A series failures taunted me as I walked from the courthouse to my car. I’d been dismissed from jury duty. Not even a calculating attorney with a frivolous lawsuit had any use for me. I even failed to get selected for jury duty! I scolded myself. Even though jury duty wasn’t exactly voluntary, to me it was more evidence that whenever I tried something new, I failed. In my estimation, I was surrounded by evidence of continual failure. A marriage that didn’t match the fairy tales, … [Read more...]
When a Father Made Me Cry at the Pool
They say you remember trauma more acutely than pleasure. If the memories of my first high dive experience are any indication, it’s true. I was in fourth grade. No one made me do it, but it looked fun. Something akin to flying. So, in my least favorite faded-red swimsuit, I leapt to my near-death. A nanosecond after my limbs smacked the water, my head throbbed with pressure of chlorine water forced up my sinuses. I remember “rearranging” my swimsuit while I was still ten leagues … [Read more...]
To Need Him a Lot
It didn’t make sense. I’d begun reading to the kids from Sally Lloyd-Jones’ Jesus Storybook Bible. We’d read about David and Daniel, Moses and Joshua. They were the examples, the leaders, and the heroes of the faith. I could not identify. I couldn’t think of any Bible stories of women crying in a pile of dirty laundry like I was. I doubted God had anything favorable to say to a mom so worn out by her own children that she could hardly believe he was still paying attention. And if he … [Read more...]
When Remarkable Faith Feels Less than Remarkable
Perusing a list of Christian book titles ought to be encouraging, inspiring, and helpful. Christ-following authors have urged us to demonstrate “Crazy Love,” implored us, “Don’t Waste Your Life,” and challenged us to live in a way that is “Radical,” and to “Do Hard Things.” We Christians know we ought to be living a life of demonstrated faith, and we truly want to live in a way that makes a difference. But as we read books or even just their titles, we may mistakenly imagine the hard, … [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...]
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