Life is a Story

The 10 year old girl kept her sad eyes locked on the pavement while trying to keep up with a man who kept looking at his cell phone. Seems an odd pair for such a happy place like Kings Dominion. The man finally glanced back at her. Reaching behind, he touched her on the shoulder and looked away. The girl turned in the direction of the tap, saw no one and smiled. He grinned and winked at her. His pace slowed and he reached for her small hand. Wonder if he's her uncle hoping to brighten her life after losing her father?

The family of five walked quickly. The two young boys laughed and bragged about the last roller coaster ride with sound effects. The parents held hands and watched the bouncy duo's excitement. The teenager daughter trailed behind, biting her lower lip. Obviously, her mind was not on coasters or her family. Wonder if she's pregnant and doesn't know how to tell her parents?

The grey haired woman stopped pushing the stroller, arched, and rubbed her lower back. The sleeping toddler stirred. Tightly grabbing the handle again, she pushed the heavy stroller trying to catch up with twin eleven year old girls who dodged the crowd racing for the next ride. Wonder if she's raising her grandkids?

I sat on a bench waiting for my family to return from riding a coaster. 

People watching. Hard rock music blaring, the sun baking the pavement, and buttery popcorn permeating the air. 

But my writer's mind created stories for those passing in front of me. I can't speak for all fiction writers, but I see stories everywhere.

Everyone who lives has a story to tell.

A journey to share. Some chapters are happy, some sad, some scary, some redeeming. After all, life is super complex.

How does God do it?

    In a single moment, a baby is born while someone murders his parents. A teenager stands up for his faith while on the other side of the world, a missionary is executed. A single mom leaves for her second job to support her children while the neighbor down the street, abuses government subsidies to avoid working. A young man fighting cancer undergoes chemotherapy while a drug addict shoots up another toxic concoction.

These events stir feelings in us. And if we are created in God's image, then He must have feelings about them too. Extreme joy and gut-wrenching sadness. Believers and persecutors. Justice and injustice. Life and death.

How does His heart handle those extremes, moment by moment, day by day? 

I wish my finite brain could answer that question. One day when I'm sitting at His feet in the throne room, I'm going to ask. 

I imagine that He will look over to Jesus, pat His heart, and smile. 

While watching the crowd, my small and limited perspective shifts.

From an overly sensitive and judgmental view of the world to sweet gratitude for the opportunity to experience life. 

May the story of my life put a smile on His face and bring Him glory.

Do you ever ponder your story? Had any epiphanies lately? Please share.

Living the Garden Life, Tammy Van Gils plants words and sprouts insightful stories blooming with hope. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She's honored to be a guest blogger and a contributor to The Wonders of Nature Devotion Book, (Dec 2016) and So God Made a Dog: 90 Devotions for Dog People (July 2017) Worthy Inspired.