Unexpected Revelations

The Battle Over Darkness

Martha Brehm / Big Stories / Forgiveness, Healing, Hope, Occult, Unexpected Revelations / 12 Comments

September 10, 2025

For each of us, there is a moment in time when everything changes. We will forever reference time as “before the moment” or “after the moment.” If such an occurrence hasn’t happened yet for you, it will. This turning point, for many, is when darkness falls and the battle begins. The Uncommon Story you are now reading shares such a journey. It is the haunting, heart-wrenching “moment” in the life of my friend, Patti, and where that moment has taken her.

There is a fascinating Agatha Christie novel called Towards Zero that contains this quote, “But you know they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that – years before sometimes – with all the causes and events that bring certain people to a certain place at a certain time on a certain day.” Although there is no resulting murder in this story, I still think it’s important to start at the “Zero Moment” to tell it.

Patti is 14 years old. By this time in her life, her mother has left her stepdad and come out of the closet as gay. Patti doesn’t mind that her stepdad is gone. He molested her in the past, and it is better that he isn’t around. Patti was conceived during an affair, and as a result, her real father isn’t part of her life.

Since her mom owns a bar, Patti has lots of time to run the streets. Tonight, she is supposed to be at home watching her two brothers and her niece, while Dessa, her mom, works at the bar. However, that’s not what happens. While it’s still light, heading to the store for some snacks sounds like a great idea. The store is not far away and Patti can easily walk, so she does. On the way home, the August sun is setting and the hot Texas temperature is beginning to relent.

Just as darkness begins to fall, an unfamiliar man walking down the highway stops and asks for directions. The interaction is short, but as Patti turns to walk away, he grabs her from behind. The man drags Patti across the ditch screaming and rapes her by the side of the road. Cars with open windows pass, but no one stops. Patti is certain her cries are heard.

“Why doesn’t someone stop?” Patti wonders. But no one pulls over, and no one comes to help.

The next day, the man is apprehended and not long after, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But the conviction could never erase what had become Patti’s Zero Moment. Her world would never be the same.

Following her assault, Patti’s life began spiraling completely out of control. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Patti stopped going home and instead started couch surfing wherever she could find a place. She became deeply involved in drugs and began dabbling in the occult by reading a Satanic bible and trying to cast spells. While couch surfing, Patti met a man eight years older, and despite the fact she was only 16 years old, her mother gave approval for them to marry. Dessa hoped that perhaps marriage would calm Patti down.

Marriage did anything but calm Patti down. She left her husband and joined a street gang where she began stealing cars. Before long, Patti had acquired her first felony charge for burglary. At the same time, she was stripping in a bar to earn money with a fellow stripper named Majik. Majik was a practicing witch and together with Patti they were involved in Satanic dark arts. This was an incredibly dark period of my friend’s life in more ways than one.

Fast forward now, around 17 years later, to a small town named Joplin, Missouri. In the interval, Patti was married again, had three children, divorced, spent a year in prison and was released on parole with a good part of those years intoxicated and high. This is when Patti and I first met.

Arriving in Joplin, Patti and her kids lived in her van under a bridge. They managed to secure a place to rent, and one day on the way, her van quit running in front of our church. Our pastor, Cliff, saw Patti and went out to help. Before getting her back on the road, Cliff acquired her new address, which happened to be right down the street from our church. Later that week, Cliff handed me that same piece of paper and said, “I think this is someone you would enjoy meeting.”

It wasn’t long before I was knocking on Patti’s door. Walking through that door seems like such a long time ago. Patti and I have been through quite a lot since then. In fact, Patti is mentioned in my story about our friend, Mike, called “Messy in the Middle.” But for this story, I want to focus on a memory that just Patti and I alone share.

From that very first time Patti and I met, we began talking about Jesus. One thing to know about Patti is that she is able to understand things quickly and is quite smart. But every time I mentioned forgiveness, there was a block. It was like she couldn’t understand or just didn’t want to.

One particular conversation went this way. “Patti, you can be forgiven. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Jesus freely offers to forgive us if we ask.”

Her response was, “I can’t be forgiven. I just can’t. I’ve even tried to ask Jesus for forgiveness, but the words just won’t come out.”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to think about her response. I began to come up with ideas in my own mind of why this might be happening. Perhaps she convinced herself that she had committed too many sins to be forgiven or maybe just believed she was past saving. I encounter people who believe those things all the time, but those ideas aren’t consistent with Jesus’ teachings. And let’s face it, if we’re talking about Christianity, Jesus is the one who gets to decide what goes.

Being a verbal processor, and one who appreciates advice, I mentioned Patti’s issue to a friend, describing her inability to ask Jesus to forgive her. This conversation happened on a warm spring evening as my friend, Pam, and I sat on the bleachers and watched our sons play baseball. I have to admit, I was shocked at Pam’s response. She replied, “Have you asked Patti if she has ever invited anyone else in?” There may be some of you, who at this point, don’t know what she is referring to. But the moment Pam said it, I did.

Possession and the occult aren’t things I think of often. In fact, prior to Patti, I rarely thought of them at all. Somewhere in Jr. High, I watched The Exorcist and that was enough for me. I slept with my Bible every night for weeks. Not that I knew much about Christianity or anything, but just the sheer frightening thought of heads spinning around, bodies levitating, superhuman strength, and utter darkness, made me look for some type of protection, especially since we had an attic above my room. You just never know, or least I didn’t, if a “Captain Howdy” could be lurking around.

With time, the Bible moved out of my bed and no one I knew ever had a problem with demons, so my fears were laid to rest. But somewhere in my late thirties, I started reading the Bible. Not just reading scripture, but actually studying it. There is a big difference, a world of difference. In both the Old Testament and New, I found plenty of accounts of demonic activity and concluded demons were real and that the spiritual battle between good and evil was still going strong. I was just happy I hadn’t seen it face to face. But now, all these years later, Pam was suggesting that perhaps that moment had come.

The following day, I ran into my good friend, Kim. Since I was convinced I should ask Patti about the “possible possession thing,” I asked Kim if she would pray over me. Visions of The Exorcist were already starting to re-form in my mind. Kim was happy to pray and invited me to come to her truck so we could talk.

Once again, I was surprised. Kim mentioned she had recently read a book on the occult that spoke about possession and exorcism. Of course, I was interested in learning anything she had to share. She gave me a few tips, which looking back now seems pretty funny. Here are two people, clearly out of their league, discussing an exorcism like it was plans for dinner. But in the end, she did give me some really good advice. And most importantly, she prayed over me. In fact, out of nowhere, Kim produced a little tiny bottle of anointing oil. Really! I mean who carries around anointing oil? The answer to that is, my friend Kim.

So, armed with anointing oil on me, prayer, and some advice from a book someone else had read, off I went that night to see Patti.

As the evening came to a close, I gave Patti a ride home from our meeting. Sitting in the car outside her apartment, I worked up the courage to ask my friend the thousand-dollar question. I remember the event in great detail like it was just yesterday. I turned off the engine of the car and then turned to face my friend.

“Patti, I have something I need to ask you. A couple of days ago, I told my friend about your inability to ask Jesus for forgiveness. She suggested that I ask you if you have ever invited anyone else in?”

I hoped that by leaving the question somewhat vague, if possession wasn’t the problem, she wouldn’t understand what I was even asking and we’d just move on to a different line of conversation. But, no such luck. Patti responded with, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I can’t be forgiven.” With a somewhat sinking feeling in my stomach, I asked her to tell me what had happened.

While she was stripping back in her teenage years, her friend Majik asked Patti to attend a Satanic ritual. Surrounded by a coven of witches, it was during this ceremony Patti invited a demonic spirit to indwell her. Soon afterwards, during a striptease act on stage, Majik asked Patti if she could “cut her.” While Patti laid on the stage floor, Majik carved an upside down cross on Patti’s chest to be a constant reminder of her dark possession. To this day, my friend still bears the scar of that dark decision.

“That’s why I can’t be forgiven. I could never be forgiven for that. I’ve tried to ask, and the words won’t come out. And I’m afraid that ‘he’ might hurt my kids or my mom.”

As you read the following paragraphs, I want you to imagine yourself sitting in the car with us, late at night, no lights and no one around. What happened next might be hard for some people to accept. But as eyewitnesses, both Patti and I can verify it to be true.

I replied, “Patti, all I know is that Jesus taught that anyone could be forgiven in this life no matter what they had done. The only sin that isn’t forgiven is coming to the end of your life and rejecting the forgiveness that He’s offered you. And you’re not at the end yet. Do you want to be forgiven? Do you want to allow Jesus to rule your life instead of this demon?”

“I do,” Patti whispered softly.

In response, I replied with perhaps one of the most accurate things I’ve ever said: “I don’t know what we should do.” I added, “We could try to do something tonight, or set up an appointment with Pastor Cliff tomorrow, or call some professional. I don’t know what’s best.” Then I followed it up with perhaps the smartest thing I’ve ever said: “Can we just take a few minutes and pray about what to do?”

While I prayed, the wind began to blow. Not just a little, a lot. From one who’s been in a tornado before, the wind that night felt very much the same. The car literally began shaking and rocking back and forth from the wind, like a boat caught in the middle of a storm. And it became extremely dark. It wasn’t just a nighttime dark – it was the kind of dark you could cut with a knife.

I’ll be honest, at this point I was scared. Then abruptly, out of nowhere, the car began making loud clicking noises. I’m sure I must have jumped several inches out of my seat. It took me a minute to realize it was the CD changer in my car. And yes, this story occurred during a time when cars really did have CD players.

The music had been playing on the way to Patti’s house and I had turned the volume all the way down for our conversation. Now it was changing to a new CD right in the middle of praying. To me, that had relevance, as if “someone” was trying to get my attention. I turned up the sound to hear what particular song would start playing.

Here’s the song. I usually put songs at the end, but if you’d like to play it now while you read the rest of the story, feel free. Actually, I totally recommend that you do. The song definitely adds to the story. And for real context, turn off all the lights and set a box fan that will rock your chair.

When the song was over, Patti and I looked at each other. “I think it’s here and I think it’s now,” I announced. “What about you? Are you ready?” Her answer was yes.

Sometimes we run away from things we’re afraid of. And sometimes we just do them scared silly. I just did this one scared silly because I truly believed Jesus was leading the way. Putting my trust in a God I can’t see is what I call faith. So, in the middle of complete darkness, with the wind roaring outside and the car rocking, Patti and I took hold of each other’s hands and began to pray.

I really couldn’t even tell you all the things that were said since I was pretty scared, but without a doubt, I incorporated the tips I’d learned from Kim. As we finished, the wind began to die down and it didn’t seem quite so dark. By this time, Patti and I were both crying. “If you want Jesus to replace the darkness you’ve had inside, now would be the time to ask,” I said.

Patti prayed the most beautiful prayer. Once again, I couldn’t really tell you now exactly what she said, but it involved asking for Jesus to be in charge of her life and for Him to forgive her. The thing that was so exciting was, for the first time, when it came to asking for forgiveness, she was able to actually speak the words out loud. Patti says, looking back, “The darkness started to go away and things didn’t look so bleak. For the first time, I felt there was a chance for me to be okay.” And what happened inside Patti, also occurred outside. The pitch-black darkness in the car faded away.

So today, I’m recalling that memorable night and celebrating Patti by writing her story. She is officially 1,000 days sober and clean. She will tell you life wasn’t instantly easy after that night. The battle over darkness never is. The fact is, it has been extremely difficult. Although Satan doesn’t own her anymore, there is considerable wreckage to work through. Every day is a battle she fights hard to win. Some days are two steps ahead, and some days are one step back, but Patti never gives up. She wants to encourage you not to give up either.

Her “Zero Moment” at age 14 had sought to destroy her. The lies embedded into her heart and mind made her believe nothing mattered, that she had no value, and that she could never be whole. When no one came to help her that day, she believed she wasn’t worth saving.

But Jesus disagrees. Patti is immensely valuable to him and so are you. Whatever your “Zero Moment” is, it doesn’t have to define you. Jesus came to bring life not death; light not darkness. He’s seen where you’ve been and he still loves you. He will wade into your mess to save you, because you matter. He can make anyone whole again and he will if you trust him. Patti did, and it has made all the difference.

Since that night, my mind has been blown by the number of people I have encountered who are involved in some type of occult practices. At a writer’s retreat I attended, they offered tarot card readings every morning. There are psychics in every town, horoscopes in almost every paper, and Ouija Boards in most game stores. I’ve spoken with individuals who see apparitions in their homes, who are involved in astral traveling, who have witchcraft books, and even witches who actively cast spells. Some stumbled into the occult, and some went looking for it, either to gain control of their lives or simply because they wanted power. Most individuals didn’t realize what they were getting into. And some, when it became overwhelmingly frightening, started looking for a way out.

So, this story is not just for Patti, but it is for anyone who is involved, or has been in the past, in the occult. You may have arrived at this website by what you thought was chance, but it is no accident. If you are looking for help, or a way out, you need to know that you can be forgiven even of the darkest and ugliest of sins. If you are looking for a way out, Jesus’ own response to you is, “I AM the way.”

The dark powers and authorities in this world do have power, but it is no match for the power of God. In every situation where Jesus encountered either Satan or demons, there was never any doubt who was in control. It was true then, and it remains true now. Victory lies in the hands of the Light of the World and the darkness will never overcome Him. I will leave some scriptures and resources at the end of the story. These are only a few of many. Just know, darkness doesn’t win and there is always hope.

So today, congrats to Patti! I am so proud of you and truly grateful to be your friend. You have the determination of a warrior, and yet, a heart of compassion like Mother Theresa. Your story gives hope to all who battle against the darkness. Also, a big thank you to Pam and Kim without whom this story would not have turned out as it did. Your friendship and partnership in the Gospel are invaluable. And ultimately, I am thankful for a God who is able and willing to forgive. If not for Him, there would be no beautiful stories to tell at all.

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“Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light.” Romans 13:12 CEV

“…God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b

“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” John 1:5 NCV

“Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.” Ephesians 6:12 NCV

“God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:13

“Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, not angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, not anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NCV

“There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God’s Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you’re sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.” Matthew 12:31-32

“I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Ps 139:11-12 NLT

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Resources: A Book – The Kingdom of the Occult by Walter Martin was incredibly helpful for me. It is a comprehensive and authoritative resource and also where I found out that the Exorcist was based on a true story! 😳

An Essay including additional links by The Gospel Coalition titled Demon Possession

Media Sources of Interest: Articles recently posted by CBN on Kat Von D and Priscilla Blanchard who both left the occult. Links to podcasts included.

Instagram post by Pastor Josh Howerton on the dark and disturbing journal entries of the Minnesota Catholic School shooter. Here’s the link for those who use Facebook.

A Show – The Chosen Season 1 Episode 1 helps us imagine Mary Magdalene’s life with seven demons and how an encounter with Jesus could change everything.

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A few pictures of Patti and two of her favorite songs. If you’d like to leave a comment for Patti, do so at the end of the story!

Just a pretty picture of Patti

Patti and I in Joplin

Blowing out her birthday candle

Serving together after our Jonah Bible study

A really big birthday lunch!

Here’s two more songs I believe go really well with the story. The songs always complement the story. 🎶

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And don’t forget to check out “Messy in the Middle” where Patti goes on an adventure with Mike and me.

Now for the Pinterest pins with “The Battle Over Darkness.” For all the other Pinterest pins, check out Uncommon Stories on Pinterest.

If you enjoyed the story, please leave a comment. Best of all, if you were encouraged by the story, please share it! Or if you would like to contact me, I’d love to hear from you at UncommonStories77@gmail.com.

Living Water

Martha Brehm / Inside Stories / Evangelism, Inspirational, Jesus In Disguise, Unexpected Revelations / 15 Comments

July 24, 2023

Most of you have heard the saying, “Change your water, change your life.” I first encountered this phrase on the side of the building pictured above one sunny afternoon as I drove out of the neighborhood. Since then, I’ve heard it frequently from those selling or promoting water machines, as well as bottled water, water filters, and a myriad of other things. Well, this is a short story about a special kind of water, one that promises to dramatically change your life – and will.

One afternoon after reading quite the fascinating conversation between a woman at a well and Jesus, I headed out to run some errands. If you haven’t encountered this jaw dropping exchange, I’ll have it for you a little bit later. But right now, back to the story.

Errands always makes me seriously hungry. So before long, I cruised by the illustrious Panera Bread Company to rustle up some lunch. The young man coming forward to wait on me appeared to be in his early 20s with a happy face and pleasant grin. After ordering my sandwich, I paused. In reality, I was merely taking time as I mentally calculated whether I could afford to add anything else to the order beyond the sandwich. I haven’t shifted over to a cashless, debit card, way of life and unfortunately have a habit of not carrying much money. Therein lies a problem. No debit card, not much cash, that equals not much food.

As the awkward pause continued, I confided in him what I was doing. I divulged the total amount of money in my possession and he used the register to do the figuring. He quickly announced that I could afford a drink. Without pause he followed up with, “Or you could forget the drink and get a cookie.”

A cookie is certainly an enticing option, but that day I choose to opt out of the dessert realm. “No thanks,” I responded. “I’ll stick with what will quench my thirst. But really there is only one thing that will quench my thirst and that’s Living Water.”

Many people at this juncture would have missed what I was inferring. Or a more probable reaction would have been to think I was just another weird customer. But not this young man! I will never forget his response. He looked me straight in the eyes and answered, “I know…. because that kind is eternal!”

At this point in the story, it is probably a good time to go back and record the encounter of Jesus having a conversation with a woman about water. It’s the very story I had read earlier in the day before my Panera stop. The story appears in an ancient manuscript by a man named John who knew Jesus well. The encounter goes like this –

Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again. This time he had to go through Samaria, and on his way he came to the town of Sychar. It was near the field that Jacob had long ago given to his son Joseph. The well that Jacob had dug was still there, and Jesus sat down beside it because he was tired from traveling. It was noon, and after Jesus’ disciples had gone into town to buy some food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well.

Jesus asked her, “Would you please give me a drink of water?”

“You are a Jew,” she replied, “and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink of water when Jews and Samaritans won’t have anything to do with each other?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t know what God wants to give you, and you don’t know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would ask me for the water that gives life.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this life-giving water? Our ancestor Jacob dug this well for us, and his family and animals got water from it. Are you greater than Jacob?”

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give will become in that person a flowing fountain that gives eternal life.”

The woman replied, “Sir, please give me a drink of that water! Then I won’t get thirsty and have to come to this well again.”

Jesus told her, “Go and bring your husband.”

The woman answered, “I don’t have a husband.”

“That’s right,” Jesus replied, “you’re telling the truth. You don’t have a husband. You have already been married five times, and the man you are now living with isn’t your husband.”

The woman said, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. My ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say Jerusalem is the only place to worship.”

Jesus said to her:

“Believe me, the time is coming when you won’t worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans don’t really know the one you worship. But we Jews do know the God we worship, and by using us, God will save the world. But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.”

The woman said, “I know that the Messiah will come. He is the one we call Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

“I am that one,” Jesus told her, “and I am speaking to you now.”

The disciples returned about this time and were surprised to find Jesus talking with a woman. But none of them asked him what he wanted or why he was talking with her.

The woman left her water jar and ran back into town, where she said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Could he be the Messiah?” Everyone in town went out to see Jesus.
John 4:3-30

Knowing the story above makes my Panera experience much clearer. Obviously the young man in Panera was aware of the encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well. And it was no coincidence that I had just read the story that morning. For those who know me well, they can hear me say my often stated quote, “There are no such things as coincidences.”

So after we exchanged a few more remarks about living water and the ways it really does change your life, I began moving down the order line. But there was one more question he needed for my order. Thank goodness, after all that calculating and decision making, it was an easy one to answer. The question was, “What is your name?” I gave it and then casually asked his. As he answered, I glanced at his name tag.

If you would like to take a guess at what his response was, do so now. If not, I’ll tell you. His name was John. I was having a discussion about Living Water with John. I had begun the day reading one man named John describe Jesus claiming the ability to provide water that would give life and forever cease thirst. And here I was later this same day, face-to-face with a second John who had experienced that life-giving water for himself.

The best ending of this story actually includes what happened after our conversation. The results were much the same as what the woman in the story experienced after she went to town and told others about her encounter with the man at the well. The last verse reports, “Everyone in town went out to see Jesus.” My new friend John and I watched as the same scenario played out. Every customer who had heard our chat in the line purposely ordered water, one by one. Hearing about something that good only makes you want it. It’s true, “Change your water, change your life.”

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“My people have done two evils: They have turned away from me, the spring of living water. And they have dug their own wells, which are broken wells that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13 CEV

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, ‘If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.’ Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him.” John 7:37-39a CEV

“Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27 NLT

“Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not hurt them, and no heat will burn them, because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of water that give life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16-17 NCV

“Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17b NIV

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In response to the film Jesus Revolution, here’s a glimpse of living water at work.💦 🌊

July 9, 2023 Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship baptize 4,500 souls at Pirates Cove.

I imagine the woman at the well sang a similar song as “What I’m Waiting For.”

For another story where Jesus shows up unexpectedly, read “It’s Always Been You.”

The Living Water Pinterest pins are below. For all the rest, click here Living Water Pinterest Board.

A river reaches places its source never knows.

Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water

I can’t end this story with a shoutout for Max Lucado’s book “Come Thirsty.” It’s still one of my all-time favorites.

And if you enjoyed this story, please share it! Or if you would like to contact me, I’d love to hear from you at UncommonStories77@gmail.com.

It’s Always Been You

Martha Brehm / Big Stories / Encouraging, Jesus In Disguise, Unexpected Revelations / 22 Comments

October 10, 2021

There is something wonderful about mystery. The unexpected turns, the anonymous gift, the unidentified rescuer, the cliffhanger, all point to the allure of things hidden from our view. Mysterious moments are the ones that linger in our minds. Below is the story of one of those moments.

It was a warm fall day, an afternoon filled with the constant chatter and bustling of crowds. As I walked the state fairgrounds, the enticing aroma of funnel cakes and hot dogs permeated the air. Bands played, and music from auction buildings competed for attention. Glancing down at my watch, it was time to go. Things would be beginning soon. The Oklahoma-Texas game was one where you did not want to arrive late.

Leaving the craft building, I began to pick up my pace. As I did, I felt an odd pain in my right shoulder. The discomfort was a dull ache that I initially thought to just be a “stitch in my side,” whatever that means. I’d certainly heard that phrase from my mom growing up, and although I was never taught that in medical school, I still believed there was such a thing. So, I pressed on at a rapid pace and hoped the uncomfortable feeling would go away. But alas, it did not. Instead of going away, the pain became worse. By the time I arrived at the stadium, I had begun to wonder if it was something more serious.

Meeting up with my husband and friends, we launched into the chaos of entering the stadium. This involved line standing, frisking, and producing the much sought-after tickets. All the while, taunts from both OU and Texas fans filled the air. After finally gaining our hard-fought entrance, we began navigating to the crowded stairs in the jam-packed stadium. Of course our tickets weren’t on sideline level, so I knew there would be a long hike upwards to our seats.

Not only did my shoulder hurt, but at this point, I began to feel a little short of breath. I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, however, at that particular time, I was in pretty good shape. There was no reason for me to be short of breath, yet I was. A feeling of uneasiness settled over me as I climbed the ever unfolding levels of stairs. More people; more stairs. Just as we reached our level, I couldn’t climb any further.

Much to my husband and friends’ surprise, I layed down right at the top of the packed stairway, slightly gasping for air. By this point in time, I had begun pouring over in my mind the medical possibilities. After some high-level deduction, it seemed to me, for a person of my age and my history, it had to be one of three things: a pulmonary embolism, a spontaneous pneumothorax, or the remaining “stitch in the side.” Against the odds, I chose to go with the non-emergent “stitch in the side.” Following a five-minute breather on the steps, we made our way to our seats and sat down amidst the rocking Boomer Sooner chants.

I have to say, even as I look back, the whole first half is as much of a blur now as it was then. The memory of my right shoulder pain and shortness of breath is all I remember, other than having to sit leaning forward. Leaning forward somehow made it easier to take a breath. Oh yes, and I remember the heat and the background noise of cheering fans. I was quite proud that I made it to halftime. There could be nothing more lame than having to drag my husband and friends away from a game that had always been considered an epic rivalry. However, I had to do something.

The thing I decided to do was get out of my seat and head underneath the bleachers where there was shade. And there were medics. Because you just never know when you’re going to need a medic.

Once I arrived in the belly of the stadium, I stood there, alone, and to be honest, afraid. The worse you feel, the more fear tends to settle in. I imagined a complete go-down and the dreaded team of 911 medics around me trying to get me out of a crowded stadium. I was scared that it might not be the minor option #3, but a pulmonary embolism or a pneumothorax. Whatever it was, I needed help. We all know help comes in a lot of different forms. Mine came with the sound of my name.

The hot air filled with the echoey sound of “Martha.” At first, I wasn’t sure where it was coming from, or if it was truly even real. Perhaps I had become hypoxic and was imagining someone calling my name. But it was real. It came from above me, from a couple standing by an exit from the bleachers. My vision began to focus and I realized it was Bennett who called my name. Bennett and I had gone through medical school together and although we rarely see each other, medical school is definitely a bonding experience. He was there at the game with his wife Lori, who is always graciously kind. The two of them began making their way down the exit ramp and arrived by my side.

The first thing I remember from our exchange was Bennett asking if I was alright. I’m sure I looked the way I felt, which was not well. And I am certain I looked worried, because I was. One thing to know about me, is if you ask how I am doing, I will always give you a genuine answer. I’m never one for pretending. I believe life is way too short for that kind of business. So, although I don’t actually remember what I said, I’m sure I made it clear that I was having trouble breathing and that my right shoulder hurt.

I was lucky that day, and I knew it. You see, Bennett had gone on to do a residency in anesthesiology after medical school. If anyone knows how to handle an airway and ventilation, it’s an anesthesiologist. Although it hadn’t gotten any easier to breathe, I immediately felt better.

Bennett tracked down a medic and borrowed his stethoscope while Lori waited with me. He listened to my lungs, checked my pulse, and honestly, I don’t remember what else he did. I only know that it’s good to have your own personal physician when you need it. And I’ll give you the findings in just a few minutes, but before that, I want to get to the important part of the story.

The game had ended and I felt like I had won just by making it to the final buzzer. Reunited with my group, all I needed was to travel through the fairgrounds to the car. As I left that day, there was something about the encounter with Bennett that was unique. It had a characteristic that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Lingering, in a mysterious kind of way. Whatever the description might be, perhaps its best summation would be the gesture of a good friend’s genuine concern during a very difficult time. Maybe that’s what we all really need. Just to know someone genuinely cares about our situation even if the circumstances don’t change.

But all the same, the mysterious lingering effect didn’t leave. I thought about it for several weeks. It’s that feeling there is something more but whenever you try to grasp it, there is only elusiveness. Just now, I had to look up “elusiveness.” The definition is fitting. To elude – 1. tending to evade grasp, 2. hard to comprehend or define, and 3. hard to isolate or identify. Isn’t it true, a lot of things in life fit into that category?

The place or situation where I found my explanation evades me (you can see I like that word now). But in another mysterious encounter, I discovered the answer.

Sometimes I hear things, but they’re not really voices. They are like thoughts that come across really loud and out of nowhere. It’s not like I come up with the thoughts or even expect them. It’s like they come out of nowhere and many times are things I would rather not know. Sometimes, they prompt me to admit I might actually be wrong about something and need to apologize, or that I need to do something hard rather than hiding behind a busy schedule. Those types of things. But sometimes they are good things too. This particular time, I’d say it was a really good thing. What came across loud and clear in my mind as I thought about the encounter, were the following words.

“That was me.”

Now to most people that may not make sense. But to me, it did. Because the person I am having a conversation with in those circumstances, is Jesus. Any person whose name is “The Word” can certainly manage to carry on a great conversation. Not only a great conversation but a great encounter.

That afternoon, I realized the real person I had an encounter with at the stadium, was Jesus. He called my name in that crowded stadium when I needed help. His voice pierced through the blaring bands and noisy fans to reach me. He stood by my side when I was scared and subdued the fear. And His presence gave me confidence that no matter what happened, I was in safe hands.

The encounter made me look back over my life and appreciate all the other times He has shown up, unexpectedly working through circumstances or people to reach me. We often miss the real person we are having an encounter with because we are distracted. Yet, perhaps our lives are much like the book of Esther. It is one of only two books in scripture that does not mention God in the entire book. But although His name is never mentioned, his presence and sovereignty stands out as He works behind the scenes to accomplish the most amazing story. Mysteriously, yet powerfully.

So, a big thank you to Bennett, who was Jesus to me that day. And a thank you to so many others who have done the very same thing at different points in my life. You’ve made my life beautiful and encouraged me to reach out to others even when it’s uncomfortable. Because nothing is more powerful than being Jesus to someone else.

Oh, but before the story ends, I need to tell you what the medical diagnosis was for the mysterious chest pain and difficulty breathing. For those of you who guessed just a “stitch in the side,” you were incorrect, as I was. Spontaneous pneumothorax was the accurate diagnosis.

For the official ending of the story, I thought I would close with some of the lyrics to Phil Wickham’s song, “It’s Always Been You.” The words are appropriate for the story. And if you’ve had an experience where Jesus showed up in your life, feel free to leave your encounter in the comments. Now on to the lyrics!

Who stood with me in the fire?
It was You, it was always You
Who pulled me out of the water?
It was You, it was always You
And who carried me on their shoulders?
It was You, I know it’s You

You are the voice that calms the storm inside me
Castle walls that stand around me
All this time, my guardian was You
You are the light that shines in every tunnel
There in the past, You’ll be there tomorrow
All my life, Your love was breaking through

It’s always been You

…………………………

“That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But they were kept from recognizing him….. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” Luke 24:13-15(NLT) 16, 28-31(NIV)

“Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb…she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’ She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.’ The Aramaic word Rabboni means Teacher.” John 20:11, 14-16 (CEV)

……………………………

And just for fun, in case you’re interested in just how big the O.U. Texas game is…….

Thank God for OU-Texas.#BeatTexas pic.twitter.com/UthGO1pzMj
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 10, 2019

For another Uncommon Story with mystery, try Unopened Letters.

A few of the Pinterest Pins for “It’s Always Been You.”

And for all the other great pins that go with the Stories, head to the Uncommon Stories Pinterest page!

Unopened Letters

Martha Brehm / Big Stories / Love, Questions, Regret, Unexpected Revelations / 11 Comments

November 4, 2018

This Uncommon Story is the first where the person I am writing about will most likely choose to remain anonymous. But actually that flows into the story perfectly. That’s because this story is about things that don’t come out in the open – things hidden away, never read, never spoken, never done. Mainly this is a story about unopened letters.

The story begins with me in a restaurant having lunch with a friend. As we visited and ate, she began to tell me about a man in whose home she was working. Being in the health care profession, she never discussed his medical issues, or for that matter, even his name. But she did mention that he was looking for meaning beyond the wealth and power we are all pushed toward in this culture. Intrigued by what she was saying, I offered to come to the house and talk with him about trying to discover some answers. My friend smiled and responded that was unlikely. Nevertheless, she agreed she would mention it to him when she saw him next.

Weeks later, I was shocked when my friend relayed to me that her client was interested in speaking with me. She gave me his name and we set up a time to visit him at his home. In the interval, I tossed around some different ways to seek answers to some of the complicated questions about life. As a starter, looking at what other wise people had to say about the subject seemed like a good idea. One of the world’s best-known commentators on life was Jesus, so I came up with various ways our threesome might take a look at what he had to say.

When the three of us met, we introduced ourselves and sat around a small kitchen table. Thinking back, our small group consisted of pretty different people. But the truth is, no matter who we are, we’re all looking for answers to a lot of the same questions. I think finding the answers often comes down to a willingness to open up to other people as well as to ourselves. We have to be willing to admit that we’re searching, to confess that we don’t have all the answers and not be afraid to look for those answers. That takes revealing a part of ourselves that’s usually hidden, and that can be a very difficult thing…..

After tossing around different options, the three of us landed on reading the book of Matthew. Some might wonder why we would even open up a Bible to look for answers. After all, there are people who doubt it’s accuracy and relevance. That in itself is a lengthy discussion and for the most part one I’ll leave for another day. I will however, place some links at the end of the story for anyone interested. But there is no doubt, that Jesus was a real person and that he made such a profound impact on the world that we are still talking about him today. That in itself is a pretty good reason to take a look at what he had to say about life.

Around the third time we met, a most unusual thing happened. As I put together ideas for the visit, one particular thought kept coming to mind. I kept thinking about a letter. I’m not sure why, but the picture of a letter that was never read kept coming to mind. I thought about what it would be like to write to someone you loved, I mean really loved, hoping that what you told them caused them to love you back. How would you feel if later you found out, they had never even read the letter.

So many things left unsaid…….

And so many things said but never heard.

And the world is a sadder place because of it.

Those thoughts echoed in my mind as I headed off to meet with my friends. The warm breeze blew across my face in the car while the letter lingered on my mind. When I arrived the three of us found our chairs at the round kitchen table where we usually sat. Although the room was spacious, the seating arrangement was intimate. As we began to open up our Bibles to the book of Matthew, I decided to use the idea of the letter that had been floating around in my head all afternoon.

“We are reading a letter from Matthew today,” I explained. “His intention in writing is to tell us how much we are loved.” Since Matthew (and Mark, Luke, John, Paul and the lot of them for that matter) couldn’t tell us face to face, they wrote letters to people they loved to tell them exactly that – that they were loved. Not just by them, but by Jesus. Ultimately, writing that message cost most of them their lives. But the message in the letters was worth it – because love always is.

Although the men physically wrote those letters themselves, it was Jesus working in and through them as their fingers penned those words. The things they had heard him say so many times came rushing back and ideas formed and thoughts coalesced as they wrote. God has a way of pulling things together. It is, in the end, His letter and His story. “Knowing that,” I said, “I’m sure God’s heart must break when his letter to us remains unopened.

As the words finished rolling off my tongue, I looked at the gentleman sitting with me at the table. He had an odd sort of look on his face, appearing to be a combination of surprise and sadness with a hint of reflection. Not quite knowing what to say, I asked, “What’s wrong?”

As his eyes met mine, he said, “I don’t think you know this, but I had a daughter who died. One Valentine’s Day she placed a letter on my desk before she went out for the evening. She never came home. That letter remained on my desk for such a long time. I couldn’t open it.”

He was right. I hadn’t known. If I had, I feel quite sure I would have never used the illustration of an unopened letter. There was someone, however, who did know. The same God, working in and through people centuries ago writing the letters in your Bible, is still working in and through people today. He still has the same message. He loves you with a love that has no bounds. He’ll do whatever it takes to get your attention.

That day He used the letter illustration to get the undivided attention of the gentleman at the table. That man knew from personal experience what it was like to have an unopened letter from someone who loves you. You may have one too. I imagine somewhere close to you is a set of beautiful letters filled with the news of how much you are loved…the truth that you can be forgiven….and the hope that life has real meaning. Please don’t leave this world having never read those letters.

So stop for just a minute from the business of today and wake up from your slumber of assuming there will always be another tomorrow. For all the things hidden away, never read, never spoken, never done – it’s time to bring them out into the open. There is so much left unsaid in this world and so many things left undone. So many people talking with so few people listening. May each of us truly listen to the people we love before they’re gone. And here’s to finding the courage to let our hearts speak the words we long to say. Here’s to opening letters.

So many things left unsaid……

And so many things said but never heard.

It’s time to say them, time to hear them.

It’s time to come out of the darkness and light up the world.

Carpe Diem

–

“Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” Mark 4:21-22 NLT

“Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it – not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives – and we publish it. We couldn’t be more sure of ourselves in this – that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn’t think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter.” 2 Cor 3:3-5 Msg

“Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.” Matthew 10:26 Msg

“Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived. Hebrews 4:13 NCV

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Links about the reliability and accuracy of the New Testament:

Josh McDowell: “Testing the Historical Reliabil ity of the New Testament”

The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/an-interview-with-daniel-b-wallace-on-the-new-testament-manuscripts/

Part One: Examining the Record begins 5 minutes into the video

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For another story of the importance of saying meaningful things before it’s too late, read “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?”

Check out these Pinterest Pins for Unopened Letters. If you would like to see the pins better, just click on them.

To see all the other Pinterest pins, click here to head to my Pinterest page.

And don’t miss the songs! They go perfectly with the story.

Endings and Beginnings

Martha Brehm / Big Stories / Disasters, Encouraging, Hope, Miracles, Unexpected Revelations / 11 Comments

October 7, 2017

How to start? Beginnings are difficult for so many reasons. When we start something new, there must be something else that comes to an end. Often, we focus on one aspect of the journey at the cost of the other. We tend to concentrate on what ended and miss what’s beginning or just the opposite – we see what’s beginning and forget about what just ended. With that thought, I hope to write this story about tragedies with both endings and beginnings in mind.

On May 22, 2011, an F5 tornado ripped through my home town of Joplin, Missouri. Life was instantly changed for all of us who lived in that plain Midwestern town. So much could be said and so many stories told, but for now I want to limit myself to one person in particular. It is sad to say but true, this story is written about a woman whose name I cannot remember. In the weeks following the tornado, I barely remembered my own. But I do remember how we met.

Immediately after the tornado our church opened it’s doors to host volunteers, do work projects, feed the hungry and serve as a distribution center for supplies. This woman was one of the many who came to our church in need of food and basic supplies. While there, she noticed a sign I had posted about a Bible study that was starting the following week. Thinking back, it is certainly a miracle that any Bible study ever occurred. Because of all the volunteers and supplies in the church, we had to change rooms almost every week. The hookups and power source were continually touch and go. It was utter chaos most of the time. But in the midst of the chaos, God was at work.

On our very first evening at the conclusion of the study, this particular woman approached me and introduced herself. She asked if she could talk with me for a few minutes. Almost everyone else had left, so we sat down beside each other and I looked at her closely for the first time.

She appeared worn and tired, with no makeup and slightly rumbled clothes, but of course that description fit almost all of us after the tornado. The woman confided in me that she didn’t have a Bible. “Done!” I replied and happily supplied her with one. Then she hesitantly told me she didn’t know what the numbers meant in the Bible or how to look anything up. “No problem,” I answered. “We all have to start sometime. I know I did. Let me show you how to look up chapters and verse numbers.” Then she looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Do you want to know why I’m here?” “Only if you want to tell me,” I responded. “You don’t have to, but I’m happy to listen if you want to share.”

What occurred next was quite memorable. She proceeded to tell me her story of what took place during the tornado a few days prior. “I was in my living room and I could see the tornado coming straight for my house. There was no place for me to go. I have never been a person who thought there was a God, but looking at that tornado, I got down on my knees and started praying, hoping there was. I asked Him to please, please save me.

Immediately I felt a hand on my shoulder. It scared me because there was no one else with me in my home. As soon as I felt that sensation on my shoulder, I whipped my head around to see who was there. I saw no one, but I did hear a voice. It said, ‘You need to know me.’ My immediate response was, ‘Who are you? I don’t know who you are.’ To which I heard a voice say again, ‘Go to a church and tell them you need to know me.’ The sensation of the hand being on my shoulder never left. The tornado hit my house straight on and destroyed everything, but He saved me. That’s why I’m here. It’s because I want to know Him.”

This woman came for the next two sessions, having read her Bible and ready to learn. She was staying with a friend in town, but I found out by the third meeting that she was moving. Many people who had nothing left often did. She had no phone and so when she left, I never had any follow up with her again. Had I asked her, I think she would have said that her life, as she knew it, ended when that F5 tornado destroyed everything she had. But where she saw an ending, God saw a new beginning.

As I have watched Harvey destroy parts of Houston and the surrounding areas, as well as Irma hitting Florida and Georgia, I know there have been many, many difficult endings. When we include the wildfires in Montana, Idaho and California, the tragic endings continue to multiply. And that is just in our own country over the last few weeks. Whether it is a natural disaster or a personal disaster, life throws us a lot of bad endings. If we are honest, we are all just one disaster away from getting on our knees and begging someone to save us.

The latest example comes from the shooting tragedy that occurred at a concert in Las Vegas. Taylor Benge’s story reminded me of my friend’s. When he was interviewed on CNN, he said he went into the concert an agnostic and came out a firm believer in God. The thing he will never forget – his sister throwing herself on top of him whenever the shots began to ring out and her voice saying, “I love you, Taylor I love you.”

New beginnings may come in the form of an invisible hand on our shoulder or someone showing up in a boat to rescue us as the flood waters rise. It could be a complete stranger showing up with exactly what we need, or a sister who lays over us so a bullet takes her life instead of ours. It is sad but true, that sometimes someone dies so that someone else can have a new beginning. When Jesus died, every one of the disciples saw an end – an end to everything they had hoped for, everything they had believed in, and everything they had given their lives for. But where they saw endings, God saw new beginnings. Jesus’ death was really just the beginning of new life.

I don’t want to in any way trivialize how horrifically tragic bad ending are. I have many friends who lost everything down to their foundations and even good friends who lost family members in the Joplin tornado. The same is true of others as a result of the hurricanes, wild fires and earthquakes that are occurring and will continue to occur. But even in death, God has made a way, and given us an opportunity, for a new beginning. In the middle of your darkest moments, look for Him. For when things are the very darkest, He shines the brightest.

–

This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you. 2 Cor 4:12 CEV

I want you to know me, to trust me and understand that I alone am God. I have always been God; there can be no others. I alone am the LORD; only I can rescue you. Isaiah 43:10b-11 CEV

When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. Isaiah 43:2a GNT

I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13 NLT

–

Here are some pictures from the Joplin tornado.

Picture after Joplin tornado by Charlie Riedel

Picture of Joplin tornado by Charlie Riedel

Boy on uprooted tree

Tornado picture by Dick McGowan

Tornado leaving only staircase

Boys at tornado scene

cars destroyed everywhere

Road view of complete destruction

tornado volunteers

Taylor Benge

Below are a few of the Pinterest pins from “Endings and Beginnings.”

To take a look at all of the other Pinterest pins that go with the story, click here.

For another story of starting again, read “It’s Not Too Late.”

Below are some great songs that add an additional dimension to the story.

–
Danny Gokey – Tell Your Heart To Beat Again

Micah Tyler – Different. His message before the song is powerful.

Kari Jobe – I Am Not Alone

If you were there for the Joplin tornado or lived through a similar disaster, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section. Or if you would like to contact me directly, I can be reached at UncommonStories77@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!

It’s Not Too Late

Martha Brehm / Big Stories / Hope, Regret, Turnaround, Unexpected Revelations / 0 Comments

May 4, 2017

Being late has always been an issue for me. This day though, was different. I was on time, but I was about to encounter a unique new perspective about timing.

Jess and I met on Monday mornings at a convenient store called The Short Stop, located in a small town between the two of us. We were studying the book of John, spending an hour before she had to head to work in Bentonville. Most Monday mornings, we met inside the little cafe where seating was located. This particular Monday morning, she brought her dog with her, which required us to sit outside at the picnic tables to the west of the store. It was a picturesque place surrounded by big trees with a little local school beside it and railroad tracks across the street. Dixie, her dog, sat beside Jess as we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and talked about some things in our study.

About halfway through, two unexpected arrivals came crashing onto the scene. A biker, riding a rumbling motorcycle, pulled up beside us from the road. At the same time, a pit bull came trotting up, seemingly out of nowhere. Immediately, Dixie began barking and the pit bull advanced toward her with a menacing growl. There was a flurry of “activity” complete with loud barking and growling as Jess drug Dixie quickly to the car and stuffed her inside. The biker, seeing the commotion with the dogs, walked over and glanced at our stuff on the table. He looked at Jess and me and asked if we were having a Bible study as the pit bull calmed down and began to wander off.

“We are!” I answered and asked if he would like to join us. “We’re looking through the book of John,” I added.

The man standing before us looked to be around 60 years old. He seemed quite tall in his boots standing there by the picnic table. His face was weathered and tan, and his black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I asked his name and he informed me it was William.

William told us he had walked away from God.

“You can go back,” I said. “It’s never too late. At least not in this lifetime.”

There were a few minutes of silence. Jess needed to leave, and this break in the conversation provided an opportunity for her to excuse herself and head off to work. With Jess and Dixie gone, I sat there next to a man who looked strangely sad. William began talking about a time in his life when he had been very involved with ministry. He had shared the gospel at a few motorcycle rallies and had great responses. He organized a group of men and they began having church at the rallies.

For some reason, at this point, William launched into a story about an individual he had met at one of the rallies. The man he’d met had a very vivid dream and hoped that William would be able to tell him what it meant. The dream centered on the vision of a train roaring past, right in front of him. The immensity and closeness of the train was frightening. He had an intense feeling he should be on the train, yet he had no way of getting onboard. There was an overwhelming sense that he was missing something very important. Yet, the story had an interesting ending. As he watched the train head away, he looked back and saw himself already standing on the platform of the caboose.

William admitted to me that he didn’t know much about dreams but for some reason, that particular day, he felt like he knew the answer to the stranger’s question. He shared with the man that the train was the gospel and that it represented the way to reach God. And that although the man had felt it was too late to get on the train, it wasn’t. They talked about Jesus and in fact, the man chose “to get on the train” that very day. For numerous rallies after that encounter, the man with the dream would always come up to our biker and tell him how much their conversation had meant to him and the changes that had occurred in his life since then.

William paused and then added, “But I walked away from God and I don’t preach at rallies anymore.”

“Why don’t you go back,” I asked.

Somehow the question seemed to wake him up from somewhere deep in thought. “I can’t,” he replied, letting the words just linger, hanging there in the gentle wind. After another long pause he went on, “I’ve done something that won’t allow me to go back.”

He explained that his wife had developed cancer a few years ago and after months of watching her suffer, she had died. An anger had welled up from deep inside and William said he had walked away from God. He couldn’t forgive him. William spent months alone lost in grief and sadness trying to find some kind of peace.

One day he heard a knock at his door. Slowly he opened the door and standing there before him was a woman he knew well. William and his wife had been good friends with her. The woman stood before him with tears streaming down her face. She said she was leaving her husband and needed somewhere to stay for a few days until she could figure out where to go next. At this point in the story, I saw William struggle with what to say next. Finally, he blurted out, “I shouldn’t have let her in, but I did. And she stayed……. and I fell in love with her.” She filed for divorce but several months later her husband came to the door. He had come to tell her that he had been diagnosed with cancer and wanted her to come home and try to work it out. William said it was agonizing for him, but he told her she should go home to her husband. He packed her things and she left.

Another pause came in the story as though my biker friend was reliving the whole sad affair. He looked tired and his face tense and stressed. “I sat at home alone for a few days trying to understand what had happened and to make some kind of sense out of it.” After four days, once again a knock came at the door. She had returned, saying that she didn’t love her husband, she loved William. And she wanted to come back and live with him. Sounding somewhat like a broken record, William told me, “I shouldn’t have let her in, but I did.”

He went on, “I knew it was wrong. She was married and had so many things to work out. I didn’t need to complicate things. This all just happened the night before last. Yesterday morning I got up early, looked at her sleeping, and knew I needed to figure out some things. So I jumped on my bike, and to be quite honest, I’ve been riding ever since. For 24 hours I’ve been searching for answers. I don’t know why I pulled in here, but I did. And there you two were. I want to get things right with God and I’m sorry that I walked away. I’ve made so many bad choices since then that I don’t think I can go back. Besides, if He did forgive me, it still wouldn’t be okay because I plan to go home and repeat the same mistake. I don’t want to – I can’t – give up the woman I love even though being with her now isn’t the right thing.”

So there was William, just like so many of us are, standing at the crossroads of what we want and what we think is right. Sometimes we just need someone to listen and talk through things with us. That’s exactly what happened that day. The two of us talked about how short life really is and what is ultimately important. That God forgives and not only forgives, but then enables us with the power of his Spirit to do what is right. Often, doing the right thing requires a sacrifice. William knew those things, he just needed to be reminded. Maybe you need to be reminded of those things too. We all do.

As we finished talking, William held out his hand. I wasn’t sure at first what he was doing. Then it hit me. I held out my hand and he took it and began to pray. It was such a beautiful thing to hear a man who had been hurting and running away, turn around and head home toward his Father.

Just as William was closing his prayer, we could hear the sound of a train blowing it’s horn and racing down the tracks right across the street. I smiled at my new friend. In over 20 years of coming to the lake, I’d never seen a train on those tracks. Right then was the perfect time. As the train passed by, we both knew William was on it. Because it’s not too late.

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“The Lord said: ‘It isn’t too late. You can still return to me with all your heart…Don’t rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind and caring.'” Joel 2:12-13 CEV

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Below are pictures from “It’s Not Too Late.”

A meeting of train and motorcycle where a man discovers it's never too late.

The train coming through Garfield

Could it be William?

Our usual meeting spot at the Short Stop

The caboose - be on it!

Dixie looking regal

Short Stop - home of the giant cones!😋 Take a look at those gas prices!

A few of the Pinterest Pins for “It’s Not Too Late.”

For the rest of the Pinterest pin quotes, click here to head to Pinterest.

For another story about going home, try “Coming Home.”

Thanks for reading the story. If you enjoyed it, please share or leave a comment below. Or if you would like to contact me directly, I can be reached at UncommonStories77@gmail.com.