THE ABSURD

It’s Tessa, here, writing to you from the Southeastern U.S…

I don’t know about you, but I have a pipedream. It used to take the form of something like a publishing contract—until that event came to pass. Now, my pipedream has transitioned into something else. In fact, I have several of them. Most still writing related and ministry correlated, I find the vision for a “higher purpose” has expanded.

In the events of life and travel, I’ve seen things transpire I never thought I would, leaving me amazed and speechless. How can the impossible be possible?

Well, isn’t God the God of the impossible? I think once in a while the Almighty does things to confound us, sending us the message that he’s still in control and, by golly, shouldn’t he get the glory for the things we know we couldn’t have done ourselves?

Yet, we have a role to play. Sometimes I witness people afraid to take lofty risks for fear of failure or rejection, but if we never take those risks then we’ll never know the outcome of our highest destiny. In my opinion, it’s better to try, and try again, or believe, pray, and wait with steadfastness. Eventually, we’ll achieve something. It might not be exactly as we’ve mapped out. Nonetheless, we’ll get there and experience at least a portion of what we’ve dared to aspire under divine providence, resulting in doors opening we never even knew existed. The Lord can do anything through our relationship with him.

Recently, I shared one of my metamorphosed pipedreams with someone. His response was, “That’s outlandish.”

“God is the God of outlandish,” I said.

“It’ll never happen.”

I looked at him. “It can. He can do the impossible. This dream in my heart grows stronger everyday and I’m going to believe him for it.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he continued.

“God is the God of ridiculous,” I said.

“You’re being absurd.”

I shrugged. “Makes sense, since I’m created by a wonderfully absurd Creator.”

That’s part of the beauty of blind faith. It’s like a surprise birthday party that can occur anytime anywhere.

“For every mountain there is a miracle.” – Robert H. Schuller

A former contemporary dancer and missionary, Tessa Stockton, who also found involvement in politics and human rights groups, wrote The Unforgivable (RisenFiction April/2011)—her first book in the political intrigue series, Wounds of South America.  http://www.tessastockton.com/

On the Issue of Forgiveness

A documentary recently aired on the Public Broadcasting Service about the subject of forgiveness. Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate, a brilliant film directed by Helen Whitney, didn’t claim to have all the answers, but in the wide variety of circumstances covered, it posed the question: Can we forgive?

I found it fascinating and evocative, covering a miscellany of scenarios worldwide—from a bank robbery turned murderous to a nation’s social-cleansing genocide. How people forgave, as individuals and as a whole, spattered from personal reflection and prayer to the language of anger and righteous indignation.

Some found it possible to forgive heinous acts against humanity, while others believed that once a line is crossed, a boundary of human rights violated, there is no forgiveness…it becomes unforgivable.

I felt for the victims. The circumstances proved crushing. Yet, when a former perpetrator in South Africa had a spiritual conversion and experienced great remorse for the deeds he once undertook, he journeyed to the home of a man whom he tortured during apartheid. There, he asked for forgiveness from the family of this man whom he essentially killed. I could comprehend the anger when the family lashed out. However, when one of them struck the perpetrator in the head with a glass bottle, I experienced an emotive sensation almost tangible—like a stab in the heart. Yes, I grieved for the repentant one.

In the film, a scholar, from a religious perspective, made a statement that when someone infringes upon human life in such an appalling manner, such as torturing or slaying, God offers no forgiveness for that person. His or her crime, though potentially instilling great guilt and shame, is unforgivable.

Recently, an individual who had read my book, The Unforgivable, asked me about degrees of sin—if I honestly did not believe in Degrees—which is a chapter title in the novel. My answer is still no—I don’t believe in degrees of sin, just as I don’t believe in degrees of holiness. This person countered, “Really? Seriously? When someone has hurt others in that capacity, you truly believe there’s forgiveness for them?”

Forgiveness is the basis of Christianity. When Christ died, he looked to the one beside him, a vile and corrupt individual but who had a repentant heart, and he forgave him, granting him peace and eternal salvation in paradise. Jesus himself was beaten and struck down, body broken, crucified—a slow and agonizing way, by the way, to send someone into the afterlife. Yet, there, in one of his last breaths, he said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Biblically based, nothing is unforgivable but this one thing, which, as Craig S. Keener supplies in The IVP Bible Background Commentary, “Jesus thus regards blasphemy against the Spirit—permanently rejecting his identity (Matthew 12:18) as attested by the Spirit's works (12:28)—as the worst of sins.” A complete rejection on one side will bring about a complete rejection on the other. Everything else is gravy.

Forgiveness…

Really.

Seriously.

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23


A former contemporary dancer, Tessa Stockton, who was also active in politics and human rights groups, now writes Christian political intrigue novels. The Unforgivable is her first book in the Wounds of South America series. www.TessaStockton.com

Eight Days and Counting…

To my utmost delight, The Unforgivable—my debut novel—will soon see the light of day when it’s released in all its glory. Okay, okay...while I try to restrain my natural melodrama (schmaltz), for once, on this occasion, I really want to let it rip. Because, in all honesty, the journey to publication has been a long one—not unlike many; a difficult road full of discouragement and seemingly endless impossibilities.

“When is it ever going to happen for me?” a publishing contract, that is. Sound familiar?

I heard, “You have to be published to get published,” so often I wanted to scream. Couple that with piles of rejection letters high enough that I could wallpaper not only my office, but the entire house with them. A few points in time even arose where I wanted to quit and I tried to walk away from literary pursuits altogether.

You know it’s a calling when you let it go, but it doesn’t let go of you.

Returning to my love of writing (that never left me), a very special day arrived—only I didn’t know it was special. Almost out of nowhere, a tip from a colleague led to my querying a particular publisher. That query led to a proposal, which led to a contract—and it all transpired in a relatively short amount of time. The publisher also projected extending my novel into a 3-book series, to which I agreed and signed. Looking back at the onset of “the day” I didn’t think anything out of the norm would transpire. Things had almost become routine, and it was just another afternoon. I had submitted. I had waited. Maybe I’d get a response maybe I wouldn’t. This day wasn’t any different from any other. But it was the one when God said, “Okay, now it’s your turn. Your time has come.” I think I literally hit the floor when I received the contract offer.

The funny thing is, while I explored the craft of writing in multiple genres, I’ve come full circle and find that my initial interest started with what became this book—well over a decade later.

Now the marketing journey resembles a scary rollercoaster with lots of twists and turns (good thing I’m fond of such things). I’m hanging on for the ride of my life while basking in His newfound blessings. A giant “Yippee” might even slip out on occasion…like right now…

Through clouds of doubt and stormy days, a rainbow—it still exists. Yes, I am thrilled to see the upcoming release of my first novel on April 1. In a sense, it’s like crossing a threshold, the point of no return, for which I’m ready. Not to mention grateful, humbled, and overjoyed. If you are reading this and you happen to be struggling to keep after your dream toward publication, be encouraged! You really never know what a day will bring.

One more thing to share… My book trailer that Risen Books produced can be viewed at the link below. I’d love to know what y’all (as they say here in Tennessee) think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpYVOR9gEJo

A former contemporary dancer, Tessa Stockton now writes Christian political intrigue novels. The Unforgivable is her first book in the Wounds of South America series. http://www.tessastockton.com/