From The Front Porch

The Clear Zone

Mose Washington’s little cabin sits on the banks of the lake—calm and quiet. The house and yard show signs of care, and a pair of cane-bottomed rockers stand guard on the front porch, but no one has lived there for almost half-a-century.

The tranquil surroundings belie the small dwelling’s history. In the fifteen years between 1945 and 1960, a man was shot to death in the front yard, another on the front porch; two were killed in the lake, and two on the opposite bank. In the woods behind the place, five people died at the hands of men. In spite of that . . .

On a years-ago afternoon, when sunlight came in ripples from the surface of the lake, Missy Parker sat in one of the rockers and voiced the thoughts of practically every person who has ever visited the cabin when she said, “I wonder if this is the most peaceful place on earth.”

Remember how ordered the world seemed when viewed from Mose’s front porch? Well, I want to capitalize on that . . . and use this venue to visit with passersby . . . and encourage them to avail themselves of the peace offered by these environs. I'm calling this blog The Clear Zone—the word Clear being acronymical for Cat Lake Echoes and Reflections. And instead of using my words exclusively to attract people to my books, I’ve decided to lean more toward discussing The Truth behind my fiction.

For this installment, I’m offering my own interpretation of one of my favorite scripture passages, Colossians 1:28, 29. See what you think.

The directive is etched

into eternity’s harder-than-diamond surface.

My given calling

is to struggle in such a way

that I eventually exhaust the energy and resources

poured upon me

by a gracious God.

I am beckoned

~ commanded even ~

to step forward

and point beyond the breach~

across that fissure between time and eternity

that was spanned by Wisdom draped in an earthly form.

But for what purpose?

So that I might remind those who hear my voice

of things too easily forgotten.

So that I may seek to draw every person to fidelity to The Truth.

So that those people

~so reminded and so drawn~

may then step confidently to the edge of the precipice

and show following men the path to Truth’s side.

The Power of the Creator of the Universe

resides at the fingertips of my heart

and tingles . . .

waiting for ignition.

You’re always welcome at The Clear Zone . . . as are your friends.

Some of you who visit here will eventually bounce to my website. While there, take a moment to sign up for my eLetter; I’ll be trying to post it often enough to keep everyone abreast of what’s going on behind the scenes.