This is my personal canon - the books, films, music, games, experiences, and other media that have significantly shaped who I am. It’s an ongoing work, capturing the influences that have left lasting marks on my thinking, values, and perspective.

Books

Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning - A transformative look at grace and God’s unconditional love that still inspires me, despite my complicated relationship with religion

How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur - The creator of The Good Place explores moral philosophy with humor and accessibility, making ethics feel approachable and relevant

Films

Clue - A perfect comedy that taught me the joy of wordplay, timing, and multiple possibilities

The Goonies - Childhood adventure, friendship, and the belief that kids can do extraordinary things

Music & Albums

The Joshua Tree by U2 - An album that shaped my musical tastes and introduced me to music as more than entertainment

The Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot - Faith, doubt, and hope wrapped in unforgettable melodies

Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” - A cover and music video that redefined what it means to reflect on a life lived. Raw, vulnerable, and haunting

Games

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines - A flawed masterpiece that showed me games could tell mature, complex stories with genuine moral ambiguity

Snatcher (Sega CD) - Hideo Kojima’s cyberpunk adventure that demonstrated how games could blend cinematic storytelling with interactive narrative

Experiences & Events

Centrifuge and M-Fuge Camps - Youth camp experiences that shaped my faith and worldview, without the religious baggage (it was there, but I didn’t carry it with me)

XTreme Winter Conferences in Gatlinburg, TN - Winter retreats that challenged and deepened my spiritual journey as a teenager

Passport Missions in Daytona, Florida - A summer of service after my college freshman year that opened my eyes to different ways of living and serving

Sandy Hook - A tragedy that fundamentally changed how I think about safety, childhood, and our responsibilities to protect the vulnerable

Other Media

Guns with History - A video that reframed how I think about gun violence and policy through data and storytelling

Three Paragons of IT by Tom Bridge - A presentation that articulated the ethical framework I strive to embody as an IT professional

This is a living document. As I continue to reflect on what has shaped me, I’ll add to this list.

Inspired by Brendan Schlagel’s canon concept.