Clifford Wendell was a most unusual boy for his age. He did not

engage in life physically in team sports or clubs; instead, he was like a

benevolent editor of a great, unfinished book. He loved to read, and he

treated it much like a sport. He would immerse himself so deeply into

the story that he would inhabit the life of the main character and fly off

across the oceans, into space, or journey to the desert. He was

transformed by the adventures in each book.

As time went on, his imagination grew and invented original

stories that carried him to any realm and allowed him to experience life

from any point of view, age, or character. One day he would be visiting

Lawrence of Arabia, and on another, he would follow Neil Armstrong to

the moon and beyond. Throughout his travels, Clifford had become a

samurai warrior, a secret agent, a pilot, and a racecar driver simply by

calling upon the blended memories of a hundred adventure stories. He

loved to fancy every imaginable situation, and when he did, he became

his own great hero—daydreamer extraordinaire.

Clifford spent many hours watching and observing people and

noticed an odd disconnect between who they wanted to be and who

they actually were. Responsibility had dulled their inner spirits. He

was saddened by the struggles and obligations that prevented these

people from time at play. He could not understand why people did not

make a greater effort to live a more playful life, imagining any life

they wished to live and then living it.

Clifford wanted to achieve two important goals more than

anything. First he wanted to see space—but not just see it—touch it,

swim in it, and speed through it to discover other worlds. Second, he

wanted to fill the pages of his own book with his own adventures.

Clifford must have had 30 or 40 single-page drafts, each the start of his

new creation, but mostly unused modified versions of the original. It

was only a matter of time before his own 14 years of life would unfold

one word at a time onto the pages of a riveting book for his adoring

fans. He fantasized about owning a bookstore where he could sell

signed copies. He could even picture his book standing upright and

nestled against the others in the library with his name emblazoned on

the spine in gold letters. If only he knew what was inside those pages.

So taken was he with the idea of writing a book that would

change the world, he committed himself to the goal. Changing the

world may be difficult, but his world would never be the same. He

would write his book, but it would contain far more than his story

alone. He would include the stories of hundreds of characters and a

hundred adventures. It would become the greatest story ever told and

would span the lives of every would-be dreamer that ever knew

Clifford Wendell.

However, this story is my story—my testament to one of the

richest imaginations I have ever known. I am the Princess of

Mozambia, and this is a story about my friend (whom I loved), who

awakened the dreams of countless others. He inspired me to believe in

the fastidious nature of the perfect dream where our stories, our

dreams, and our adventures are brought together—blended just right—

so we can celebrate our lives and be joyful recipients of God’s endless

love. With it, we must love our neighbor, love ourselves, and dare to

keep our dreams alive. Get to know Clifford Wendell as I have known

him, and your next adventure may be more real than you ever

expected. Perhaps your story will become the greatest story ever told.