Picture This : My Journey from Words to Images

Despite his love of learning, Charles McCollough had always felt estranged from the world of the printed word. Growing up feeling that he was “slower” or “not as smart,” he turned to boxing and football for success as he continued to struggle to understand why it was so hard to comprehend written words. Finally, when working toward his PhD in theology, he discovered that he was dyslexic—and a lifetime of confusion and frustration suddenly made sense. All his life, Charles had constantly created images to describe his experiences and thoughts. Picture This is an extraordinary memoir, with visual memories taken from forty years’ worth of daily journals that he kept during a lifetime of travel and work. Follow his inward journey as he claims his talent and gift as an artist, discovering how artistic expression intersects with his calling as a spiritual seeker and social justice worker. Rejoice along with Charles as he learns that his authentic creations in diverse media, from drawing to sculpture, illuminate a layer of feeling and understanding beyond what the written and spoken word can express. Both deeply personal and broadly relatable, this story of a dyslexic who harnessed the power of visual expression is a moving and inspirational example of a man who kept seeking until he found—and was found by—the grace of creativity.