Disciple: A Short Story

This past week I met a guy name Jesus Castellanos at work. I've been working there for the last year never really sat down and had a conversation with him until last week. I learn that he's a pastor. He also invited me to attend church this past Sunday, which I did and it was great. This experience made me nervous at first bet I'm glad I talk to him he's such a nice man. All he talked about was his family and god.

I stand and stare in disbelief as the car’s bonnet is crumpled into the bulky metal pole on the side of the road. My limbs are numb and I am drenched from head to toe. The glistening droplets continuously drip off the tip of my nose as I realize how much trouble I’m going to get into. The wind wails around me as if it’s saying “you’re going to be in so much trouble”. I suddenly get back into the car and attempt to reverse the car so no one will see the car rammed into the power pole. Mum and Dad's pristine new car. Scratched. Dented. Ruined.

I was professed on Palm Sunday, April 15, 1984. There were four of us – Janice and Dick McCarthy, who now belong to St. Clare fraternity in Delaware. Jerry Hopp, who is now enjoying his reward in the communion of saints. We were professed at St. Elizabeth’s Church, Ellerslie Avenue, in Baltimore City. Our formation director, who shall remain nameless, left the Order after losing an election. In 1983-84 we had many people seeking a deeper spiritual way of life, through the Secular Franciscan Order. At the time I was in initial formation, Mary Our Queen had two groups. Our group started before the second group, but they were professed first. We asked for more time to discern because we became aware of how serious a commitment we were

Rouhani, do not release the Christian and Muslim American hostages no matter what the un-American Hawaiian born, the lady senator who I'm so glad is running for the Presidency, the hateful man with an orange outfit, or the ugly Afghan refugee are saying. Don't even care what the world are even indicating to you. Let me repeat myself, do not release the damn hostages. The day after my an inauguration as the President of the United States of America, at least the guilty hostages would be another excuse for me to start a peaceful war with you and eighty five millions of your hateful kind. Most likely my Vic President pick the beauty pageant Sarah Palin, and definitely my Secretary of State the bacon wrap machine gun Ted Cruz, are on the same page

In late August 2015, I spoke with Corey over the phone about what needs to be done in order to facilitate a non-profit line of literature for the group. Calling him from my cellphone, I said to him halfway our phone call, “Corey, let it be assured that this idea of mine is a ‘kill two birds with one stone’ proposition, which has the potential to solve our group financing and publicity handicaps.” Then he responded to me by saying, “I honestly do think it is an interesting proposition and would like very much like to see what can be done to get Fire of the Spirit in a position where we can actually do just that. I want you to know that I really do value the hard work and determination which you bring to FOS. I really want to do whatever we can to make this new venture for Fire of the Spirit a reality but it is going to be a lot of work and I will need your help to make it possible.”

Out on the street, Greene’s eyes circulate to observe her surroundings. Weed’s sprout up through cracks in the road and sidewalks, the overgrown vegetation trails up through the buildings. Infused in its presence, the leaves engulf each structure. Crowded though it is, an eerie silence resonates in the air. People pass back and forth, their heads tilted down, pushing forward with an urgent persistence. Cander walks with a similar determination, his head tilted down, the surrounding environment not alien to him.

At the beginning of chapter 12, the spirit bear approached Cole. Cole was about to spit at the bear but he swallowed it back. Cole did not understand why he did what he did. After this, Cole rubbed his hands into the white bushy hair and he suddenly felt trust. The bear stayed motionless and soon leaved Cole alone. From that moment, Cole started to see the world around him as a beautiful place. Cole appreciated many things such as the plants, the seagulls, the seals, and many more Abiotic and biotic things.

I managed to make very few promises in my lifetime. The majority of them were with my mother, her pleading eyes telling me to stray away from things that could "harm" me. Usually after the first week or so it was broken, and the guilt washed away in time, but when Ruby Ramirez made one with me I knew I would have to keep my word.

“The fairy song doesn’t say she comes to us as a warrior. Maybe she becomes one after we train her. How do I let her go, Jaden, now that I’ve found her?”

I sit at the kitchen table going over the eviction papers. But we have done nothing wrong I think in my head. My husband John paces beside me furrowing his brow. “I just don't understand. Why us? Why would they come after us?!” exclaims John.

One day back in the ‘80s. I’m at my desk working, and a little girl comes and climbs in my lap. Sweet, curious little girl. She’d asked a million questions about the phone I was answering, then looked at my pictures on my desk. I had pictures of my family in a frame, and in that frame I had a picture of Jesus. She pointed to those pictures, and asked who is that? I said, that’s my family. She said no, who is that man? I pointed to the picture of Jesus, and asked her are you talking about him? She said, “Yes”. I said that’s Jesus. Do you not know who he is, I asked? She answered, “No”. She asked if she could hold the picture. As she held it, she said “he looks like a nice man”.

Melody stood shivering against the stinging wind. Her eyes leaked frozen tears onto her cheek and her face was turning red from the biting cold. It is her very first day as a student at Brigham Young University Idaho. She’s excited and terrified at the same time. She feels horrible unprepared and wonders if she crazy for being here. Melody is on her way to very first class as a college student and is already hopelessly lost. She wishes so bad someone would stop and give her directions, but she is much too shy to ask so she simply stares at her torn map flapping with the rhythm of the wind, too flustered to be able to understand its directions anymore. She knows she is running out of time to make to her class and is terrified about making a bad first impression, so quickly and silently Melody utters a prayer of guidance. Moments later a student passing by asks if she lost and points the way to the hidden Romney building.

The equation on the page of his scribbler began to spread out a widening tail, eyed and starred like a peacock's; and, when the eyes and stars of its indices had been eliminated, began slowly to fold itself together again. The indices appearing and disappearing were eyes opening and closing; the eyes opening and closing were stars being born and being quenched. The vast cycle of starry life bore his weary mind outward to its verge and inward to its centre, a distant music accompanying him outward and inward. What music? The music came nearer and he recalled the words, the words of Shelley's fragment upon the moon wandering companionless, pale for weariness. The stars began to crumble and a cloud of fine stardust fell through space.

As I started this forum question I went on the internet and googled “Jesus”. Many of the same pictures appeared and this is where I questioned the idea of what Jesus really did look like. Everyone has their own beliefs on who Jesus is and what he did but overall for the most part to many he seems to look like the picture above. I believe that this picture of Jesus is accurate only because this is the picture that I grew up looking at. As a young girl the images of Jesus were always pictures of him looking like this. Many could disagree with me and state that he could possibly look different and I completely understand why they question what he looks like. If I was not raised by parents who taught me that this is what Jesus looks like, then

My plan for discipling is to support my mentee over a period of twelve weeks with one on one meetings fortnightly. I will also make it a point to catch up with her each Sunday to see how she is doing and encourage her. I will pray for her regularily and keep in touch through text messages at least once a week. I will be a spiritual influence, guidance and support that she needs in her life. I will use prayer, my personal experience, Scripture, Christian resources and mature people that I trust to help me to do this for her.