What if our lives are love letters waiting to be read by others?

Each step we take is just as important as where God is leading us.

After months of research, writing, and publishing Murders on Cripple Creek, I finally made it! It had been a long time coming. As my friend and I drove around Pikes Peak—where I got incredibly car sick—I felt a wave of gratitude as we walked the streets of Colt and Lark. I climbed up to the mines, exploring the remnants of an industry long forgotten by most, yet still vital to the town’s economy.

We also visited Victor, a mere five-minute drive from Cripple Creek. While Cripple Creek was the fancier town, Victor represented the working class. It was even tinier, a shadow of its former self, with parts of the 1900s seeing nearly no one living there.

Once, Cripple Creek was a gold rush town; now it’s home to casinos. This transformation from the historic setting where the fictional Colt Bradford once walked to its current state serves as a reminder that we can learn from history and avoid repeating its mistakes. We also have the opportunity to revere its richness, appreciating the simplicity of pioneer times and how it influences our present. Each day, we create history, reviving the past as we transform old traditions into new ones.

Being in Cripple Creek was an emotional experience. With my friend by my side, I was reminded that God isn’t done with Colt’s story—and that I need to keep going. It also gave me a sense of peace that all the prayers and guidance from God about the town, the setting, the characters and my journey were all from His hand.

In that moment, I realized how Cripple Creek would always be a part of my story, proving that blessings often come from the most unexpected places—those deemed unredeemable or seemingly forgotten. There have been times when I questioned how I would ever share my writing and take that leap of faith. But I’ve learned that God’s hand guides our steps, even in uncertainty. Writing Murders on Cripple Creek has been a journey of transformation, helping me recognize how He uses even the tiniest dreams to shape us. Just as the miners unearthed treasures in this town, God revealed that He is the greatest treasure, and where He guides, He restores fully.

God’s love is not only evident in Colt’s story in Cripple Creek but also in our own lives today. The Bible tells us that we are love letters: “Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This ‘letter’ is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)

This verse beautifully illustrates how God’s love is inscribed into our lives and stories, shaping us with every breath and step we take.

What letter is your life writing? I encourage you, no matter where you are in your journey, that if love permeates your life and actions, others will see that—and they will see Christ.