For those who’ve grown up in church, the Easter story is a familiar one. So familiar are the words hope and doubt, death and resurrection, that the true meaning of them lose their splendor. Sometimes their familiarity in our Easter vocabulary even breeds a heart-level boredom. So, when I was cruising through the Easter story a few years ago, I was shocked to find a verse I’d never noticed. Surely I’d read it before. At the very least I’d heard it. But I had certainly never stopped to consider … [Read more...]
An Easter Ballad for the Day In Between
I can trace my love of imaginative, biblical narrative round and round the grooves of an LP 33 speed record album. Maybe you don’t remember, but a record album (pronounced reh-kerd al-buh-m) was in popular use shortly after the invention of the wheel and hieroglyphics--or so it seems. In the late 70s my parents bought an advanced piece of music technology. A stereo. This miracle of musical machinery was ensconced behind glass doors to reiterate the fact that all the blinking knobs and … [Read more...]
Peter’s Honest Confession
{This work of fiction is based on the framework of John 21:15-19. Previously, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4} The beach was waking up. Gulls bobbed on the water, squawking at the fishermen and diving for food. Other boats pulled up to the shore, their crews gaping at the huge catch that had already been hauled in. When the eight friends finished eating, Jesus and Peter walked along the shore where the breeze ruffled the water and splashed into foam near their feet. The small talk … [Read more...]
Daybreak Surprise
{This work of fiction is based on the framework of John 21:6-7. Previously, Part 1:} Peter coiled the ropes into a sloppy pile on the deck. The man on the shore called to them again, but Peter couldn’t hear over the lapping water and sliding ropes “What did he say?” Peter asked. John answered, “He said, cast on the right side to find some fish.” The rest of them stopped fiddling with nets and oars, ropes and sails. They looked from one to another, too tired to think and too … [Read more...]
Frustrated Waiting
{This work of fiction is based on the framework of John 21:1-5.} It was a dreary but familiar rhythm. Peter cast out his net and heard it slap the surface and then hiss as it sunk. Hand over hand, Peter and John drew it back in scraping ropes over the hull. Slap. Hiss. Scrape. Nothing. Hour after hour. All night long. The motions had come back as naturally as breathing, but tonight he was waking muscles that had been sleeping for years. And they were angry. Three years … [Read more...]