“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.” – 1 Corinthians 3:5

In 2019, my novel, All Nighter at L & L Pub, debuted. I wrote this novella as a call to the Church for unity. Way back then, I traveled to different churches in my home state of Alabama. I told some stories through in-person performances, and those performance ended with meeting the audience members. I met some fabulous people with whom I shared some great conversations. The endings to these conversations embarrassed me though. The inevitable conclusion was: “Yeah, my denomination has problems, but at least, we aren’t that denomination over there.” St. Paul might as well be writing to us in 1 Corinthians 3:5.

Now, let me make one thing clear: I’m actually not advocating for a singular denomination, here. I think our denominations could be good for the Kingdom. As St. Paul indicated in his day, each pastor has a different set of gifts which allow him to appeal differently to people. Our denominations could serve the same role. Because each of our journeys are different, one denomination appeals more to us than another. Yet, we all have the same Creed [specifically the Nicene and Apostles’]. Through these common beliefs, we should recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. So, I wanted a call of unity more like that of a family than a singularity.

As a result, I wrote a very simple story about the divisions of a family farm, told through a friendship. Jesus used a lot of farming metaphors in His parables, and I tried to imitate that. Catherine and Joseph are the two siblings who divide their father’s farm. Sister and brother add elements to their farm simply because the other won’t. They seek to better their farm at the expense of the other. And, they ask for zero help from the other. In the end, can any unity survive these divisions, or will the divisions become intrinsic to the farm’s existence?

Now, you read this tale from the perspective of Alfred, who summons his buddy, Edward, to L & L Pub. A farmhand [Alfred] and a wanderer [Edward] share a conversation from two divergent perspectives. Yet, they sit together in their discussion. These two friends come together for a moment to care for each other’s journey. Alfred lays out the divisions between his niece and nephew [Catherine and Joseph], and Edward listens with comfort for his distressed friend. Perhaps, the siblings could find an example for their unity here?

In the end, I pray for God’s use of this story. May God extend His guidance to His Church through my tale, and may you see some provision for your own journey of living with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Or, maybe God gives you the space to enter His presence for some time only you and Him. Whatever the case, I put it in God’s hands.

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