The Parable of the Good Samaritan: A Guest Post for a Friend

The Good Samaritan, Paula Modersohn-Becker

On Sunday mornings I assist my husband in teaching Sunday school to a group of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys. We usually have about ten boys in class, but yesterday we got a surprise when the girls from the classroom next door joined us! Their teachers weren't able to make it, so we ended up with 23 kids altogether. I love helping with this age group and I was especially happy to get to know the girls a bit.

Our lesson was on the Good Samaritan from Luke 10. My husband Joe asked for a volunteer to read the passage. A petite girl with red hair and freckles was the first to raise her hand. Joe called on her to read. I'll call her "Red."

Red's voice was soft. Right from the start she struggled to sound out the words. After a few minutes I thought she might give up and let someone else take over, but she plodded on through the entire passage. The boys squirmed. Some of the kids exchanged awkward smiles with each other. There were long pauses between Red's words and it was hard to hear most of what she read.

But it was okay.

Actually, it was more than okay -- it was wonderful! I'm not sure if any of the kids picked up on what I saw, but Jesus underscored His message to me because there was a "Good Samaritan" right by Red's side. I'll call her "Sam."

(Read the rest at my friend Tim's blog, Just One Train Wreck After Another.)

Classics and the Bible Sunday

Dear Friend,

It feels like a good time to revive my "Classics & the Bible" blog with a new post. I've written about a biblical reference which is tossed out with sarcasm by Stephan Arkadyevich to Konstantin Levin as they ride in a carriage through Moscow on their way to visit Anna Karenina. Unpacking three short words was quite an interesting experience! You can read the post here.

Also, I recently wrote another guest piece for my friend Tim Fall's blog -- "Racial Reconcilation: One Ordination Day at a Time."

Out of all the preachers I greeted that day, there was one face which stood out above the rest. I remember him as taller than everyone else, but maybe he only appeared to be. He was gray and distinguished, certainly the oldest man in attendance. I placed my young white hand in his ancient brown one, a small dove in a large nest. His eyes were tender like the eyes of Christ. I felt as if he saw into me. Under the weight of his gaze my eyes moistened.

Hope your Sunday is worshipful and restful.

Blessings!

Adriana

Blogiversary! (I'm back early from my break.)

Dear Friend,

Classical Quest is two years old today!

My little blog is a toddler now.

I wish I could spend this day with all my wonderful blog-friends in person. I'd love to celebrate with a slab of The Best German Chocolate Cake in All the Land from Yammie's Noshery. *

I keep thinking about how this second year of blogging has turned out to be "The Year I Learned How to Guest Post and How to Host Guest Posts." 

Karen Swallow Prior was here in March. Oh my goodness. So exciting! Karen is the author of Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me -- a book which really struck a chord with me. Hosting her here was delightful.

In April I hosted a moving post by my friend Tim Fall, who blogs at Just One Train Wreck After Another. (Psst . . . Today is Tim's birthday.)

My friend Jeannie Prinsen is a writing instructor for Queen's University in Canada. She shared one of her stunning poems here in November. Jeannie blogs at Little House on the Circle.

Also in November, I was offered a post by award-winning author Anita Mathias -- which I accepted with joy! Anita blogs from Oxford at Dreaming Beneath the Spires.

And finally, I read a poem by Sheena Señara which she wrote in response to the devastation caused by Super-Typhoon Haiyan. I felt honored that she was willing to share this tender post with my readers and me. Sheena blogs at Tabulyogang. 

I was a guest at other blogs twice this year.

I was a nervous wreck until each of the posts went up . . . and then, once they were posted (and there was no turning back) I had a blast! (Thank you so much for the experience, Jeannie and Tim!)

My historic first guest post was "Embracing the Gospel Through Racial Reconciliation" which went up at Just One Train Wreck After Another in October.

The second was "The Story of a Life in Three Quilts" which was posted at Little House on the Circle.

So that's it for the guest post links. I'm glad to be back to blogging again. I've missed it.

Hope you are well!

Love,

Adriana

* Twenty-one year old Yammie cooks for her large family. She's a charming blogger and a culinary genius. She was recently acknowledged by the Huffington Post.You're going to love her blog.

A Story of a Life in Three Quilts

Dear Friend,

I've written another guest post! It's about a legacy that was passed down to me in the form of three quilts. My kind friend Jeannie Prinsen has posted it on her blog, "Little House on the Circle." 

You can read it here.

While you're there take some time to explore other posts by Jeannie. She shares reflections about faith, family life, special needs children, reading, writing, and other fascinating topics. I visit her blog frequently to glean rich insights and be encouraged.

Peace & Joy,

Adriana