One of the worst story endings I’ve ever read was served up to me last year in a long-awaited novel. I had high hopes, but when I read the final pages, I thought, “Pfffft! That’s ridiculous. That would never happen.” One element of the ending was so unbelievable that I felt irritated. I’ve never written a novel, and I know storytelling requires a boatload of creativity and mental stamina, So the fact that I had the gall to criticize probably says more about me than this author. But in any … [Read more...]
What’s that smell?
Last week I took my regular walk down to the water. I rounded the curve, and the expansive lake spread out before me. Sometimes I round that curve, and the breeze blowing up the shore carries the most unappealing smells. Often, I smell a rotting carcass, and as the smell gets stronger, I inevitably see a dead carp bloating in the sun. There’s a garbage can close to the dock, and a nauseating cocktail of odors seep from under its fitted metal lid. When the lake is low, a quarter-mile of soggy … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Disciples
It’s no big secret that Peter is one of my favorite characters in the New Testament, and it’s not because he’s always a shining example of Christlikeness. I suspect many of us relate to Peter because he’s so…well, so much like us. He was the disciple who worked all night long. He lent Jesus his boat and ferried him just beyond the shore where Jesus could teach the crowds with a little breathing room. Peter recognized power when he saw it, and he was quick to leave his nets and follow Jesus. … [Read more...]