E Book 3: The Compass Series

By Stephen Santos

In a world vying for our attention, the art of persuasion is, as some would know it, a highly crafted art. Yet for Ralph, it is woven into the fabric of his very nature.

Follow Ralph through his formative years and on, as he uncovers who he is and, ultimately, where he belongs. "E" begs you to confront the reality that not everything in our world is good; nor is evil a force to be dealt with only in the realm of fantasy. Ralph’s presence in each character’s journey illuminates their weaknesses, allowing them to be drawn out of the shadows and dealt with in the light of truth. This third book of The Compass Series will leave you unsettled as you wrestle with the ultimate consequences of Ralph's actions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen Santos
• Release date: Nov 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370773831

Stephen Santos

Stephen, his wife and five children moved from Pennsylvania where he was born and raised, to Northern California, where he wrote this series. He and his family currently resides in North Carolina. He has done everything from carpentry to writing and recording music; from teaching children who did not have a stable home-life to washing the dishes at his own home; and from leading his kids on adventures in the woods to loving his neighbors, whoever they may be. He has been on a journey for years now, discovering that it is not about the "What" we do in life. It is about the "How" we do whatever has been given us to do. He finds great joy in sharing his own story with others; the one where he was led out of religion by Love. And to this end he writes books, he writes songs, he swings a hammer, he serves and loves his family, he encourages those around him, he prays for broken hearts and broken bodies. But more important and precious to him than any of that, he walks and talks with his friend Jesus about all of it. He has become convinced that if he does everything while walking with Jesus, he will truly have the privilege and blessing of The Abundant Life.

Book preview

E

The Compass Series

Book Three

STEPHEN SANTOS

© 2015 by Stephen Santos

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means--for example, electronic, photocopy, recording--without the prior written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

All characters, names, places and incidents are fictional, and any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Cover design by Troy Mouer

The Compass Series

Many of us approach life holding a compass that is broken and does not move.  We turn it around to make it point in a direction that suits our comfort.  Yet when we find ourselves lost in life, this strategy will always fail.  A compass only truly works when we choose to follow its ability to show us the true direction we should take. You see, a big part of understanding your life and journey is being willing to move from where you are to see life from other perspectives.

Enter The Compass Series, more than a story, more than a series of books.  This is an experience, an opportunity, and a introduction to a different way of living.

This series will challenge you to see your life from multiple perspectives. It will encourage you to seek understanding before conclusions. And it will push you to the limits of your comprehension of love.

If you choose to start on this journey and continue through all four compass points, your understanding and perspective of life and its purposes will never be the same.

Welcome to the journey...

that just may change your life.

Thank You:

-Again, to all my test readers this has been quite the journey we’ve been on and I appreciate so much your willingness to go on it with me.

-To my children: Each book is surrounded by busier life circumstances and more difficult trials to walk through. Thank you for being understanding and flexible through all of life’s twists and turns.

-To my dearest Kimberly: The world will never know our sacrifices for the Kingdom. But this is not where the treasure and worth of our sacrifice lies. Thank you my love, I choose you!

-To all my readers. Thank you. There is more to come for us all and I am excited for how these books as well as the ones to come will be a help to you on your journey!

Dear Reader,

I’ve wrestled with what to share and what to leave to your own processing of the pages that lie ahead. But I will preface with this.

This book for some will be absolute frustration. For others, it will feel fitting. And still others, it will arise within themselves a question, ‘Is there a Ralph in my life?’

We can run from these parts of a story, we can close our eyes and minds to the darker parts of life. However, if we refuse to face the reality of the storm, we will not receive the strength from enduring it. My hope is that as you engage with the words written here you will find all darkness in your hidden places brought to light and prepared for what lies ahead on your journey. Freedom!

We cannot ignore the existence of evil, that is foolishness. We must expose it, grab it by the neck, and throw it into the fire to burn. This is the only right response when we come in contact with it.

-anonymous

Chapter 1

Some people are given the opportunity to change into the good that they discover within themselves. But what if the evil that you felt inside of yourself is who you really are?

When you have access to things that most people don’t, you hold a certain power over others. It’s not like I’m heartless. I’m just very aware of my goals and very intentional about accomplishing them.

I remember years ago when I was in high school. I wanted to take the head cheerleader to the prom. She normally wouldn’t have noticed me, but I borrowed my Uncle’s Corvette for a month and drove it to school everyday. Oh, she noticed me alright. And so did everyone else. They all couldn’t believe that I had a corvette and since I had kept things pretty low key before that, no one was the wiser. I almost got her to ask me to the prom by the end of it all. It’s funny, in high school, it wasn’t about the money. Everyone has what they need given to them. It’s really about the stuff. And not just any stuff, the right stuff.

I walked down the hall spinning my keys around my finger as I approached Cara at her locker.

Hey there, I said, as I leaned up against her locker door.

Hi, she said, with a smile that said, ‘Whatever you want, just take me to the prom.’

So you want to go with me to the prom? I said with utter confidence.

That depends.

On what? I said with a little less confidence.

What car you’ll be picking me up in, she said with a smile.

Well, I think my friend is borrowing the Lamborghini, so it’ll have to be the Corvette. I said, smiling back at her.

Oh bummer, I was hoping for the Lamborghini. Just joking, I’d love to.

That was an amazing night. As good as it felt for her to be in the spotlight, it felt just as good to me to bring that feeling to her. I actually think I get more pleasure out of the feelings that others feel, than any that I have of my own. It’s almost as if I get to live through what they feel.

I noticed this years ago when I was living with one of my foster families. I absolutely loved getting that man and lady to scream at me. Most kids try to avoid that, but I always felt in control when I could push them to that breaking point. There’s something to a person’s breaking point. It’s that place in your life where you get beyond yourself and you begin to make movements that feel outside of your control. In some ways, it’s absolute freedom. And inevitably, you feel better once you’ve let it all out.

In that house, I always felt better at the end of it.

"Ralph, I need you to take