Uninterrupted by Sharon Heagy

            Why are so many words that begin with the letter U so difficult to write or spell.  Not to mention (but I will) many of them look weird too. The ink doesn’t flow out of the pen easily when writing many ‘U’ words. Yes, I am talking about U, you letter U.

            While some great words with upbeat meanings begin with said letter - words like unity, understanding and unanimity - there are also words that begin with this letter that drag a word from a positive wonderful connotation into negative territory. Do – undo. Able – Unable. Clean – unclean. Nourished – undernourished. Acceptable – unacceptable. Appealing – unappealing. Happy – unhappy. You get the idea.

            It was hard to find a word that starts with the letter U with an uplifting spin for this month’s blog theme. At least for me. I was struggling and it was like I was sinking in the waters of writer’s block. But all that changed when I attended our weekly Bible Study and Prayer Meeting.

            Experiencing a day of the blahs, I wanted to stay at home. Tired, a bit cranky, fighting my flesh and bad attitudes, I headed out the door, knowing that when I am swimming around in this zone I need to get into the Word and pray more than usual. Not giving into, well, me.

            During the singing portion of our morning, the word uninterrupted floated into my mind. Then suddenly it was accompanied by a flood of ideas! It was like the painting Hand of God by Yongsung Kim. The one with Jesus plunging His hand through the surface of the water. It was like His hand reached down to pull me up, splashing and spluttering, soaked through, dripping everywhere, straight into His arms, where things began to have clarity.

            Uninterrupted. Life with Jesus. When we give our lives to the Lord, we enter a relationship that is uninterrupted. From that instant He is there, always. He doesn’t put us on hold while He handles another situation. He doesn’t turn His back on us when we cry out to Him.  His word says in Hebrews 13:5 that as we walk with Him, “He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you!) [Assuredly not!] (AMP)

            Never? Never. Never never ever. Period.

            Sure, there are times we may think He is not here but He is always present. We are usually the ones who drift unless there is a lesson we must learn in the waiting, which doesn’t change His presence one iota. 

            Many prayers of the Jewish people practice the presence of God. Upon waking, they have a morning prayer like the following – “I give thanks unto You, Adonai, that, in mercy, You have restored my soul within me. Endless is Your compassion; great is Your faithfulness. I thank You Adonai, for the rest You have given me through the night and for the breath that renews my body and spirit. May I renew my soul with faith in You, Source of all Healing. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who renews daily the work of creation.” *

            Before sleeping they have a night prayer that recognizes God’s presence even as they sleep. Here is an example “Adonai, may it be Your will that I lie down in peace and rise up in peace. Let not my thoughts, my dreams, or my daydreams disturb me. Watch over my family and those I love. O King of the Universe, who neither slumbers nor sleeps, I entrust my spirit to You. Thus as I go to sleep, I put myself into Your safekeeping. Grant me a night of rest. Let the healing processes that You have placed into my body go about their work. May I awaken in the morning, refreshed and renewed to face a new tomorrow. Hear, O Israel, Adonai our God, Adonai is One! We praise You, Adonai, Whose shelter of peace is spread over us, over all Your people, over every creation, and over Jerusalem.” *

            We could do worse than to acknowledge the presence of our Lord many, many times a day and I am discovering ways to accomplish this in a manner that will be perfect for me. 

            The uninterrupted presence of God is beyond fabulous news for the Christian Writer. Every day, every hour, every minute and every second we are writing, we have the ability to recognize that we are writing in the uninterrupted presence of God! This is both amazing and awesome, let it sink in deeply. It takes practice. To say, ‘speak Lord’ instead of ‘just a minute, Lord, I’m busy writing my own thoughts down.’  Perhaps we need to practice interrupting our selfish selves and embrace the enduring presence of God. 

This is blowing my mind in a new way, like fresh fire burning inside, getting rid of old or stagnant notions that needed to be rekindled and brought to full flame. 

            Something to think about and work towards. May God bless you this day with the fresh fire you need to melt away the dross and burn God given phrases onto paper for His glory. 

 

*Selected Jewish Prayers and Blessings, University of Pennsylvania 

 

 

Understanding Your Audience by Steph Beth Nickel

 

https://pixabay.com/photos/create-creation-creativity-laptop-3026190/

There's nothing wrong with writing exclusively for yourself. Enter the journal in its numerous iterations: bullet journals, diary-type journals, guided journals, etc., etc., etc.

But . . . 

If you're writing for an audience, there are several things to take into consideration.

You've likely heard the term "target audience," but defining who you're writing to is crucial to what you write, the vocabulary you use, and how you market your writing.

The good news: Defining your target audience, your "ideal reader," has numerous benefits. The bad news: No, you're not writing for everyone. 

When you have determined who your ideal reader is, you'll have to do some research as to where to find them. Do they spend time on social media? If so, where? Facebook? Instagram? TikTok?

As you explore, you'll not only find your target audience but also what interests them, what they're posting about, their "felt needs."

The information you want to share or the entertainment value you want to provide is only relevant to your audience if it's something that satisfies those felt needs. You may have a great deal of information, insight, and inspiration to offer, but you have to meet your readers where they are in order for them to benefit from your words.

And speaking of words . . .

Understanding what to say and how to say it to effectively communicate with your audience is extremely important.

Raise your hand if you'll read a 1000-page fantasy novel, but will merely skim an email of more than three paragraphs.

While you may happily read a lengthy newsletter, the same amount of content on Facebook can appear overwhelming, causing you to skip over it entirely.

Using words your audience understands and can relate to in a format that grabs their attention is incredibly important. Meeting their expectations, based on what you're writing, is also important. Using proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling in your texts is fine. Expecting others to do the same (and, worse yet, correcting them when they don't) will shut the door to effective, ongoing communication.

As an editor, people ask me if poor grammar and incorrect spelling and punctuation bother me. I can honestly say that, for the most part, I notice these mistakes but don't allow them to hinder the message the writer is seeking to convey. (It's different when someone hires me to notice these issues and correct them of course.)

As a writer, it's important to define your target audience, discover where they spend their time, learn what their felt needs are and how you can meet them, and seek to effectively communicate with them in a way they understand.

When the Unexpected Upends Our Plans by Sandi Somers

Repairing Calgary's Watermain Break

It was not the summer I planned.

It all began June 5th, when one of two main water lines into Calgary burst, cutting our water supply to 40%. Stage 1 restrictions thrust us into pioneer-like use of water, and we weren’t even allowed to water outdoor plants. However, I got around the restrictions, saving as much “grey water” as I could from washing dishes by hand, and from rescuing bath water and water from taps as I warmed it up for other usage. But then came July. It was hot with no rain, and some flowers didn’t thrive very well. My plans for a lovely show garden were put on hold to maybe next year.

Finally, after several weeks of repair work on the water line, test water began flowing through the pipes. We were allowed to water our lawns—one hour a week. With no rain for our parched, yellowing lawns, it was like giving a glass of water to a person dying of thirst! (It’s September now and we’re back into severe water restrictions as other fragile spots on the water main are being repaired.)

Then July brought two painful events. On July 4, my brother Keith died of lung cancer. I didn't know he was ill and didn’t have a chance to meet with him before he passed. His family hosted a private family viewing, with no service planned, which I attended. The same morning, another brother, Cyril, was brought to the Foothills Hospital. His health had been deteriorating in the previous weeks, and his condition had worsened to the point of needing hospital care.

It was a tough day for all of us.

Cyril was diagnosed with myeloma—blood cancer. “Do you know what that means?” the doctor asked me. “Yes, our sister died of it ten years ago,” I answered, heartbroken for what I knew lay ahead for Cyril. Fortunately, new medications are more effective in treating this cancer than in my sister Karen’s day. He’s on weekly chemo injections—twelve altogether, which will take him just past Thanksgiving.

Grief over Keith’s passing and caring for loved ones in deep suffering took a lot out of me. Meanwhile, when my summer plans became as short changed as our water, I kept in contact with Keith’s family, offering love and support, and I became Cyril’s principal visitor and caregiver, visiting him almost every day, sharing tender moments, sharing God’s love when he was afraid he was dying, and praying with him. I also texted our extended family and Cyril’s friends, keeping them posted on his progress. What a delight to see how God is answering our prayers as Cyril is gradually recovering.

When my life—our lives—veer off in unexpected directions, we often feel disoriented or upended. Yet God waters our lives with grace and His presence, sometimes growing us in new directions, new attitudes, new caring, and new compassion. New themes will emerge, perhaps even a new direction for writing.

It was then that I knew God has a higher plan and a way through these events (Isaiah 55:9). I knew He was inviting me to participate with His purpose and give Him honour for His wonderful care over many issues.

Ubiquitous Una Understands by Joylene M Bailey

 

*****

Well dear readers, I'm not sure I can be held responsible for the places my creative brain goes when given the letter U to work with. Thank you in advance for your indulgence and understanding. 

*****

To Whom it May Concern at Vogue Magazine Except for the Mail Department and any Underlings;

     Your publication is unequivocally unobjectionable. It has come to my attention, however, that the magazine could be uniformly better if you employed an advice columnist. 

     I propose myself for this propitious role since I'm veritably prolific with advice, and, I most humbly and unobtrusively admit, an expert in most things. Anyone will tell you I am upright to the utmost and undeniably urbane. People often utter that my advice gives them shivers.

     The column will be called Una Understands, for I understand the human condition and possess useful advice. I think things through, but I can also be ultroneous at times. I believe this unique quality cannot be undermined. People appreciate me. I'm there for them, anytime and all the time.

     For example, I have been there for my new young neighbours since they moved in two years ago. I drop over at least three times a week with food and life suggestions, unseasoned as they are. Ultimately, I've lived quite a long time and have garnered umpteen useful things.

     When they first moved in, I urged them to update the ugly beige siding, to umber possibly, because the ultramarine shutters clashed. I gave them the name of my brother-in-law who is a contractor. I don't take umbrage when they don't follow my advice right away. (Which is a good characteristic for an advice columnist.) It's understandable. The new baby keeps them busy. There's something wrong with it, it ululates at least once a day.

     Since they're so busy, I'm helping with the garden. It became overgrown with the flowers they planted last year, and as I unfolded the value of vegetables to them, I gave them my leftover seeds. They haven't had time to plant them yet, but I've dug up the flowers for them, so the garden is all ready for planting whenever they can get away from that baby.

     They don't bring the baby outside anymore, and I can't tell if it's getting enough roughage. I know all about babies, my sister had three.

     George, my other neighbour, values my advice no end. He's always saying, "Una, you are incorrigible." But of course he means incorruptible. He's always getting those two mixed up, poor thing.

     I haven't seen him in a while, he's never home when I go knock on his door, and now there's a for sale sign on his lawn. I suppose he got fed up with that upstart Carter across the street, who used to mow George's lawn--quite the wrong way, in my view, and I told him so every time he was out there. Carter has now given up on the job, undisciplined urchin. You never can trust kids these days, and poor George has been mowing it himself, which he finds difficult with the cane, you know, but I've told him I'm coming up with an idea to make his life unbelievably better.

     Oh yes, an advice column will be no problem for me. Physically, I mean. You see, I will have my own office to work in, now that Morris has passed on. He used to spend hours working in there with Rudolf and Valentino purring away on the desk. Plumbers have so much paperwork nowadays, I can't imagine how they're expected to do the actual plumbing. But sure enough, as soon as Morris got home from work, he'd say, "Una dear, I'll take my supper in my office. So much paperwork tonight." I'd hear the papers rustling while the football game played on the office TV. How unfortunate that he couldn't just sit back and enjoy the evening. The most uxorious man who ever lived, and I miss him unmistakably.

     As you can see, my specific gifts will be significantly useful to your publication, and I urge you to undergo this change with Una Understands at the helm, to bring your magazine to its utmost untouchability.

Undauntedly,

Una Uxbridge

P.S. Undoubtedly, you noticed my competency with vocabulary. I read the dictionary regularly and have just completed the U section.  

*****

Feature Image by Oliver Kepka of Pixabay

Joy writes from lake country, Alberta, and thanks you for indulging her crazy creative brain. In case you are still wondering about two usually unused U words in this post, Ultroneous means spontaneous, voluntary. And Uxoriousness means foolish fondness for a wife. 

Find more of her joy-infused writing at Scraps of Joy, where a new post was published on Sept. 2.

   

U is for Undeterred by Bob Jones

Are you in a place where the unexpected has set you back on your heels? Panicked because life threw up a roadblock to your dreams? You’re uncertain about finding a way through. You wonder what God was thinking to allow this to happen.

 

God will make a way.

 

My story is about a detour not a diagnosis, a building not a body. While not life-threatening, the experience with God galvanized our faith to face future threats. In 2006 our newly planted church was situated at the western end of the most northerly avenue in Edmonton. Ours was the only building. Isolated, adjacent to farmers’ fields, with deer and coyotes as our near neighbours. It was a perfect site for growth on 15 acres, with traffic access from a new ring road. Within two years our average Sunday attendance grew from 495 to 900. Three years later we had added a second service and were considering a third. We had momentum. January 2011 was to be a celebration of God’s favour.  

 

The Christmas decorations had just been stored away when a letter arrived from the city of Edmonton. It was a notification of the closure of our avenue during expansion work. The closure would be for one year.

 

What?

 

What were they thinking? How do they expect people to get to church? A hurried meeting with city developers informed us of an error. They had forgotten about our building in their plans. The avenue would be shut down for a year. To help us, the city would pay for signs to direct people through convoluted detours and pay for a temporary road to be built near railroad tracks and through a ditch to access our property. Thank you very much. Subsequent to that, CN informed us they would close the railway crossing at the same time for upgrades. Now we had no access again.

 

Panic.

 

TRUST GOD'S HEART

The city may have forgotten us, but God had not. We discovered that for every setback, God has a greater comeback. God's faithfulness is hope for many detoured by crisis in life. Don Moen’s song, “God Will Make a Way,” became our theme.

 

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

 

People were praying. CN decided to delay the railway crossing upgrade. We purchased billboard ads in high traffic areas to inform the community we existed and were open. Our leadership determined to at least have some fun with this setback. I crafted a sermon series entitled, “Undeterred.”  We asked the city for orange roadwork barriers, detour signs, and construction equipment and placed those outside our facility entrances, in our lobby, and on our platform. Remarkably, the congregation took this detour in stride and grew in faith and in numbers.

Thirteen years later, people still talk about being undeterred.

 

In the bad news, the good news was the expanded avenue was to accommodate a potential of 450-550 housing starts. Within a couple of years, 4,000 people were living in the new neighbourhood next door. The community now boasts close to 8,000 residents in walking distance of the church. North Pointe was first to the frontier and an anchor point for the community.

 

When I can't trace God's hand I must trust his heart. 

God is too loving to hurt me.

God is too wise to make a mistake.

God's power makes all things possible.

 

My prayer for you is to be undeterred. To embrace God’s love and to know his wisdom. To be comforted so you have the strength to take the next step forward with your faith intact and your eyes on heaven.

 

If I can be of any help or support in your journey, please reach out. Bob.pb.jones@gmail.com or 780-707-5569

U is for Ugly, by Susan Barclay

 

Our stories are important and have value - even the "ugly" parts. Our stories aren't meant to be hidden; hiding the facts of our real lives implies shame, which is actually a component of pride. Think about it. 

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th edition) defines shame as 

1. A painful emotion caused by the awareness of having done something wrong or foolish. 
2. Respect for propriety or morality.
3. A pervasive, negative emotional state, usually originating in childhood, marked by chronic self-reproach and a sense of personal failure.

Pride says, "Don't let anyone know you've done something wrong or foolish. Don't let anyone know you've behaved improperly or immorally. Don't let anyone know you've failed." Pride wants to project an image of perfection, an image of superiority. Pride is associated with the enemy of our souls.

How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High" ~Isaiah 14:12-14

satan, the prince of pride, wants us to keep the embarrassing parts of our stories secret. He wants us to believe we need to project to the world a certain image of ourselves, an image of someone who has it all together, who does no wrong. When Adam and Eve "realized they were naked...they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves" (Genesis 3:7). Why? Because they wanted to appear clean, not just physically but spiritually. Of course, their efforts backfired because there's just no hiding from God.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ~Hebrews 4:13

If we didn't know the ugly parts of Adam and Eve's story or the ugly parts of the stories of so many figures from the Bible, would Jesus's story have as much impact? How would we know we even need Jesus at all?

When we cover up the ugly parts of our stories, we do ourselves and others a disfavour and we fail to honour God. We're giving people a false impression of who we are and what our lives look like, and we're denying them the freedom to be real with us in exchange. Because, guess what? All of our stories have components of ugliness. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Author and social scientist, Brene Brown, has much to say about the value of vulnerability:

Vulnerability is the core, the heart, the center of meaningful human experience.

Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.

When we refuse to be vulnerable and truth-telling, we miss opportunities to connect, to share our experiences with others in ways that might help them, to show the empathy and compassion that naturally result from going through trials, to bless and be blessed. We even miss the opportunity to glorify God, which is a big reason we are here.

Sharing the ugly parts of our stories is hard. We don't know how others will respond. Will they react with kindness and understanding or with judgment and fear? Will they move toward or away from us? Will they grieve with us (if that's what we need), or ridicule and gossip about us? These are legitimate concerns. I know one couple who shared their heartbreaking story with their pastor and his wife. The pastor and his wife promised to walk alongside them in their journey, then immediately cut them off and had nothing more to do with them. This grieves the heart of God! 

What should we do with our ugly when we don't want the negative reactions but want to share our stories to encourage and give hope to others, to let them know what God has done in our lives? I believe there are a number of things:

1. Start by asking God what He wants you to do. Maybe there's a specific person, couple, family, or group that He wants you to share with. You don't have to spill your "guts" to the whole world unless He specifically says so.
2. Start also by telling your story to one or two people you absolutely trust to hold it gently. They may know someone else who needs to hear your experience and reassurance that God is on the throne. He is working behind the scenes even when we cannot see. His timing and ways are not ours.
   
3. Respond in obedience to God's leading and nudges. Start small if you have to. He honours the small beginnings (ref Zechariah 4:10). 
4. Ask yourself what you're willing to bear for His sake. Also, know yourself: how thick is your "skin"? As writers, we have likely all experienced rejection of our work, but rejection of our most personal stories and selves is another thing. Remember, that if God is calling you to share it, He's giving you the strength to bear the outcomes. If even just one person is helped by sharing, is it worth it?
   
5. Recognize that you're not responsible for how others respond. Leave their responses to the LORD, as well as any personal need for vindication. 
6. Make God the focus and centre of your story, not yourself.
7. Use a pen name if you feel God is calling you to share your story publicly but you're not ready to identify yourself.
8. Make sure you have permission to share from others who are intimately connected with your story. If your spouse, children, or parents are involved and the story reflects negatively on them, you may need to wait for them to be willing. Without their agreement, you can only share your part.
   
9. Remember the impact of other people's stories on you. I'm sure we've all read the work of authors whose stories have power. God can use our stories, too, especially if we're willing to be vulnerable! 
10. Remember that God has allowed our trials and struggles for a purpose. We aren't to be ashamed of them (in spite of any regrets we may have) and we aren't to hide them under a bushel. We were made for connection. Again, you don't have to share all the gory details with the whole world. You can dip your toes in the water with just one person.

I hope this post has given all of us food for thought. 

Be encouraged:

He gives "beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." ~Isaiah 61:3

[His] ways [are] higher than [our] ways and [His] thoughts than [our] thoughts ~Isaiah 55:9.

Trust Him to "do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." ~Ephesians 3:20

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose ~Romans 8:28. If it's not good, then He's not done!

Don't be ashamed of ugly. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2), the Author of your story! Let Him use your story and turn for good what the enemy meant for evil (Genesis 50:20). Let Him make something beautiful out of your whole life. He is able!!

_____________________

For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com. 

 

U is for Underwear ~ by Brenda J. Wood

I heard about a wonderful travel tip.  Pack your oldest underwear. (It makes sense, why buy new clothes for people you will never see again?) 

Then when you change, throw the dirty things into the hotel waste basket. Your suitcase gets lighter every day! …

I just happened to be preparing for a trip to Israel! Yes, I did! All those old clothes with faded colour and weak elastic went into my bag.

I did have some doubts. I got the buts. You know, the buts! 

BUT what would people think?

BUT was it a Christian thing to do?  

Then I read this Bible verse: 

Do not cast me off in the time of my old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent!  (Psalm 71:9)

Fortunately, closer study revealed that the Psalmist was not speaking about my old clothes. 

I will admit the first outfit was a little painful. Then I began to reason. I don’t know anyone In Israel. I will be in a new hotel tomorrow. Only the chambermaid and I will ever know. 

What kind of chambermaid roots through the garbage? If she snoops, it serves her right! And besides, she’ll think they belong to my roommate!! 

It was a very freeing experience! 

I was able to get rid of stuff I no longer needed; stuff that weighed me down. 

The Bible says, Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet (like old clothes)—and trip us up (Hebrews 12:1 LB)   

Friends, may I ask what holds us back?  

We write pages of beautiful descriptions of wildflowers, sky and people, but without a plot. Folks have to be doing something, going somewhere, speaking something. 

Frankly, I skip most of that if it is more than a few lines long. It is sweet but it interrupts the action.

After all the gunfighter is not admiring the flowers in the store window when he is getting ready to meet his match.

Or take a love scene. The perfume, the outfits (or not) don’t move the folks to that first embrace.

The story is the thing. I could have described my underwear to the last frill but you were all waiting for the action. (Will she or won’t she follow through?)

Take a good look. What are you dragging into your stories?

Brenda J. Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

U is for Understand ~ by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

Something surprising happened during my 1981 college English class. But first, let’s set the stage.

In those days I was exponentially insecure about my writing because my English professor said I was verbose. His bluntness helped me face my need to slash vast sections of early drafts. I needed to get to the point without padding projects with unimportant details.  

Our last essay of the year counted for much of our final grade. The pressure to be precise was immense. I don’t perform well under pressure. I freeze. While I was stuck in the research stage of the topic I was intrigued by, another student asked me to read her essay.

This only added to my insecurity. I was impressed by how brave the student was to already have her project completed. And the scope of her essay was deep and wide. Since I got lost in the big words and long sentences, I figured she must be smarter than me. How could I write anything worth reading when I couldn’t understand a classmate’s writing? Was I out of my league? Was I going to fail?

One thing I appreciate about my personality is that I’m competitive. I don’t like to give up without a fight.

The night before the essay was due, I pulled a near-all-nighter. My work was finally done.

The huge surprize came when I found out my classmate’s essay failed and mine got top marks.

Huh?

It didn’t take me long to realize that mine did well because I stuck to my outline. My essay gave the reader facts in easy-to-understand language. Big words and long sentences that lose the reader aren’t fun or informative. 

Overly embellished pages are quicksand that bogs readers down in unnecessary details. They’re dead ends that prevent our audience from understanding what we gleaned from research and experience.

They’re failing grades.

...whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25 NIV

What have you learned from a humbling critique of your writing? I’m nosy to know.      

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and YouTuber who loves photographing nature on Vancouver Island. Her happy place is making junk journals to sell in her Etsy shop. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.”