Carol McClain       @carol_mcclain The elders in my daughter’s church handed out rocks. These weren’t pretty, soothing objects like worry rocks or quartz or painted ones with happy messages or water-smoothed pebbles. Each was large enough to hold but oddly shaped and rough. The pastor instructed us to hold the stone throughout the service. Being the obsessively …[ read more ]

Carol McClain      @carol_mcclain Recently, a woman in our congregation faced a possible amputation. Questions arose between doctors about whether she needed such extreme measures. When family, ready for amputation, discovered she didn’t need one, she exploded with the news, “Praise, God, I’m healed.” A month later, the infection roared into life and debilitated her for months. …[ read more ]

Carol McClain    @carol_mcclain A little boy I know came down with virulent cancer. I, along with many others, prayed intensely. One day God told me he’d be fine. No. I am crazy, but I didn’t hear an audible voice. A sudden change in my psyche took hold. From that day on, my prayers became more sporadic. …[ read more ]

by Carol McClain      @carol_mcclain We ate in a quaint restaurant with country decorations. Over our table hung something that looked like a Superwoman’s bra. Knowing this couldn’t be, we asked our waitress. “Mule blinders,” she said. Although my picture doesn’t display mules, they looked something like the above picture. the only way a mule could see, …[ read more ]

by Carol McClain      @carol_mcclain   Fifteen fourth graders crowded my classroom eager to make a stained glass heart. I gulped. Fifteen nine-year-olds. Then I stopped breathing. Fourteen active, normal nine-year-olds and one older, disabled child. How can the teacher instruct him along with all the others? I exhaled and breathed normally. In one day I had to send …[ read more ]