African is full of hospitality. Coy Webb and Abrahim Kiir.

1. Be aware
2. Be Astonished
3. Tell Others

We started with poet Mary Oliver’s three-strand cord anchoring the Amazing Life.

It’s a good spot to end this journey.

I’ve been enjoying a rocking version of one of my favorite hymns.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.

It’s one of the themes for my life. The humble, itinerant, obscure Jewish teacher still amazes me. Even after following Him for over forty years.

One of my Madi friends told a group of refugees, “You know, Jesus was a refugee too. He knows how we feel.” He added, “He was also homeless.”

This friend took us through the stories:

“He was born in Bethlehem while his parents were on the road. They soon fled to Egypt in the middle of the night.

During his adult life, Jesus stated, ‘Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ If that’s not homeless and humble?”

My friend was right. Jesus knows all about being on the move. He has a heart for the homeless.

He is still the friend of the friendless. A father to the fatherless. He is still amazing.

However, He is no longer the homeless teacher. He now sits in Heaven beside the Father. Your relationship with Jesus (or rather lack of it) will determine where you spend eternity.

    Draw a circle around your life .

It is only fair that I share my own story of how this Jesus, whom I attest to be the Son of God, changed my life.

Best of all, He is still changing me.

To read my story online: go to www.whativaluemost.com and type in “Curt Iles.” To upload your story: http://www.whativaluemost.com/Share.aspx

 The “What I Value Most” website.

My Story

I make my living as a storyteller . . . Some stories are written, others I tell. Most of the stories I tell are true. Others, although fictional, are taken from real life.

As a novelist, I create characters and stories. However, what I want to share with you is a true story. How do I know? Because it is my story. It’s a story of what happened, and is still ongoing, inside of me. In my heart.In my soul.

I’m fortunate to have grown up in a rural area. Our lack of material things was offset by the richness of living in a place where my family had settled in the early 19th century. It gave me roots and a sense of belonging. A feeling of being part of something bigger than I am.

However, at age fourteen, I began the realization that something was missing in my life. There was a nagging emptiness, a longing for something more. I tried to fill this void with many things but to no avail. Being from a religious family, I turned toward church activities and a desire to live a good life. But, I quickly found this to be impossible and futile. The empty hole remained.

Then for the first time in my life, I became serious about reading the Bible. On my own, I began to explore the words and writings of Jesus.

Then I found my value in Jesus.

At this time, the first modern translations of the Bible were available and I found the words on these pages alive, fresh, and life-changing. Through careful study, I realized what I needed was not religion. What I needed was a relationship—a personal, intimate, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I realized through what I read that I could have this relationship by simply asking in faith as I turned my life over to Jesus.

Sitting in a car, reading a gospel tract, I invited Jesus into my life.

No bells or whistles sounded, no flash of lightning. However, Jesus began something inside me that continues to this day. He kept his promise and filled my life.

I realized the emptiness I felt in my heart could only be filled by a relationship with Jesus. That hole was God-shaped and nothing in this world could fill it. I went from a head knowledge about Jesus to a heart knowledge of him. It’s only about ten inches from the brain to the heart. However, it’s the difference that makes all of the difference.

It’s my story.

And I’m sticking with it.

And I’m just as excited about my story as the day it first happened. It can be your story.

S.C. “Curt” Iles

Learn more about Trampled Grass and other books by Curt Iles at www.creekbank.net

 

Thanks for traveling to “Trampled Grass Land” with us.