This Story Would Have to Sell As Fiction Because No One Would Believe It.

What a week this has been! I have experienced a range of emotions that, if charted, would look like a giant roller coaster ride. We thought 2020 was tough, but eight days into 2021 and I am shaking my head in disbelief.

Before I had the privilege of taking an early retirement to focus on my love of writing, I spent 30 years as a teacher and school administrator. As you might imagine, I have some great stories from all those years. Some of those stories are funny, some are sad, most are almost too crazy to believe. One of my favorite sayings when those memorable events happened was, “I should write a book about this, but it would have to sell as fiction because no one would believe it.”

Here are a few examples:

>A mother came to see me and asked if I would write a letter for her. She was going before a judge to discuss a fight she had with her neighbor and needed someone to vouch for her character. She was telling me about the fight and stood up, pulled up her shirt and showed me her bare chest. She wanted me to see the scars from the fight.

>As I walked out to my car after school one day, there was a man standing across the street watching. It made me uncomfortable, but I quickly got into my car and locked the door. As soon as I turned on the car, he started running toward me. I recognized him as a parent of a boy I had suspended for fighting. He jumped on the hood of my car and started beating the windshield, screaming. “Who do you think you are accusing my son. If I had a gun, I would kill you.” I put the car in reverse, and he fell off. I hit the gas and took off.

>We had a fifth-grade boy who was on probation and he had to attend school. Our Social Worker had agreed to go and get him on days he did not attend. One day he did not come to school so she asked me if I would go with her to his home. We went to get him, and he answered the door in his underwear. I told him to go get his dad and put on some clothes. His dad came out in his underwear too.

>Two different times, at two different schools, a child pulled the fire alarm during a rainstorm. When the fire alarm goes off, the building must be evacuated until the fire department can come and check to make sure there is no fire.

>A second grade boy put his head inside his desk and got it stuck. After trying everything we could think of, we had to call the fire department and they had to saw the desk apart to get the little boy out.

Such memories!

Some of the things I have seen and heard this week fit into the same category of this would have to sell as fiction because no one would believe it is true.

I am not sure what is true and what is not true.

>Was the election rigged?

>Was China or Italy involved?

>Who broke into the Capitol?

>Was it a set up? If so, by who?

>Can we believe what we are hearing and seeing?

>What is going on in our country?

I do not have the answers to these and many more questions, but I know that God tells us multiple times in the Bible to not be afraid. He is in control and we can trust him.

Our country is in a dire situation and our future is at stake. Only God can heal the wounds that have occurred. We need God to step in and heal our land. I believe, 100%, he will do that.

1 Timothy 2:2 tells us to pray for those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

I am praying that God’s will be done in this colossal mess. Will you join me?