Micheal Kennedy experienced an epiphany of appreciation when he almost lost his life three years ago, and the inspiration for his new book.
“I almost died, my colon busted, had temperature of 104, in the operating room for 12 hours, near-death, but I am here,” he said.
The 68-year-old Culpeper man said the experience got him thinking about God’s creation and what an incredible gift it is to humanity, something he said he missed for most of his life.
A grocery store retiree and Vietnam War veteran who cares for his mother, Kennedy spent the past two years putting that gratitude into words. He will host a book signing this weekend for his new religious genre title, “First Seven Days of Genesis,” published in November by Christian Faith Publishing.
It’s “an eye-opening look at the vastness of creation from a biblical and historical perspective,” according to publicity.
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“God is my inspiration to write about something that I was taking for granted, most of my life,” Kennedy said in an interview with the Star-Exponent.
“God created the world because he loves us. I never took time to appreciate all that God gave us, the trees and plants, the air to breath, sun, stars and the moon, the food we eat. Life is too short to not appreciate it.”
According to the publisher, Kennedy’s new book brings perspective to key components of the natural world discussed in the first book of the Bible, Genesis.
The first-time author spoke in the recent interview about the end of his senior year in 1974 at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas and signing up for the Army before graduation. Inspired by the TV show, “MASH,” he trained to be a medic during basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His unit was put on alert three times, but never got called to Vietnam in the waning days of the war.
Kennedy spoke of a life on and off attending church and getting baptized into the Christian faith as an 18-year-old growing up in Northern Virginia. He shared regrets, not hugging his son and daughter or teaching them how to pray or read the Bible, not showing them how to be thankful for what they have and to be content.
As his new book tenders, there is much to be thankful for with God’s creation.
“First Seven Days of Genesis,” is part conversational, part biographical and heavily reliant on Bible verses. Kennedy discusses his own experiences followed by numerous pages of biblical references as well as detailed citations about many tree types and various creatures of the earth.
He touches on wildlife habitat loss, deforestation, pollution, food waste, animals being extinct and how humans have mistreated God’s creation.
Also included in the 154-page book are nature photos Kennedy took in his backyard and on Skyline Drive and photos his sister took in Maine, including the cover image.
“I just want people to think about how important the work God our Creator did for us in just seven days to have life on earth,” the book concludes. “I’ve written all this to get people to think about all God had given us. Let’s try and take care of it, or we will be on the ones on the extinct list.”
Kennedy, in the interview, said he took it for granted for many years.
“Serving God to me is the most important thing now and it should have been 40 years ago,” he said.
“First Seven Days of Genesis” is for Christians and non-Christians alike, Kennedy said. God picked the title of the book, he added.
“Most people don’t realize every breath you take is given to you because God brought it here with all the trees and plants,” Kennedy said.
The new author said the publishing experience wasn’t at all like he thought it would be. His original manuscript was cut down from 300 pages, he said.
“It was a blessing all the way around for me,” he said. “I hope people will get some good out of it.”
Plus, “I want to leave something behind besides my headstone.”
Kennedy will host a book signing event from 1-6 p.m. this Saturday, at Barnes & Noble in Fredericksburg. He will host another book signing from 2-4 p.m. on April 27, at Barnes & Noble at Barracks Road in Charlottesville.
Books will be available at both events and can be purchased in bookstores, on Amazon, Walmart.com and other online outlets.