.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
Some Paths Only Become Clear Later
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. — Proverbs 3:5–6
There are moments in life that only begin to make sense when we look back on them later.
At the time, they often feel ordinary.
Small conversations.
Unexpected delays.
Changes in direction we did not plan.
People crossing our path for reasons we do not yet understand.
When I first arrived in León, I thought I was simply beginning a new chapter of life in a different place.
I did not realize how many unseen connections were already quietly forming around me.
At first, most days felt simple.
Learning the rhythm of the city.
Walking familiar streets.
Watching the skaters downtown.
Having small conversations with neighbors and shop owners.
Nothing dramatic.
Just life unfolding one ordinary day at a time.
But over time, certain moments began connecting together in ways I never could have predicted earlier.
People I met casually became meaningful parts of my daily life.
Conversations I once thought were temporary began lasting for months and even years.
Places that once felt unfamiliar slowly started feeling like home.
And looking back now, I can see that many of those moments were quietly shaping a direction long before I understood where the path was leading.
I think faith often works that way.
We want clarity immediately.
We want to understand the purpose before taking the next step.
But many paths only become clear later—
after enough time has passed for us to finally recognize what God was doing all along.
Maybe that is why trust matters so much.
Because sometimes we are being guided even when everything still feels uncertain.
And sometimes the meaning of the journey only reveals itself little by little as we continue walking forward.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
The Story Kept Expanding
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine… — Ephesians 3:20
At first, I thought the story had boundaries.
I thought I understood what it was.
A few reflections.
A few observations.
A few moments worth remembering.
That was all I expected it to be.
But the strange thing about stories—
especially the meaningful ones—
is that they rarely stay small.
Because every conversation leads to another.
Every moment connects to something deeper.
And every time I thought I had reached the edge of the story…
something else appeared.
Another person.
Another memory.
Another reason to keep writing.
That’s what has surprised me most about León.
Not just the beauty of the city—
though there is plenty of that.
Not just the streets,
or the sunsets,
or the old colonial buildings.
But the way life here keeps unfolding through people.
Through conversations that weren’t planned.
Through friendships that developed slowly over time.
Through ordinary moments that somehow became meaningful later.
And the more I paid attention,
the more the story kept expanding.
What began as personal reflection slowly became connected to something larger.
To community.
To growth.
To purpose.
Even Ride The Fire began that way.
Not as some carefully calculated project.
But as something that gradually emerged from real experiences,
real conversations,
and real people here in León.
I think that’s why the story continues to grow.
Because it was never built only from imagination.
It was built from life.
And life rarely stays contained within the boundaries we first imagine for it.
Maybe that’s true for all of us.
Sometimes God is building something larger than we can yet see.
Not all at once.
But piece by piece.
Moment by moment.
Conversation by conversation.
Until one day,
we realize the story became far bigger than where it started.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
The City Started Feeling Familiar
The Lord watches over the foreigner… — Psalm 146:9
There was a time when everything here felt unfamiliar.
The streets.
The routines.
The sounds.
Even the pace of life itself.
At first, León felt like a place I was simply passing through.
A place I noticed—
but not yet a place I belonged within.
I remember how aware I was of being new.
Every conversation required effort.
Every routine felt temporary.
Even small things felt uncertain.
But little by little,
that began to change.
Not suddenly.
Quietly.
The streets that once felt unfamiliar became recognizable.
I started remembering which corner stores stayed open late.
Which parks filled with skaters near sunset.
Which streets became peaceful in the early morning light.
Faces became familiar too.
People who were once strangers slowly became part of everyday life.
And somewhere along the way,
León stopped feeling distant.
It started feeling lived in.
That realization surprised me.
Because belonging doesn’t always happen through one defining moment.
Sometimes it happens gradually—
through repetition,
through ordinary routines,
through simply continuing to show up.
And maybe that’s part of what grace looks like too.
Not forcing ourselves to immediately understand everything—
but allowing life,
people,
and place
to slowly become meaningful over time.
Now when I walk these streets,
they no longer feel like scenery.
They feel connected to the story.
Not just the story I’m writing—
but the story I’ve been living.
👉 Explore the books here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/books
website.com/booksRead this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
Some Things Take Time
There is a time for everything… — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Some things grow quietly.
So quietly, in fact,
that you do not realize how much they have changed until much later.
That is how this journey has felt.
Not sudden.
Not dramatic.
Just steady.
One conversation here.
One routine there.
Another familiar face.
Another walk through León.
At first, those moments felt disconnected.
Small.
Ordinary.
But over time,
they slowly began connecting themselves together.
And little by little…
something deeper started taking shape.
That is the strange thing about growth.
Most of it happens where we cannot immediately see it.
Not every important moment announces its arrival.
Some things unfold slowly—
through patience,
through repetition,
through simply continuing forward.
I think León has taught me that.
The city moves differently from the pace I once expected life to follow.
There is a rhythm here.
The morning light across old streets.
Shop owners opening their businesses.
Neighbors talking outside their homes.
Skaters practicing the same trick again and again.
Nothing rushed.
Just movement.
Persistence.
Time.
And maybe faith works that way too.
Not always through dramatic changes—
but through quiet formation over time.
Maybe purpose is not about instant clarity…
but about continuing faithfully long enough
to recognize what has been growing all along.
Because some things really do take time.
And perhaps that is exactly what makes them meaningful.
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
I Didn’t Stay Outside the Story
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. — Psalm 37:23
When I first started writing these reflections,
I thought I was simply observing life around me.
The streets.
The conversations.
The skateboarders.
The atmosphere of León.
I didn’t think I was stepping into anything.
I thought I was standing outside the story—
just watching it unfold.
But somewhere along the way,
that changed.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Without me really noticing it at first.
The more time I spent listening,
the more these moments stopped feeling distant.
The city stopped feeling temporary.
The conversations became personal.
The people became part of my daily life.
And without planning it,
their stories began shaping mine too.
That’s the part I didn’t expect.
I thought I was writing about León.
But León was also writing something into me.
Patience.
Perspective.
Direction.
A slower understanding of what matters.
Not through dramatic moments.
Just through ordinary life lived one day at a time.
A conversation on a bench.
A quiet walk through the city.
The sound of skateboards in the distance.
Moments that seemed small at first—
but stayed with me.
And now when I look back,
I realize something:
I never stayed outside the story.
At some point,
without realizing it,
I became part of it too.
And maybe that’s how many meaningful things happen.
Not all at once.
Not with a clear beginning.
But slowly…
through people,
places,
moments,
and the quiet direction of God along the way.
If you’d like to step into the story:
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
It Was Never Just About the Board
A quiet conversation in León, Nicaragua during golden hour — reflecting on skateboarding, life, and the stories that slowly take shape along the way.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7
At first, I thought the skateboard was the story.
That’s what caught my attention in the beginning.
The movement.
The balance.
The creativity.
The freedom.
Watching skaters in León felt different from anything I had seen before.
There was style in it.
Personality.
A kind of determination that didn’t need to announce itself.
And honestly… that’s probably where this whole journey began.
But over time,
something started changing.
The more conversations I had,
the more places I visited,
the more stories I heard—
the less it became about skateboarding itself.
And the more it became about people.
The skateboard was never really the center.
It was the doorway.
Behind it were friendships.
Struggles.
Growth.
Family.
Identity.
Young people trying to find direction.
Trying to build something.
Trying to become something.
And maybe that’s why these moments stayed with me.
Because underneath the surface,
there was always something deeper happening.
Something human.
Something real.
I didn’t understand that at first.
I only saw the board.
But now I see the stories around it.
And those stories slowly became part of my own.
What began as observation…
became connection.
And what felt like scattered moments…
are beginning to form something together.
Not just a book.
But a story about León.
About people.
About growth.
About finding direction one step at a time.
If you’d like to step into the story:
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Read this post in Spanish here: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog-espanol
👉 Nunca Fue Solo La Patineta
I Didn’t Notice It At First
The Lord will guide you always… — Isaiah 58:11
At the time, it didn’t seem important.
Just another moment.
Another conversation.
Another walk through León.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing that felt like the beginning of anything.
But looking back now…
I can see that something was already happening.
Not loudly.
Not obviously.
Quietly.
Certain places started staying with me longer than they used to.
A basketball court.
A street at sunset.
A conversation that should have been ordinary—
but somehow wasn’t.
At first, I didn’t understand why those moments kept returning to me.
Why they stayed in my thoughts.
Why they felt connected to something deeper.
I only knew they felt meaningful.
And maybe that’s how some things begin.
Not with certainty.
Not with clarity.
But with attention.
The more I paid attention,
the more I started noticing patterns.
The same ideas.
The same emotions.
The same sense that something was slowly unfolding beneath the surface.
Not everything all at once.
Just enough to keep moving forward.
And now I realize…
some of the things that shaped this journey never looked important in the moment.
They just looked ordinary.
Until they weren’t.
And maybe that’s part of how God works sometimes.
Not always through the dramatic.
But through the quiet moments we almost overlook.
The conversations.
The places.
The people.
The small things that slowly become part of a story.
And before I fully realized it…
those moments had already started becoming Ride The Fire.
A story shaped here in León—
through real places,
real people,
and moments I almost didn’t notice at all.
If you’d like to step into the story:
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Nunca Fue Solo Un Momento
El Señor mira el corazón. — 1 Samuel 16:7
A veces pienso que las cosas más importantes comienzan de forma sencilla.
Una caminata.
Una conversación.
Un momento que casi pasa desapercibido.
Nada extraordinario.
Solo parte de la vida diaria aquí en León.
Pero últimamente he comenzado a notar algo.
Algunas escenas permanecen conmigo más tiempo que otras.
No porque sean grandes.
Sino porque parecen decir algo.
El otro día caminaba con Brandy cerca de la catedral cuando vi a un joven skater en la plaza.
No fue una gran escena.
No había trucos impresionantes.
No había espectáculo.
Solo un momento tranquilo bajo la luz de la tarde.
Pero algo en ello se sintió familiar.
Tal vez porque me recordó cómo comenzó todo esto.
No con un plan.
No con un libro.
Ni siquiera con una historia.
Solo observando.
Escuchando.
Prestando atención a las personas y a los lugares que poco a poco comenzaron a quedarse conmigo.
Y mientras más escribo,
más me doy cuenta de algo:
Nunca se trató solamente del skateboarding.
Se trataba de las personas alrededor de él.
Las amistades.
Las luchas.
El crecimiento.
La identidad.
La dirección.
Momentos pequeños que lentamente comenzaron a conectarse.
Y ahora puedo verlo con más claridad.
Lo que parecía solo una reflexión…
también estaba formando una historia.
Una historia nacida aquí en León.
Paso a paso.
👉 Explora los libros aquí: https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/ride-the-fire
Something Is Taking Shape
I was beginning to see it.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? — Isaiah 43:19
At first, it felt like scattered thoughts.
Moments I didn’t want to forget.
Things I was beginning to notice.
But now…
it’s starting to feel different.
There’s a pattern.
The same ideas keep returning.
Growth.
Patience.
Direction.
I didn’t sit down to build something.
But something is being built.
Not quickly.
Not all at once.
But steadily.
And the more I write,
the more I begin to see it.
This isn’t just reflection anymore.
It’s becoming something.
Something I didn’t plan.
Something I didn’t force.
Something I’m only beginning to understand.
And maybe that’s the most surprising part of all…
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.
And now I can see it more clearly.
What started as moments…
became writing.
What felt unplanned…
began to take direction.
What seemed scattered…
is starting to come together.
Not perfectly.
But intentionally.
And what’s taking shape…
is a story.
A story set here in León.
Formed by real places.
Real people.
Real moments.
Ride The Fire — available now.
If you’d like to step into the story:
👉 Explore the books here: https://yourwebsite.com/books
Algo Está Tomando Forma
He aquí que yo hago cosa nueva… — Isaías 43:19
Al principio eran solo pensamientos sueltos.
Momentos que no quería olvidar.
Cosas que comenzaba a notar.
Pero ahora…empiezo a ver un patrón.
Algo se está formando.
Crecimiento.
Paciencia.
Dirección.
No me senté a construir algo.
Pero algo se está construyendo.
No rápidamente.No todo de una vez.
Pero de manera constante.
Y mientras más escribo,
más empiezo a verlo.
Esto ya no es solo reflexión.
Se está convirtiendo en algo.
Algo que no planeé.
Algo que no forcé.
Algo que apenas estoy comenzando a entender.
Y tal vez eso es lo más sorprendente de todo…
Esto no es la primera vez que algo así sucede.
Y ahora lo veo con más claridad.
Lo que comenzó como momentos…
se convirtió en escritura.
Lo que parecía sin plan…
empezó a tomar dirección.
Lo que parecía disperso…
empieza a unirse.
No perfectamente.
Pero con propósito.
Y lo que está tomando forma…
es una historia.
Una historia que nace aquí en León.
Formada por lugares reales.
Personas reales.
Momentos reales.
Montar La Fire — disponible ahora.
Si deseas seguir este camino:
👉 Explora los libros aquí: https://yourwebsite.com/books
I Didn’t Plan This
I thought I was planning the way…
but the steps were already being established.
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.— Proverbs 16:9
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” — Proverbs 16:9
This wasn’t part of the plan.
In fact… there wasn’t much of a plan at all.
I thought I was just reflecting.
Just noticing things.
Just trying to understand what had been happening.
But somewhere along the way…
it became something more.
What started as reflection…
quietly became writing.
The writing didn’t feel forced.
It didn’t feel like something I had to do.
It felt like something I was being led into.
That surprised me.
Because I usually like to know where things are going.
I like structure.
Direction.
Clarity.
But this…
this was different.
I wasn’t leading it.
I was following it.
And the more I followed it…
the more it felt like something was already there—
waiting to be uncovered.
And the more I leaned into that,
the more it began to unfold.
Not all at once.
Just enough to keep going.
And maybe that’s the point.
Not to have it all planned—
but to follow what’s being revealed,
step by step.
Something that began as reflection…
has become something more.
A story I didn’t originally set out to write—
but one that unfolded along the way.
Ride The Fire is now available on Amazon.
And soon, available directly here in Nicaragua as well.
If you’d like to follow the journey:
👉 Explore the books section on my site.
No Lo Planeé
El corazón del hombre traza su rumbo, pero sus pasos los dirige el Señor. — Proverbios 16:9
Esto no estaba en mis planes.
De hecho… no había mucho plan en absoluto.
Pensé que solo estaba reflexionando.
Observando.
Tratando de entender lo que había estado pasando.
Pero en algún punto del camino…
se convirtió en algo más.
Lo que comenzó como reflexión…
poco a poco se convirtió en escritura.
No se sentía forzado.
No se sentía como algo que tenía que hacer.
Se sentía como algo a lo que estaba siendo guiado.
Eso me sorprendió.
Porque normalmente me gusta saber hacia dónde van las cosas.
Me gusta la estructura.
La dirección.
La claridad.
Pero esto…
esto era diferente.
No lo estaba dirigiendo.
Lo estaba siguiendo.
Y mientras más lo seguía…
más sentía que algo ya estaba allí—
esperando ser descubierto.
Y mientras más me apoyaba en eso,
más comenzaba a desarrollarse.
No todo de una vez.
Solo lo suficiente para seguir adelante.
Y tal vez ese es el punto.
No tener todo planeado—
sino seguir lo que se va revelando,
paso a paso.
Porque lo que comenzó como una reflexión…
se ha convertido en algo más.
Una historia que no planeé escribir—
pero que fue tomando forma en el camino.
Montar La Fire ya está disponible en Amazon.
Y muy pronto también estará disponible directamente aquí en Nicaragua.
Si deseas seguir este camino:
👉 Explora la sección “Libros” en mi sitio.
It Started to Come Out
I didn’t plan to write…
it just started to come out.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. — Luke 6:45
I didn’t sit down intending to write.
There wasn’t a plan.
No outline.
No goal in mind.
Just a moment…
and something came out.
At first, it didn’t seem like much.
Just a few thoughts.
A few lines.
Something I almost didn’t keep.
But then it happened again.
And again.
Not because I was trying to write—
but because something inside me needed to be expressed.
I wasn’t forcing it.
I wasn’t searching for the right words.
They were just… there.
And the more I allowed it,
the more it continued.
This is one of those moments…
where something real shows itself.
Este es uno de esos momentos…
donde algo real se deja ver.
Moments like this are part of what’s been coming out…
Not planned.
Not forced.
Just pieces—
that are starting to form something bigger.
It wasn’t structured.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it was real.
And I’m starting to see that sometimes,
what comes out naturally…
is what was there all along.
Empezó a Salir
“De la abundancia del corazón habla la boca.” — Lucas 6:45
No me senté con la intención de escribir.
Simplemente… sucedió.
Un pensamiento.
Una línea.
Y luego otra.
No lo estaba forzando.
Pero algo dentro de mí
quería salir.
Y poco a poco…
seguía fluyendo.
It Was There All Along
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proberbs 3:5
I spent a lot of time searching.
Looking for direction.
Looking for clarity.
Looking for answers.
I thought I needed something new.
Something I didn’t already have.
But lately…
I’ve started to see things differently.
What if nothing was missing?
What if it was already there—
and I just couldn’t see it yet?
Not the whole road.
Just the next step.
And maybe that’s where I’ve struggled.
Wanting to see everything ahead
before I move.
Wanting clarity
before trust.
But God doesn’t always show everything at once.
Sometimes He gives just enough light
for the step in front of me.
And as I move forward…
things begin to come into view.
Nothing changes on the outside.
But something shifts inside.
And I begin to realize—
it was there all along.
And something else has been happening too.
As I’ve started writing again—
just honestly, without pressure—
I’ve noticed a pattern.
The same themes keep showing up.
Growth.
Patience.
Direction.
It’s no longer just experience.
It’s starting to take shape.
Like something is forming…
without me forcing it.
And I’m beginning to wonder—
if I’m not the one leading it.
Siempre Estuvo Allí
Confía en el Señor de todo corazón, y no te apoyes en tu propia prudencia. Proverbios 3:5
Pasé mucho tiempo buscando.
Buscando dirección.
Buscando claridad.
Buscando respuestas.
Pensaba que necesitaba algo nuevo.
Algo que no tenía.
Pero ahora…
empiezo a verlo diferente.
¿Y si nada faltaba?
¿Y si ya estaba allí—
y simplemente no lo veía?
Dios no siempre muestra todo el camino.
Y al avanzar…
empiezo a ver más.
No cambia lo externo.
Pero algo cambia dentro de mí.
Y empiezo a entender—
siempre estuvo allí.
Y también he notado algo más.
Al empezar a escribir otra vez—
sin presión, solo siendo honesto—
los mismos temas aparecen.
Crecimiento.
Paciencia.
Dirección.
Ya no es solo experiencia.
Algo se está formando.
Y empiezo a pensar…
que no soy yo quien lo está guiando.
Now I Understand Why
Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion… — Philippians 1:6
There were moments I didn’t understand.
Times that felt confusing.
Uncertain.
Even unnecessary.
I questioned them.
I wondered why things had to happen the way they did.
At the time, none of it made sense.
But now…
I’m starting to see something I couldn’t see before.
Not all at once.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
Enough to realize that nothing was wasted.
What felt like delays
were part of the process.
What felt uncertain
was shaping something deeper.
What felt unfinished
was still being worked on.
Philippians 1:6 reminds me that God doesn’t start something and leave it undone.
He continues it.
Even when I don’t see it.
Even when I don’t understand it.
And maybe that’s what I’m beginning to recognize now.
This wasn’t random.
It wasn’t scattered.
It wasn’t meaningless.
It was being built.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Intentionally.
And maybe that’s why it feels different now.
Because it’s not just something I’ve gone through…
It’s something I’ve been putting into words.
Little by little.
Piece by piece.
What started as thoughts
became reflections.
What became reflections
became something I started to write.
And now…
I’m beginning to understand why.
Ahora Entiendo Por Qué
El que comenzó en vosotros la buena obra, la perfeccionará… — Filipenses 1:6
Hubo momentos que no entendía.
Momentos confusos.
Inciertos.
Incluso innecesarios.
Me preguntaba por qué pasaban así las cosas.
En ese momento, nada tenía sentido.
Pero ahora…
empiezo a ver algo que antes no podía ver.
No todo de una vez.
No perfectamente.
Pero suficiente.
Suficiente para darme cuenta de que nada fue en vano.
Lo que parecía retraso
era parte del proceso.
Lo que parecía incertidumbre
estaba formando algo más profundo.
Lo que parecía incompleto
todavía estaba en proceso.
Dios no deja las cosas a medias.
Él continúa lo que empieza.
Aunque no lo vea.
Aunque no lo entienda.
Y tal vez eso es lo que ahora empiezo a reconocer.
No fue algo al azar.
Se estaba formando.
Poco a poco.
Con intención.
Y ahora entiendo por qué.