The Awakening, a preview of the upcoming novel.

 

Synopsis of THE AWAKENING

 

For sixteen-year-old Logan Murdock, "being in the moment" has always been an escape mechanism—a way to disconnect from the painful realities of his fractured family. Whether through zombie video games or mental detachment, Logan has mastered the art of survival by avoiding genuine engagement with his life. His moments are shallow, reactive, and designed solely to protect himself from the chaos surrounding him.

When Logan's Marine father is deployed for the third time in five years, his mother finds unexpected companionship with Heath, a local logger whose brutal nature and hatred of Logan promise to destroy what little family stability remains. As Logan struggles with his father's repeated absences and his mother's increasingly distant relationship, he retreats further into his digital world—using "being in the moment" to numb himself from the family's growing dysfunction. Heath's arrival marks the beginning of Logan's true awakening—a brutal transformation that will force him to confront the reality he's been desperately trying to escape.

Desperate to escape, Logan plans his exodus with help from his friend Yardley. His journey down the treacherous Batchawana River becomes a profound redefinition of "being in the moment." No longer an escape, it becomes a raw, immediate experience of survival. Each paddle stroke, each navigation of deadly rapids, demands his complete presence—a stark contrast to his previous digital detachment. During this harrowing trip, a mysterious presence he calls "good ole Joe" repeatedly saves him from certain death, including a near-fatal moment at a thirty-foot waterfall.

As Logan's physical journey unfolds, he simultaneously undergoes a spiritual awakening that challenges his understanding of "being in the moment." Conversations with his father, Bob, and interactions with his grandparents introduce him to a transformative perspective. They teach him that true presence isn't about avoiding life, but about fully engaging with it—body, mind, and spirit.

His relationship with Christie and involvement in the church youth group further reshape his understanding. Logan learns that "being in the moment" can be a spiritual practice—a way of opening oneself to grace, to divine intervention, to genuine human connection. This stands in sharp contrast to his previous method of disconnection and survival.

The narrative reaches a critical point when Logan and his father attempt to rescue his mother from Heath, discovering he's involved in a dangerous human trafficking operation. A violent altercation leaves Logan critically wounded—a trial that profoundly tests his faith and resilience on family and friends.

While in a coma, Logan experiences a deep spiritual journey that redefines his entire concept of "being in the moment." The mysterious interventions of "good ole Joe" reveal an insightful reality—that true presence is not about control, but about surrender, faith, and openness to something greater than oneself.

Logan's miraculous recovery becomes a testament to this new understanding. He transitions from a teenager lost in digital escapism to a young man committed to meaningful engagement—with his faith, his family, and his purpose. "Being in the moment" is no longer an escape, but a conscious choice to be fully alive, fully present, and fully connected to God's plan.

The novel builds to a powerful climax that challenges Logan's understanding of survival, faith, and family. His journey becomes a testament to the transformative power of hope, leaving readers with a profound sense of both resolution and anticipation of what might come next.

THE AWAKENING is a profound exploration of transformation—how "being in the moment" can evolve from a survival mechanism to a spiritual practice of radical presence, faith, and hope. Logan's journey shows that true awakening comes not from escaping life's challenges, but from facing them with courage, compassion, and a fully engaged heart.

This novel serves as the first installment of a potential trilogy, with Logan presented as a beacon of hope and redemption in his pursuit of resolving the mysteries surrounding his mother's disappearance and Heath's continued criminal behavior.

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