The Keener Way

What do you think of when you think of a tree planted by rivers of water? Specifically in the context of Psalm 1? I always thought of it as big, strong, sturdy, unyielding to the wind and rain, with deep roots and a thick trunk, impervious, unmovable, solid. And I saw my own life as anything but that. August 2022 to August 2023 probably qualifies so far as the most uncertain, unstable consecutive twelve months of my life. A whole lot happened, enough that it felt like twelve years. I watched so many doors close on me. Doors to a couple different relationships. Doors to several different job opportunities. That twelve month period saw me move out of my parents' home in Maryland to take a job in Ohio. And then leave that job a mere four months later and move back home. That twelve month period saw my reputation challenged and scarred. That twelve month period saw me trying to make multiple decisions. And I wavered back and forth on those decisions like chaff blown around in the wind.

Before the second week of August, 2023, no one had ever really asked me about my testimony. And being a mildly trauma-scarred extreme introvert, I never really thought to offer it. After all, what do I have to offer? I wasn’t a drug addict who suddenly went cold-turkey from all my meds cuz I found Jesus. I wasn’t some criminal who stumbled onto the gospel while serving jail time. Why would anybody want to hear my story? But that second week of August 2023, I got asked. Twice. Then a third time. By good friends that I trusted and respected. And if they asked me, they clearly wanted my answer. So, my quest began. A big, long, barely coherent ramble of my whole life. Most of it relevant to the story, but a good testimony shouldn’t ramble that badly. Having had that experience, I decided to write it out a bit more concise. Doesn’t mean it will be short, because the thing is, Yahweh has been showing me how so many little trivial things in life all connect, how one thing leads to the next. I