I think I am a bit late returning to the Writing Porch this season. For 14 years, it has been my Writing Haven. It reminds me of Maine. I look upon our small lake and feel peace. A sense of place. The world’s troubles melt away in the inspiration of the Writing Porch. It is good to read and write fiction. The ability to develop headspace outside the chaos of the moment is valuable. The Writing Porch assists me in not following the crowd.

Stories are life. We get up in the morning and lay our head on our pillow at night with stories. I remember Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Daniel Boone, as well as 1984, speaking new thoughts to my young brain. In sixth-grade literature, we read Across Five Aprils, and I never forgot it. I became a Christian by reading the Bible Story Books at Ferrel Hospital while waiting for Dr. Ferrel.

Stories make our daily life enjoyable. We look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We know that there is a Big Man in the Sky…he cares about us even when it seems no one does. Political leaders woo us with stories. They tell us that we are the greatest. Empathetic leaders tell us to help the poor and downtrodden. Some of us like the Story of Jesus as John Wayne. Guns ablazing and barfights ensuing. Tough Christian Nationalist…Jesus favors the white Americans…he does not recognize the brown folks of the people he created.

Stories have flaws. Jesus is not a white American. His disciples were not white Americans…they were not recipients of the Prosperity Doctrine. Greatness does not come from cruelty.

Life after death is a compelling story. We all want to believe it…even those who say they do not. The work…the love…the striving for a better world…must not be lost by the death of the body. We are the product of a Story…we perform our part on the stage of life. Study your lines and practice.