If you've read my book, "The Evolution of Confusion", you see it's listed as a fictional story. To distinguish who I am, through more historical accuracy ...I've written this blog.

My last name is pronounced like "miner" ...though my family was not a family of miners. Those who are my direct descendents, were farmers ...settling for the most part in Illinois.

When looking for land to farm, a journey was often necessary. One such journey brought a family north of Illinois, through Wisconsin, and to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ...to a rural area called Faithorn. That's where my dad was born ...and where he grew up.

A nearby town, called Norway, was actually a mining town. And a particular girl lived there, whose dad did deliveries for the Hoheisel bakery.

My dad got drafted, but when he returned fron the war, he married that particular girl from Norway ...whom my dad somehow knew would make a fine wife.

I was born in Norway, at Penn Hospital, though my parents still lived on the farm in Faithorn. I was the second boy.

My sister was also born before the family moved to Norway. My parents decided upon the move so we'd be in closer proximity to my dad's job at the Veterans Hospital in Iron Mountain.

At this time, my older brother was of school age; and I entered school the following year, with my sister following the year after that. But also within that time of those first years in Norway, three younger brothers were also born into those childhood experiences.

I feel very blessed to have such a rich childhood; not rich with monetary wealth by any means, but rich with wholesome experiences ...something way beyond any monetary value.

Eventually, all of the Meiner children from Norway, Michigan ...journeyed to Michigan State University.

By the way, my first name is Stephen, spelled exactly the way it is printed in the family Bible, the sixth Chapter of the Book of Acts.

After my graduation, I interviewed for a job at one of the State Institutions, in Pontiac. In close proximity was Waterford, where I'd eventually meet the one whom I am so thoroughly grateful for ...the one who agreed to marry me.

So, this is who I am! Well, ...not quite. It is a fairly accurate description, that distinguishes who I am, from anyone else, but I'm more accurately one who is not distinguished from others.

Then who am I really? Can I be distinguished by my character? Hopefully, to some extent ...but not always.

What would you say if I said it's not really about who I am?

What do I mean by that? Well, I think it's fair to say that we all have had family struggles. And as diverse as they may be ...I believe it can be correctly assumed, it is the role of husband and wife to deal with these issues, in reference to their children.

Anyway, it is not often popular, nor a consensus that the parent knows the most. Throughout my life I've often felt my own parents didn't understand several things, which later, and sadly often much later, I realized my parents did know much about what I was not ready to accept that they did know.

Well, I'd been through that same sort of thing often during my life, but in knowing that, I perhaps realized that I may also get no closer to convincing my child of it either. So instead, I said, "You're right ...I don't understand! Do you think you understand me?"

"Not at all!" was the response I got; which was close to what I anticipated.

I smiled, "Well, that does not surprise me, nor bother me. What does concern me is that we both understand one thing ...that God understands, and that our life is best served by understanding Him."

So it's really not about who I am ...it's about who He is.

Of course, it does help if I realize I'm a child of God.

And accepting His love so plainly as accepting Jesus, does make the difference ...a lasting, and everlasting difference.