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by Michael Beck (Author)
The main struggles in this work are getting through autism, addiction, homelessness and depression while feeling betrayed by other people, even family. Only the process of overcoming adversity while finding the patience and humility to work on such challenges led me to accept that I was different from others and that the experiences I had with God allowed me to humble myself and rekindle my family relationships, as well as to find the good in random people who helped me on my journey.
I am originally from New York City. I was born in Lenox Hill Hospital on the upper east side in June of 1993, and I grew up in Westchester County, New York in a small town twenty miles north of Manhattan and was the oldest of two when we moved after my younger sister who was two-and-a-half years younger was born. I lived all over the country, including Vermont, Alaska, Arizona and Florida. I got my Bachelor's Degree in English (BA) from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York in 2020. In my adulthood, I also worked in restaurants, moving and landscaping, painting, countertop-making and other odd jobs. Furthermore, I struggled with addiction and autism for years; it is only through my spirituality and my faith that I found relief in creative endeavors such as writing and playing piano. I was raised in a Jewish family and became a Messianic Jew when I was baptized at 26 with a Black Christian Baptist Church community that helped me find my faith since I was lost in my way. My life improved when I found the path the Lord wanted me to take. That path went against the grain, and it took me going through tough times, and then finding peace of mind to not give up and to persist on the journey of life.
