Gods Not Dea(d)

Dedicated to my children, who were failed by the world but never failed it. You are like a four-leaf clover—rare, resilient, and extraordinary. What makes you special is not just your uniqueness but the way you fold back into your core, your secret seed of strength. Even when life feels like it’s only three leaves, remember that one of them holds two, and you carry within you the power to grow, heal, and shine brighter than ever. To the land of my father, Lake Erie, we little ones—you are stronger than you know, braver than you feel, and brighter than the world could ever dim. In the sparkling kingdom of Sparkleland, there was a magical mirror that didn’t just show your face—it showed your heart. It reflected your dreams, your fears, and even the cracks you tried to hide. One day, Pixel—a mischievous imp with a knack for trouble—was juggling jelly-filled donuts near the mirror (as one does). SPLAT! One donut flew out of his hand and hit the mirror, cracking it right down the middle. Pixel froze. “Oops,” he muttered nervously. “Well… cracks add character, right?” Suddenly, Professor Punsley appeared in a puff of glittery smoke. He was Sparkleland’s wisest wizard—and its most dramatic pun enthusiast. “Pixel!” he exclaimed. “This isn’t just any mirror! It shows people who they really are—and now it’s broken! The cracks are making everyone act out of sorts.” Pixel scratched his head. “So… what do we do? Glue? Duct tape? Magic sparkle spray?” Professor Punsley shook his head solemnly. “No, Pixel. We don’t fix the mirror—we fix the cracks in people’s hearts.” Pixel and Professor Punsley set off to mend the hearts of Sparkleland’s citizens. Their first stop was Mr. Sneaksalot’s cottage—a cozy little house that smelled suspiciously like stolen pies. “Why’d you steal all those pies?” Pixel asked bluntly. Mr. Sneaksalot sighed and looked down at his feet. “I didn’t steal because I wanted to hurt anyone. I stole because I was hungry. The world failed me—it didn’t give me enough to eat.” Professor Punsley nodded knowingly. “You see, Pixel, sometimes people act out not because they’re bad but because they’re broken—or because they feel like life has left them behind.” Pixel tilted his head thoughtfully. “So… he wasn’t being sneaky for fun? He was just surviving?” “Exactly!” Professor Punsley exclaimed. “Survival doesn’t make you wrong; it makes the world wrong for not helping you.” Together, they helped Mr. Sneaksalot open a pie shop where he could bake an