Brandon Andress's Blog, page 2

Deep Calls to Deep: Unveiling Life’s Boring Moments

I had the opportunity to lead a creative writing session with the fifth-graders at Will’s elementary school last fall. I wanted it to be fun and engaging with several individual exercises, so I chose descriptive writing. I had the kids think about their senses as they write. I told them to help the reader see what they see, hear what they hear, and feel what they feel.

I asked everyone to close their eyes and think about the first day of school- what did you see, hear, taste, smell, or touch?...

Deep Calls to Deep: Missing Moments

I had an unexpected bit of emotion the other day. Not crying or anything. Just a deep sense of joy and gratitude.

My parents were at my house visiting. Will (my 11-year-old) grabbed my dad’s phone and started watching videos of himself when he was little. I wasn’t paying much attention as I was watching a basketball game. At one point though he started laughing and insisted that I watch one of his videos. Rather than try to describe it, I have posted it below. What you are watching is Will di...

Deep Calls to Deep: Removing the Scarlet Letter

I am not the same person I was in my twenties or thirties. Not even the same person I was last year. From year to year, week to week, and day to day, I am constantly changing. The more I learn about myself, the more resolved I am to change – to become the best version of myself possible in this lifetime, to be more loving, patient, gracious, and kind.

However, I’m aware that I’m still more of who I don’t want to be than who I really want to be. Many of you have known me somewhere along that t...

It’s Release Day! And So By Fire is Here!

Buy Now: 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Bookshop / Viewpoint

Dear friends, 

The wait is finally over! I’m thrilled to announce that And So By Fire, the sequel to What Can’t Be Hidden, is now available! This must-read novel was designated as “Hotly Anticipated” in the Science Fiction category on Amazon, and soared to #1 at Viewpoint Books in early sales, igniting the excitement surrounding its release.

And So By Fire is an essential read that explores timely themes of disinformati...

Deep Calls To Deep: Gesticulations, Shenanigans, and the Micro-Offended

My wife went to the grocery store the other day. Like many people these days, she preordered and was doing a curbside pick-up. I know what you’re thinking based on my story last week– these people sure have a lot of issues when they do pick-ups. I promise we do not intentionally try to cause issues! 

Anyway, Jenny pulled into the parking lot and got in one of the car lines. In her rearview mirror, she saw an irate lady in her car, yelling and gesticulating. Gesticulatingis a fun word. Unbekno...

Deep Calls to Deep: The Pee on the Seat

I walked into a unisex restroom at a coffee shop. Approaching the toilet, I noticed someone had urinated on the seat. That wasn’t a problem, as I would not be sitting down. However, I faced a huge dilemma. I really didn’t want to wipe up a stranger’s pee from the seat. But, if I walked out of the restroom and someone was waiting to go in, they would misunderstand the situation and think I was the one who caused the mess. Since I didn’t want the coffee shop staff to clean it up and being that I d...

Deep Calls to Deep: Living the Best Day Ever

I remember this story from about seven years ago that taught me the importance of giving thanks for the small things everyday. It was really late and my four-year old little boy Will was still awake. I took him upstairs to brush his teeth and for him to use the bathroom before bed. While he was peeing, he exclaimed, “This is the best day ever! Right dad?”

His question caught me off guard.

While I put the toothpaste on his toothbrush, in that split-second, I had to think about it. I was exh...

Deep Calls to Deep: In All Things, Give Thanks

In the spirit of last week’s post on Living Thanksgiving, I want to share a small writing I composed many years ago. If you have read my stuff for any amount of time, you have read this. But, it is always good for me to reread, to contemplate, and to receive. I hope that it is a blessing to you, as we give perpetual thanks together.

Listen.
Smell.
Feel.

Close your eyes.

Take it all in and delight.

Let the wind blow at your back and let the sun shine down on your face.
Close your eyes an...

In All Things, Give Thanks

In the spirit of last week’s post on Living Thanksgiving, I want to share a small writing I composed many years ago. If you have read my stuff for any amount of time, you have read this. But, it is always good for me to reread, to contemplate, and to receive. I hope that it is a blessing to you, as we give perpetual thanks together.

Listen.
Smell.
Feel.

Close your eyes.

Take it all in and delight.

Let the wind blow at your back and let the sun shine down on your face.
Close your eyes an...

Deep Calls to Deep: Living Thanksgiving

I want to talk about giving thanks. Not as an event or a specific moment in time. But as a constant outflow in our lives.

I can already hear the cynics and naysayers shaming my idealism.

We live in a time when old hatreds have come back to life and old divisions have widened. We are told that this is our only reality and we must pick sides and prepare for battle. There is an ever-growing chorus among younger generations who believe that love has failed, peace is for the weak, and giving th...