As you may or may not know, I’ve been working through my audio recordings of some of my memoirs. This week, I’ve gotten nearly three quarters of the way through the book. One of the hardest things about writing things down in such great quantities, is keeping the reader from becoming lost or confused, along the way. If someone were to pick up the book and simply start reading somewhere in the middle, I’m fairly certain they’d get lost pretty rapidly! One must read from the beginning, in order to understand the middle, which in turn carries them through to the conclusion.

Just like books, human beings have a beginning, a middle, and an end at some point! Every day we meet others who are in differing stages of their life book, leaving us to attempt an understanding of the person before us, with only bits and pieces of their actual story. It requires us to do some sleuthing, if you will, in order to make sense of the person we are encountering. Some folks say one thing, but behave in ways that are contrary to their words. Many times, we don’t exactly have the time to study the person in order to make an accurate assessment… so we guess!

Books are like people, in this respect! Some readers may skim over text, while some may get stuck overthinking a word or thought, based on their own perspective or past history.

As I was reading through my own chapters, I happened upon the time in my history that I was attending Bible Seminary. One of the key speakers, during my year there, lectured for an entire week over the importance of Context, perspectives, and motives. whether a person is the reader or listener, if you will, it is vital to understand context, have the right perspective, and check your motives at the door! These valuable words of wisdom, from that instructor, have stayed with me all these years. As a writer, I take it very seriously when I share my thoughts, insights, and/or imaginative tales. My desire is for the reader to fully see me, understanding the meaning of my words, and feeling the emotions that I wish to convey.

Yesterday’s prompt question asked about quotes that one lives by, and I hurriedly answered it, with a verse from the book of Matthew. Jesus had been speaking, in regards to following Him or following after worldly things. Though I’m not a quote follower, I did offer a portion of the verse from Matthew 24-26, where Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Later in the day, when I read through comments from friends, someone asked how I connected that quote with the one about Jesus yoke being easy and his burden light? My immediate answer was to the effect of, it’s all connected! At the moment, it seemed a short and concise answer, but my overthinking brain didn’t wish to leave it there. I pondered things throughout the evening, waking this morning with a desire to expound upon my earlier answer.

The verse that was mentioned came from several chapters earlier in the book of Matthew, in chapter 11: 28-30 where Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you an learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

While I still agree with my own original answer, that it’s all connected, I want to make sure that you understand why I stated that, even though these two verses are about differing things. One speaks of letting go of worldly possessions, while the other refers to living a Christlike existence. Both are equally valuable words of truth and wisdom from the Son of God. The reason I can say that it’s all connected, is because it is! Everything that Jesus did and said from the moment of his birth, all the way to his ascension into heaven, was prophetic, intentional, and predestined. Jesus was never a one and done sort, but rather, everything He said added to and built up everything that followed afterward.

I hope no one took offense that I chose to give such a long winded answer, for a simple question from a friend. I guess I felt a bit bad, for leaving such a simple and benign answer to a very intriguing question. Hopefully, they will think this a more heartfelt answer than yesterday.