Charlie Bleecker & The Second Person Sermon

In the beginning of my Write of Passage journey, there was

Charlie Bleecker

. Writer, Mentor, and fellow parent, Charlie and I became friends after she refused my feedback that she specifically solicited. Besides her aversion to screen sharing slides, and being known as the Michael Jordan of writing, Charlie helped me overcome the tempter, the serpent, the dark lord of writing that has plagued people of all beliefs: The Second Person Sermon. 

I have witnessed Second Person Sermons not only from a podium or a pulpit but frequently in written pieces and I too have been a culprit. 

A Second Person Sermon usually begins when an author shifts from the first person I and me to the collective us and we. Left to wonder who granted this writer the authority to author a story on behalf of many, the collective form then gives way to the second person. The author abandons themselves for another, with the most dangerous three letter word: you. Finally the sin of the Second Person Sermon separates itself from all else by way of they and them.

The Sin of the Second Person Sermon

The first Transparent Tuesday I ever read was #53 the one where Charlie Bleecker said:

“You guys, my brother in-law is an asshole.”

Further down the piece, as she talks about her family, we begin to lose Charlie:

“They don’t understand my creative and entrepreneurial pursuits.” 

Attend a writing session with Bleecker today and Charlie will share this as an example of disparaging others, rendering judgment on one or more people, and how a Second Person Sermon reveals a deficiency, or worse hypocrisy, of the author.

Now look at the difference two years has made when Charlie writes in Transparent Tuesday #160:

“I looked over and saw my mom and sisters sitting on the couch sipping vodka martinis.” 

Charlie’s first person scene has hooked me with a description from her own eyes. Throughout this piece Bleeck shares what she sees then grants me an audience with her feelings. I am intrigued by her account and vulnerability as she reveals her inner stories.

Elevate the Audience

By committing to writing in the first person, the reader becomes a high priest without all the responsibility. What a seat. See how Charlie Bleecker writes in a way that grants her audience exclusive access to the experiences only she can author:

When I read Charlie’s invective directed at her Oura ring, my smile reminded me laughter is the reflex of comprehension. By her confession, I recall I have cursed and condemned many smart watches and phones. I definitely do not need an Oura ring. 

When I read Charlie has the secret to a thriving marriage even though she and Sam have been married half the duration of Nik and me, I nod along until I realized I too could confess to my very limited breadth of experience with this life long expedition. 

When I read Charlie had hit the lay on the carpet and cry moment of parenting I was reminded of my own parenting moments that left me expended on my carpet. Most recently when my son ejected his breakfast all over the house. Don’t worry, I mopped up before I wept on our floor. 

On the internet there is seemingly no end to the Second Person Sermons of Success. It’s exhausting. The lessons from Charlie’s confessions elevated me to see my own faults and flaws like how I once loved labor and had to rediscover the inheritance of my people. Now my imperfections are my not-so-secret ingredients when it comes to my writing.

Embrace the Confession 

Why would this be meant to be?

-Charlie, Bleecker Bombs Episode #21 

Charlie was speaking to Polina Marinova Pompliano during her podcast Bleecker Bombs. Except she forgot to press record. An hour went by before Charlie realized what she had done or in this case forgot to do. I too admit, I have done this. 

This is the power of the written word: I can read a confession in the first person and simultaneously witness the confessor and become the one making the confession. A story in the first person is a two for one experience unlike any other. 

The interior of another is endlessly fascinating. Every soul is a destination I can’t reach unless its author tells a part of its story. I’m endeared to the honesty of a writer who can share with not only God or a priest but even me. 

Specific Feedback & Silly Epiphanies

When writing Silly Epiphany, Charlie specifically asked me for feedback on her piece. We had been in a Writing Sprint together and I specifically told her what she was describing as Silly Epiphanies are not epiphanies, but questions. 

This wasn't a revelation Charlie, you just came up with something silly! 

Then Bleeck by way of action taught me the Double Down. When one receives writing feedback and does the opposite, the Double Down goes to town and prominently proclaims Silly Epiphany in bold. 

This was my reply when I saw Charlie’s Double Down:

You know what I love about this Charlie Bleecker? I love that I told you these aren't epiphanies, because literally they are not revelations, but questions. AND I love that in the face of my curmudgeon dictionary definitions you doubled down along with Cam-the-battering-ram

Cam Houser

. AND I love that your essay convinced me even though these aren't dictionary definition epiphanies, this title, coined term, and overall idea is brilliant and works. I LOVE IT. Webster is on notice…

For me, I write about God and Heaven. I have seen miraculous things but they will all mean nothing, if I do not have the humility and resolve to write and speak like Bleeck. By treating my essays as confessions, others can borrow in an instant the things that took ages in me to surface. 

Charlie Bleecker isn’t only my friend, she taught me a new way to be generous.

It may seem obvious now how Charlie Bleecker’s cafe bathroom cocaine breaks inspired my personal brand of Spanish Mysticism, but back when Charlie first announced her weekly publishing commitment, no one, not one soul on the entire internet liked her post (at the time of publishing this essay). No comments. No restacks. No ducks given, yet she stuck with it.

Charlie Bleecker’s transformation across nearly two-hundred Transparent Tuesdays helped me put an end to my own Second Person Sermons. Without my friend Bleeck, I would not have seen a part of the beauty God put in me.  

Thank you Charlie.

Until next week, 

-Steven

PS. I still don’t understand why Charlie’s daughter goes to daycare at the Army Corps of Engineers or why she felt a certain Write of Passage staff retreat sounded like a Bachelor-esque group date, but I’m grateful she survived The Accident and I learned a lot about myself as a parent when The Good Cry came eleven days later.

I would love to hear how Charlie Bleecker’s story has impacted you in the comments below. To all my subscribers, my gratitude for each of you continues to grow. If you have yet to subscribe, use the link below.

Thank you to

Miche Priest

,

Cissy Hu

,

David Kiferbaum

,

Rahul Sanghi

,

Tommy Dixon

,

Camilo Moreno-Salamanca

,

Rick Lewis

, and

Sairam Sundaresan

from Write of Passage for your feedback on this essay.

A special thank you to

Haley Brengartner

for the conversations and comments throughout the evolution of this piece.

This is my final piece for Write of Passage, Cohort 11. Here’s the set:

The Mark of a Mystic

Commit a Career Ending Move

The Thing About Mary

Changed My Name

Charlie Bleecker & The Second Person Sermon