Sometimes the freedom you seek...
...is already found inside your heart.
Joel David Bond lives in Iraq. By choice. So when he suddenly finds himself quarantined indefinitely on a remote Greek island, friends and family romanticize it as a fortunate event.
But even paradise has its troubles: away from his love and the life he knows, and with nothing but a carry-on bag, a weak internet signal, and a fair amount of pluck, Bond is forced to learn some hard locked-down life lessons as an unintended refugee from both heart and home.
Through the happy accident of exile, Bond’s path crosses with that of true refugees, and as their lives intersect, some universal truths are learned about loving your neighbor as yourself.
Bond’s account captures the refugee experience — be it refugee of heart or home — and how our universal humanity can only be found when we listen to the still, small voice inside. As Large as Your Spirit is an extraordinary memoir of persistent hope, creative grit, uncanny encounters, and what it means to accept yourself and others.
Available on Amazon in paperback, hardback and Kindle.
4th-tier finalist in both memoir and travel categories, 2023
Recognition
What others are saying
"As Large as Your Spirit is a celebration of the human spirit and the incredible things we are capable of achieving when we believe in ourselves. A must-read for anyone looking to reignite their sense of possibility and purpose.”
Dr. Brandon Park, author and motivational speaker
About the author
Joel David Bond
A born explorer, Joel David Bond has spent over two decades living and working around the world, from farm work in Italian vineyards to jet-setting as a London-based flight attendant.
His recent work in Iraqi Kurdistan built bridges between some of the region’s most elite students and the locally marginalized refugee community through service-learning.
He holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Nottingham, UK. He is the author of "Life Chapters," an annually published mini-memoir and podcast. His 2022 installment, entitled “Amazing Grace,” was shortlisted for the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction.
