Clifford Wendell

Clifford Wendell was a most unusual boy for his age. He did not engage in life physically in team sports or clubs; instead, he was like a benevolent editor of a great, unfinished book. He loved to read, and he treated it much like a sport. He would immerse himself so deeply into the story that he would inhabit the life of the main character and fly off across the oceans, into space, or journey to the desert. He was transformed by the adventures in each book. As time went on, his imagination grew and invented original stories that carried him to any realm and allowed him to experience life from any point of view, age, or character. One day he would be visiting Lawrence of Arabia, and on another, he would follow Neil Armstrong to the moon and beyond. Throughout his travels, Clifford had become a samurai warrior, a secret agent, a pilot, and a racecar driver simply by calling upon the blended memories of a hundred adventure stories. He loved to fancy every imaginable situation, and when he did, he became his own great hero—daydreamer extraordinaire. Clifford spent many hours watching and observing people and noticed an odd disconnect between who they wanted to be and who they actually were. Responsibility had dulled their inner spirits. He was saddened by the struggles and obligations that prevented these people from time at play. He could not understand why people did not make a greater effort to live a more playful life, imagining any life they wished to live and then living it. Clifford wanted to achieve two important goals more than anything. 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, he wanted 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 his new creation, but mostly unused modified versions of the original. It was only a matter of time before his own 14 years of life would unfold one word at a time onto the pages of a riveting book for his adoring fans. He fantasized about owning a bookstore where he could sell signed copies. He could even picture his book standing upright and nestled against the others in the library with his name emblazoned on the 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 would change the world, he committed himself to the goal. Changing the world may be difficult, but his world would never be the same. He would write his book, but it would contain far more than his story alone. He would include the stories of hundreds of characters and a hundred adventures. It would become the greatest story ever told and would span the lives of every would-be dreamer that ever knew Clifford Wendell. However, this story is my story—my testament to one of the richest imaginations I have ever known. I am the Princess of Mozambia, and this is a story about my friend (whom I loved), who awakened the dreams of countless others. He inspired me to believe in the fastidious nature of the perfect dream where our stories, our dreams, and our adventures are brought together—blended just right— so we can celebrate our lives and be joyful recipients of God’s endless love. With it, we must love our neighbor, love ourselves, and dare to keep our dreams alive. Get to know Clifford Wendell as I have known him, and your next adventure may be more real than you ever expected. Perhaps your story will become the greatest story ever told.