A Roncalli High School math teacher has become an author.
Jeff Small wrote the book “The Pilgrim Way.” The 100-page e-book, categorized in the religion and spirituality section, is available through iBooks and Barnes and Noble.
Here is what he said about his book.
What is your book about?
The book is about our spiritual journey here on earth, of which I refer to as “The Pilgrim Way,” as we strive to live our lives as the children of God. It aims to answer the great questions of life: Who am I? What am I worth? Where did I come from? Why am I here? When I die, where am I going?
How did you pick the topic?
There are some special people in my life who either don’t believe in God or they don’t understand the relationship that I have with God … so sometimes you have to do big things to get their attention … if I can get those special people to read this book, even if others don’t, then for me the book is successful.
Why did you decide to write a book?
Writing a book is something I have wanted to do so that I could leave something behind for my own kids to learn from and reflect upon. In my work as a high school mathematics teacher, as a reflection day coordinator, and as a youth minister, I have encountered a number of students, let alone adults, who question the faith and have a hard time answering the great questions of life. As a result, I decided to write a small book that explains where I stand on the issues concerning the great questions of life. It is written with these special people, the high school student, or the questioning adult, in mind.
What would you like readers to get from the book?
An understanding of how much God loves us and that we do/can have a relationship with Christ as we walk the pilgrim way.
Will your classes be reading the book? What do you hope your class gets from the book?
I teach in the mathematics department, and although I do add a spiritual side to my classroom, as do most at Roncalli, the book is not part of the Indiana State Mathematics Standards. So my mathematics students will not be reading the book. With that said, a portion of the book is incorporated a few times during the school year at Roncalli Sophomore Days of Reflection.
What was your writing process like?
I get ideas and write all the time, so it was a matter of piecing together some previous material with current material and organizing those writings into a message of walking with and having a relationship with God.
What kind of research did you do while writing the book?
I have a personal Christian library of more than 200 books, so when I write I pull ideas and support from many directions … that being said, this book is a book of faith and I took many of my support pieces from the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of the saints.
