This dad read “His Name is Cwiz: Lessons from a Lifelong Friendship” by debut author Jeremy Rhyne. A collection of memories from adolescence to adulthood, “Cwiz” recounts the author’s experiences and memories made with the title character Caesar “Cwiz” Ruiz. From their days pulling church youth group pranks all the way to raising children, this memoir has a journal-type feel that gives readers a front row seat to Cwiz’s global escapades.
Anyone who has ever spent any time as part of a church youth group will relate to many of Rhyne’s stories. I was transported back to my junior high and high school days as Jeremy and his group of friends pull pranks on leaders, rival bible studies, teachers – no one is safe from their wrath. I couldn’t help but feel a little wistful for the days of carefree innocent fun; no internet to distract, no phones demanding attention. While readers are experiencing these stories secondhand, Rhyne does a great job of including them in the adventures. I found myself shocked more than once at the lengths Cwiz would go just for a few laughs (the cops show up often)!
What starts off as a record of Cwiz and company’s adolescent antics quickly morphs into the story of a man who finds his way in life via a winding path. The last among his group of friends to marry, to start having kids, to “settle down”, Cwiz’s character is shaped as a result of his life philosophy – to not let anything get in the way of enjoying life and sharing it with others. There’s a lot to be inspired by in Cwiz’s way of life. When most people might balk at the expense of paying for a weeklong Hawaii trip for an entire wedding party, Cwiz didn’t blink an eye. Most people would turn a blind eye to a foreign couple struggling to get a campfire going – Cwiz turned that into a lifelong global relationship. Cwiz is the definition of walking by faith, blind faith most often but is there really any other kind? No amount of money, no fear of embarrassment, not even the threat of death will stop Cwiz on his mission to live life to its fullest.
Seeing this play out in Cwiz’s life as a father was most inspiring to me. I’m a natural homebody and the prospect of traveling any great distance with my wife and young children makes me anxious to no end. Seeing the gusto with which Cwiz’s family experiences the world shows me its not only possible, it’s crucial. That’s what I have taken away from this book the most, hearing firsthand how a man shows love to his family and the world through his actions. Having an impact on the world requires one to step into it boldly without fear, something Cwiz does with style.
I give “His Name is Cwiz” 🧢 🧢 🧢/5 – recommend!
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