In my life, some of the most powerful, profound words I've read have been in works of fiction. In this channel, I offer stories and poems that attempt to uncover deeper truths through (mostly) fictional narratives.
Peace is costly—it is not made by ignoring pain or hurt or history. Peace comes with honestly and humility, a commitment to seeing and listening to one another.
I was asked to describe my view of Scripture, so I wrote this short reflection as a depiction of how the Bible has come alive to me in recent years. Scripture is no longer a reflection of myself, but is a summons to know the world of life.
Men prepare for battle against the forces of darkness. At the command of their Divine, they ride their warhorses against their foes and, with the power of their Divine, they win what they think is a miraculous victory.
A reflection on Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other." (NLT)
One of my most challenging stories to date, this is a fresh look at the Noah story in four movements. What if Noah really had been the madman everyone thought he was? Do we today ever sabotage the mission God gave us?
Sometimes stories, whether they are "factually accurate" or not, carry more truth in their bones than a journalistic account ever could. It's like Santa Claus.
What if the accusations against us are right? What if we're the monsters they say we are? We don't think they are, but could that be part of the problem?
Even the best of us often see what we want to see... and miss what we don't want to see. What do you notice as you read this story? What do you skim over? Where in your life do you miss opportunities to make a difference?
There's a garden in Kansas City that is a special place for my wife and me, a haven that became a sort of sacred ground for us. This story is a quick, bright sketch of our time there and the reason it brought us so much joy.