Ms. Crook, "I changed my name from Cook to Crook." Samantha asked "why? Why would you do that?" Curious, her eyes displayed all the wonder of the world through the eyes of a child and even a bit of innocence.Ms. Crook remember a scripture her mother told her 'when a child I thought like a child. I reason like a child. But when I grew up I put away childish things." It was funny how life can take you down so many roads. How you can be confronted with so my choices. And then one-day day you look up and see and remember what your mother once said, I guess you're never to old. As Ms. Crook was reflected back to days long ago she saw Samantha still looking at her waiting for an answer. "I changed my name so I wouldn't forget.""Forget what?" Samantha had her words out before Ms. Crook could answer her question. "Give me time child, give me time." Ms. Crook was never known for her patience, Samantha shook her head from side to side. Ms. Crook smiled and began to speak softly and slowly to build up the moment. "Well, Jacob was walking around in the desert when he got tired. So he decided to take a nap but then he felt like someone was near him. He grabbed the person and wrestle with him. He was holding the man down because he was not going to let him go." Samantha said out loud, "why not?" Ms. Crook could tell that she was all into what she was saying. Samantha's eyes displayed her interest, wide-eyed and innocent. Ms. Crook had not seen her interest from the moment she walked in the door. Ms. Crook cleared her throat a few times and began again, "well you see he knew that the place where he was that angels were known to be there. And so he wouldn't let the angel's go, which incidentally was the LORD until he blessed him." Samantha got up and began walking around in the little Bible study class down in the basement. She stopped right in front of Ms. Crook, looked her straight in the eye and said, "let me get this right. Jacob grabber God and held him down until he did what he wanted? This powerful God who created the heavens and earth was held down by a man sleeping? And you expect me to believe this, I'm outta here." Samantha grabs her book bag and jacket and stormed up the stairs. The one of Ms. Crook fellow teacher came up to her and said, "that's not the way the story goes." Ms. Crook smiles and said, "creative license."  Ms. Crook began cleaning up the room, for the class had ended over an hour ago, but Samantha stayed. It was the first time Samantha stayed and listen. Ms. Crook knew that progress might be slow but Samantha was worth it. No child left behind.

I like to write something that can hopefully impact the world, maybe even make a change.  Something that will put your focus in a new direction.  This story came to me after reading the reports about record high temperature, and all the crisis going on in the world today.  This is just a story, right? Or is it?“Hey are you not afraid? With everything that’s going on in the world today? You’ve got to have concerns just like the rest of us.” She said leaning in close so no one else could hear. Marlene spoke with concern in her voice, you could hear the passion as she spoke in almost shush tones. There was a certain point when her voice went up a little then back to shush tone. Then Lionel answered her, “No, not at all.” Marlene was a good person, a nice girl, someone Lionel enjoyed hanging out with. But their values and beliefs systems were not on the same page. Even though Lionel enjoyed Marlene’s company he could not help but to worry about her. What would happen to Marlene if life turned upside down, any more than it was? Marlene was already worried and edgy because of things happening in the world today. But Lionel was not, he remain calm. It’s was as if he knew the outcome, peace even in the midst of trials. Lionel wasn’t worried about the stock market, the economy, if he would have a job tomorrow, or terrorist coming and blowing up the church he attended. Lionel had a peaceful countenance, he was a rock.Lionel knew that Marlene was worried about everything. Marlene was a good person she didn’t goof off at work or take long lunches. She didn’t tell dirty jokes or use profanity. She would never cheat on her taxes or mistreat anyone. She wasn’t one of those people out for herself. She didn’t value money above all else, she was a kind hearted person. But Lionel couldn’t help but to wonder about her eternal salvation. He was trying to bring her to church with him. And just when Lionel began to make some headway about going to church. Then people started bombing churches and coming in shooting. Marlene then backed away, and who could blame her. Marlene was a good person living in a fallen world. Lionel was glad she kept her friendship with him. Maybe he could help her find her courage, at least to come to church. But Marlene had listened to too many reports about Preachers who fool around with their congregation. She wasn’t interested in hearing what they had to say. Lionel tried to tell her that not every Pastor behaved that way. But the Media makes things seem worse, especially when it involves a religious leader. Marlene had become addicted to listening to the news, all their bad reports. And so, by now she was terrified to even go outside. And so, Lionel remained her friend, hoping that one day she would have enough courage and faith to hear him out. Marlene had friends who said they could help her they had the answers, the cure. They said, “ If you drink enough or swallow enough pills then the world isn’t a scary place.” But Lionel said “what a way to live, so out of it that you don’t know what’s going on.” Lionel wanted to make sure before Marlene decided who to listen to, he would help her.Marlene stood on her front porch in the dark waiting for Lionel. Because of low temperatures and snow, her power lines were down. But Lionel was on his way with a flash light and some candles. When Lionel got there Marlene was outside on the small porch of her apartment building. She was wearing her a big navy wool long coat and black riding boots. Marlene smiled as she saw Lionel heading up the sidewalk, as he got closer she said, “I don’t know how long this might last, people say it could go on for weeks.” Lionel took this moment to talk to Marlene, he spoke with compassion, “there will always be bad reports about everything. That’s what the enemy uses to hold you back, keep you down. If you’re afraid to go to church because of what some people are doing then you are backing away from God. God can protect you even from the bombing. Not every church gets bombed you do know.” Marlene shook her head but very slowly as if not truly believing what Lionel had said. She allowed the reports to fill her with so much fear it was a wonder she even went outside to go to work. She did however, stop going to the park for lunch, fear was taking over her life. Marlene took into account all the things that Lionel said, but he could see she wasn’t buying into it. The Media had done their job well, they splatter over the TV, Internet, and anywhere else about all the chaos in the world. And people began to live in fear of everything, going to parks, schools, games, concerts, churches, grocery stores, even driving down the highway. People were already scared to live life. Talk about living out loud no one does that anymore, things have shifted so bad and so quickly, that people just don’t realize they are losing the ability to truly live and be happy. The United States was the only place where you were free. Lionel knew few people who felt like they were truly free anymore. People had been locked in the worst prison there were, in their minds. And yet Jesus came to release the people out of their prison, but they chose to listen to the world instead of a loving Father."How can you know the way to go?" she asked with caution in her voice. "The LORD lights my way, he lights all our ways." Lionel spoke his words with confidence and conviction. Marlene then asked, "does he guide me too? If so why can't I tell?” Lionel turned back to face her, as he looked deep into her brown eyes he said, "it's a light inside you. And yes he lights your way, too. People just don't always listen to him. You can't recognize his voice because we have allowed the world to cancel him out. But if we pray, read and study His word in the Bible. He comes and lives inside of us, and He lights our way." Marlene was trying to understand what Lionel had just spoken, he saw the confusion on her face. "It's not a voice you hear with your ears,” Lionel pointed to his ear, “ but deep down inside your spirit. He's guiding us right now. He guided you to me, didn't he? So yes, even you can hear that still small voice."And then there came a small flicker in her eyes, and Lionel smiled, she was finally hearing him. Marlene was beginning to understand, she so desired to have the kind of peace that Lionel had and now Marlene was on the journey to understand. It’s just a story, it’s not real right? There are no snow storms or record high temperatures. There is no Media talking about terrorist, or churches that are being bombed. It’s safe to walk down your street and sit on your front porch. No one carrying guns or shooting at people in the church. Children are safe to play in their yards without dodging bullets. It’s safe for children to ride the school buses. No one is coming into schools with guns, it’s all just a story fiction right? Just something made up for a Hollywood movie, it’s not real right? Right?

  I was inspired by the Media to write about Princess Megan Markle's shoes.  Now we all know that she is a Princess and very beautiful, but her shoes made the news.  They reported how she was out and about and she was wearing heels, but then she took off the heels and put on flats.  I guess I never thought about the seriousness of this, but then I'm no Princess either.  But nonetheless I was inspirited to write a fable about the beautiful princess and her shoes.  I'm truly thankful God blessed me with a creative mind and a great sense of humor. Oh Princess fairest of them allwhat troubles you, and made you fall?Why Shoemaker so handsome and tall,I need new shoes that's why I had a fall.It's not for dance or even for a ball,it's just for me to walk, that's all.Oh, lovely lady whose beauty I can't forsake,I will make shoes for which you can take.Thy beauty I can't deny, whose lovely and fairI will create thy shoes, so don't despair.Why shoemaker thank you so much,I will treasure thy shoes with your loving touch.How may I repay you, what can I do,to express my gratitude?Oh fairest princess, lovely with grace,I require no payment, just to look upon thy face.Oh, handsome shoemaker that I can do,I will spend an eternity sharing my days with you.And so the beautiful princess had shoes so lovely and fair,made by the handsome shoemaker who dared to care.