by Peter Leavell, @PeterLeavell

How does a writer come up with blog ideas? 

AI can do it for you. 

Type in a line, and whew. Blog done. 

And yet…

My soul. 

I have deep questions. 

My soul wrestles with poached eggs, and here’s why. My conscience says eggs should be opened from the big end. Now pretend a new law demands I open them from the small end. What shall I do? (Gulliver’s Travels)

Once upon a time, I would turn to what Adler called “The Great Conversation.” Now, I can ask AI and it gives me answers. Let’s see if it can answer.

I’ll try ‘my conscience won’t let me follow a new law.’ I won’t bring up poached eggs.

Interesting. It brings up some great points, but one really stood out to me that I’ll share here. Ask yourself two things. Is the law unjust or wrong? Or do you have personal or religious beliefs that conflict with the law?

I respect the answer, and those are surely good points to ponder. What I would like to focus on is the tiny word ‘or.’ Unjust/wrong OR religious beliefs.

Let me ask you, AI, who then is the sacred keeper of what is unjust or wrong? If not religion, then who? 

I checked with my new friend, AI. It said there are three general principles in every civilization that are widely accepted as just and right. Equality, fairness, and justice. These are the principles that keep people on the straight and narrow.  

That all civilizations have some knowledge of these principles is important, and C.S. Lewis built an entire case for Christ with the idea. But my soul cries out for something more substantial than general principles in civilizations.

I want something sacred. Something that happens on the inside of me, not simply how I’m treated. I know what I want.

Joy.

AI defines joy as happiness. Wrong. I want more than happiness. I want joy. But I’ll go ahead and find out how AI says to get joy. To sum up, it said to Try this, that, or religion.

In other words, God is an option to find joy. 

How does this help me decide what to blog about?

A deep search inside of me, I need to feel: 

• I’ve been forgiven for being an idiot (justice)
• I’m noticed for the good I do, and it’s celebrated (fairness)
• Everyone has access equally to the same joy if they so choose (equality) 
• Loved (yep, even if I do break the law and eat my poached egg incorrectly)

God is the only one who offers the feelings and systems that we crave. And while computer algorithms explore religion as an option, I see God as the only way to joy. 

When you write, write about the goodness of God. What He’s done to offer true joy, despite the hardships that come with life. 

Thank you, AI, for helping me find something to blog about. I’ll check back with you soon.

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West for the Black Hills

Philip Anderson keeps his past close to the vest. Haunted by the murder of his parents as they traveled West in their covered wagon, his many unanswered questions about that night still torment him.

His only desire is to live quietly on his homestead and raise horses. He meets Anna, a beautiful young woman with secrets of her own. Falling in love was not part of his plan. Can Philip tell her how he feels before it’s too late?

With Anna a pawn in the corrupt schemes brewing in the nearby Dakota town, Philip is forced to become a reluctant gunslinger. Will Philip’s uncannily trained horses and unsurpassed sharpshooting skills help him free Anna and find out what really happened to his family in the wilderness?

Peter Leavell, a 2007/2020 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and a MA in English Literature, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild’s Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best award for First-Time Author, along with multiple other awards. An author, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter’s books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com