Just finished and loved your story. Thank you for sharing it with me; neither one of us knew I needed to read its message of hope during a rough patch. Each Sunday when we, following our public confession of sin have a brief time of silent confession, I find myself confessing my lack of faith in what God is doing in my life: aging parents, politics gone crazy, becoming an empty-nester, trying to figure out what is next in my life. I'm a fixer and struggling to trust in God's plan when I feel utterly helpless, knowing that my prayers are heard and that that is sometimes enough, that Jesus loves my family and cares more about my circumstances than I ever could. Understand it's not a doubting of God but rather a lack of trust. Needless to say, I could relate to your Captain Morales as he struggled to believe God despite circumstances that stretched his faith and was encouraged to trust in God and his promises. Isn't it just like the Lord to use fiction to teach us? I pray your story is published and finds its way to all those who need encouragement to truly trust in God's good and kindness in all of his providences.

Reuben Morales could easily be my alter ego but he is a much a more perfect me and loving, compassionate me--he's probably also, undoubtedly, much more handsome, and, as a fireman, much more "in shape". I'm surprised, you seem to have great insight into how we sensitive, evangelistically striving Believer males feel and act.... You've given me many things to consider, even reconsider through Reuben's personality. At present, as I'm my most severe judge, I'm now learning, through Reuben, to "rest in the Lord". I'm already carefully on guard to avoid evil, aware of where my weaknesses are and attempting to follow my Lord in all prospects I encounter and into which I must move.

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