In D.H. Lawrence’s tragic short story The Rocking-Horse Winner, a family lives in a beautiful home that is haunted by a terrible secret. Though they have style, status, and luxury, the walls themselves seem to breathe with an unspoken anxiety. The children hear it at night. The toys hear it in the nursery. It is a constant, maddening whisper that says one thing over and over:

“There must be more money! There must be more money!”

Today, I believe the state of Washington has become that whispering house.

We saw the proof this week with the reports that Meta (Facebook) is halting its expansion in Bellevue, surrendering development rights and signaling a major retreat from the region. On the surface, this is a story about tax policy—specifically, the “socialistic idealism” of a one-party leadership that believes it can endlessly extract wealth from employers to fund utopian fantasies.

But if you look closer, this isn’t just about economics. It is a symptom of a deeper spiritual pathology.

In my latest Op-Ed on Medium, I argue that we are living through a real-time reenactment of Lawrence’s tragedy, while simultaneously ignoring the prophetic warnings given by Ezra Taft Benson nearly sixty years ago. We are seeing what happens when a culture becomes addicted to the “rocking horse” of material security while dismantling the moral fiber of family, faith, and liberty.

Despair is easy, but it is not a covenant response. So, how do we stand firm when the house is whispering?

Read the Full Article on Medium – The Whispering House of Olympia: Meta, Madness, and the Prophetic Warning (NOTE: The link lets you read for free. If you want to leave a comment or clap, you’ll just need a free Medium login).

Winds of Redemption is making progress. The latest update reveals key developments in the project. I am focused on refining enhancing the storyline. Additionally, player feedback is driving many of these improvements. Overall, the update showcases a commitment to quality and reader engagement. Expectations are high as the launch date is yet to be determined and dependent upon paid subscriber feedback and support.

Current Progress:

• Character Development: 95% complete. Jacob’s emotional journey and inner reflections have been enhanced throughout the manuscript. Key scenes with Ella and Sarah now reflect a deeper, more gradual healing in their relationships.
• Rachel’s Reveal and Foreshadowing: 90% complete. Subtle foreshadowing has been integrated into early interactions, hinting at Rachel’s divine role, and the climactic reveal scene is now more powerful, emphasizing the moment’s emotional depth.
• Relapse and Recovery Scenes: 100% complete. Jacob’s struggle with addiction, including his DUI and subsequent recovery scenes, has been intensified with vivid descriptions, making his journey more immersive.
• Show, Don’t Tell: 85% complete. Key emotional and atmospheric moments have been restructured for a “show, don’t tell” approach, especially in recovery meetings and Jacob’s interactions with faith elements.
• Time Jumps and Family Restoration: 80% complete. Transitions in the time jumps have been smoothed out, especially the gradual mending between Jacob and Ella. Final touches are being added to ensure consistency.

Remaining Focus:

1. Complete final time jump adjustments and ensure smooth pacing across decades.
2. Conduct final read-through for tone, continuity, and polishing of prose.

Estimated Completion:

The manuscript is on track for completion in 2-3 days.

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Here’s the revised Chapter 1 of “Winds of Redemption.” I’ve added layers to make the characters feel more real, digging deep into their thoughts and emotions. I want you to connect with their struggles and victories. Each character now has a voice that’s distinct and genuine, pulling you into their lives.

As you read, you’ll sense their fears and hopes, making the story pulse with life. The scenes are painted with sharper imagery, vivid enough for you to picture every detail. Imagine standing with the characters, feeling the cool breeze or the tension in the room.

I’ve crafted the world with care, adding textures and colors that invite you in, making the environment a character of its own. Think of the ground beneath your feet, the noises around you, and the emotions swirling in the air.

This chapter promises an experience that engages not just your mind, but your senses. It’s more than just words on a page; it’s an invitation to step into another world. As you turn the pages, ask yourself—what would you do in their place? Feel the pull of every decision, the weight of every choice.

Here’s the latest progress update on Winds of Redemption and a summary of what remains to be completed:

Current Progress:

• Character Development: 85% complete. Jacob’s emotional arc and introspective reflections have been enriched, especially in scenes showing his battle with guilt and recovery. His relationships with Ella and Sarah are more vividly depicted, showing gradual healing.
• Rachel’s Reveal and Foreshadowing: 75% complete. The buildup to Rachel’s identity as a Seraphim is now more subtle, with expanded scenes hinting at her otherworldly role. Her reveal is being finalized for maximum emotional impact.
• Relapse and Recovery Scenes: 90% complete. Key relapse moments and the DUI scene have been intensified, showing more sensory details and a deeper emotional toll.
• Show, Don’t Tell: 75% complete. I’ve focused on adding vivid descriptions, body language, and atmosphere to key moments, particularly Jacob’s recovery meetings and his internal struggles.
• Time Jumps and Family Restoration: 60% complete. The transitions and gradual repair of Jacob’s relationship with Ella are being smoothed out to show a natural progression over the years.

Remaining Focus:

1. Finalize Rachel’s Reveal: Fine-tune the climax and the spiritual vision scene for depth and emotional impact.
2. Enhance Time Jumps: Complete the last transitions in the time jumps to ensure consistent pacing and flow.
3. Final Read-through: A complete read-through for consistency in tone, continuity, and polished prose.

Estimated Completion:

All remaining work is on track to be completed in 3-4 days.

Here’s an updated synopsis for Winds of Redemption:

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Winds of Redemption
by Timothy R. Berman

In a tale of struggle, faith, and profound transformation, Winds of Redemption follows Jacob Hartman’s 30-year journey from the depths of addiction to the hope of spiritual awakening. At 33, Jacob has lost nearly everything to his relentless battle with alcoholism, including his family, his self-worth, and his faith. When his life reaches a shattering low, he encounters Rachel Morrows, a mysterious woman whose calm guidance begins to shift his path.

With Rachel’s encouragement and the unlikely solace he finds in the teachings of the Book of Mormon, Jacob begins a painful but powerful process of recovery. His journey is marked by painful relapses, humbling moments, and the slow restoration of his fractured relationships. Yet, unknown to Jacob, Rachel’s presence is not coincidental. A heavenly being, she has been sent to help him navigate his path to redemption—a truth he only realizes in a climactic vision that will forever change his understanding of life, love, and faith.

As the years unfold, Jacob learns to face his guilt, heal his broken connections, and rebuild a life that he once thought lost. When he finally discovers Rachel’s true nature, he understands the depth of divine intervention in his life and finds himself on the path to forgiveness, both of himself and those he loves.

A story of resilience and divine grace, Winds of Redemption captures the transformative power of faith, the relentless journey through addiction, and the enduring hope of family restoration.

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This synopsis reflects the novel’s focus on Jacob’s inner struggles, the gradual restoration of his relationships, and the significance of Rachel’s divine role.

The progress on editing Winds of Redemption is moving forward steadily. Here’s an update on what I’ve completed so far:

1. Deepening Character Development:

• I’ve revised several key scenes involving Jacob’s internal monologues, especially around his moments of doubt and guilt. His struggles with addiction and faith are now more vividly expressed through introspective reflections.
• In scenes where Jacob interacts with Ella and Sarah, I’ve added more emotional layers, showing the strain and eventual slow healing in their relationships.

2. Rachel’s Foreshadowing and Reveal:

• Rachel’s early interactions with Jacob now contain more subtle hints about her supernatural nature. I’ve adjusted some of her dialogue to sound more cryptic and spiritually insightful, without being too obvious about her true identity.
• The climactic reveal of her being a Seraphim is being restructured to make it more emotionally and visually striking.

3. Relapse and Recovery Scenes:

• The intensity of Jacob’s relapses, especially the DUI incident, has been increased. I’ve added sensory details that heighten the tension and convey the physical and emotional toll his actions take on him.
• His recovery process is also being gradually expanded to show more of his small victories and setbacks.

4. Show, Don’t Tell:

• Several key moments, like his early recovery meetings and interactions with the Book of Mormon, now focus more on showing his emotional state through actions, expressions, and subtle dialogue rather than direct statements.

I’m continuing through the manuscript to ensure consistency and flow, and I’ll keep refining these elements as I progress.

Based on the size and scope of the edits required, I estimate that the full revision of Winds of Redemption will take approximately 5-7 days to complete. Here’s a breakdown of the current progress and remaining work:

Progress so far:

• Character Development: 40% complete. Key emotional scenes with Jacob and his family, as well as his moments of struggle with addiction, have been expanded.
• Rachel’s Reveal and Foreshadowing: 30% complete. Rachel’s early interactions are adjusted, but the reveal scene still needs more depth and final touches.
• Relapse and Recovery Intensity: 50% complete. The DUI scene and a few other relapse moments have been revised. Some later recovery moments still need enhancement.
• Show, Don’t Tell: 35% complete. Focused on meetings and interactions with the Book of Mormon; other sections are pending revision.
• Time Jumps and Family Restoration: 25% complete. A smoother transition in some early jumps, but work on Ella and Jacob’s relationship is ongoing.

Next Milestones:

• Continue working on Rachel’s revelation and Jacob’s spiritual transformation (expected in 2-3 days).
• Address later time jumps and family healing arc (expected in 4-5 days).
• Final read-through for flow and consistency (expected in 7-9 days).

I’ll provide another update in 2-3 days with detailed progress. Feel free to ask about specific sections if needed!