"I think that there’s just one trope, just one reason for the plea, “Tell me a story!”
"People want to know that their life matters, that events are shaped to purpose.
"They want to know that the traumas were for a reason, and that the joys have some counterpart in Infinity and aren’t irretrievably lost to time.
"And that there is a road ahead, leading to a warm place, and that everything doesn’t end in the cold and the dark.
"Because we’re all of us so terribly afraid of the dark."
In other words...tell me how this ends.
With Jesus as the Light, there's no reason to fear the darkness...
...and yet...
Jesus told stories too.
And even He asked that the darkness of Good Friday somehow pass Him by.
Tell Me how this ends.
It's OK to recoil from the dark. It's OK to be scared.
Just climb into the lap of the master Storyteller.
Tell me a story.
Music from Any Williams, with Almost There. It's a nice song...so why not?
Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.
Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.
Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
You have beautifully expressed the struggle of a hurting heart. I can relate to your questions and your hope and needed to know today that I am not struggling alone. If your title gives context to your pain, I am so sorry you are facing such suffering. I pray God buoys your spirit and reassures your faith in a very real way.
ReplyDeleteAra, thank you so much for these lovely, grace-filled words; and I am so happy that you found something of value here. The pain will pass, one way or the other, but the meeting-place with God it created will remain.
DeleteThank you so much for your prayers!
It all started with telling stories. Fathers told their children, who told their children. People talked before they wrote. Now they write their stories. I love hearing yours, not the pain and suffering, but the places it all brings you to, the raw, the real, the hope, the fear, its all you and your not afraid to show and tell. And Jesus wants us to come to that place, not to just know Him but to know us, who we are, and then to know even there he loves us. Praying for you and Barb. Thank you Andrew, truly, your writing is an offering to us and I know it costs you a great price to keep giving it.
ReplyDeleteMary, you've nailed it, with the genesis of stories, and you've said it so gracefully!
DeleteAnd yes, Jesus wants us THERE, to know Him, to know us. Perfect.
We thank you so much for your prayers.
Bless you.
ReplyDeleteNorma, my dear friend...thank you.
DeleteI wish I could tell you a story, Andrew, but I've never been a good story teller - instead, I'm a poet. So here ya go
ReplyDeleteThe storm surrounded me
waves crashing against my
battered heart
these tattered sails
drifting in shattered hope
and then
clear
unmistakeable
a distant lighthouse
a sure and shining spark of life
true
unyielding
leading me, not out, but through
guiding me, not beyond, but deeper still
leaving me, not alone, but anchored again
to the One who
still calms these stormy seas
even when they keep raging
You've done that for me, Andrew.
just a small part of your beautiful, well-done-faithful-one story.
Jane, I don't know what to say...except that this is such a lovely poem (and I love lighthouses!), and I'm so glad I could help.
DeleteWe're praying for you, my friend.
Thank you for sharing your story to bring us encouragement. Praying so much that you feel that same comfort tonight.
ReplyDeleteBettie, it's an honour to share...and I am so grateful for your prayers.
DeleteI hope you have more comfort than pain, and more peace than fear, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteAnnie in Texas
Annie...I do. God's here. And I'm so glad you're here.
DeleteSurrounding you with love and prayer, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteJudith, thank you so much...I do feel the warmth.
Delete