Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . It (real life) is full of disappointments. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Lazarus was ill, seriously so. His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” They fully expected Jesus to come and heal their brother. For, Jesus was more than their Lord. He was their friend. But, Jesus did not come—immediately. He delayed two days. And, Lazarus died. When Jesus finally arrived, the sisters’ greetings are heavy with disappointment. "If only you had been here…" I've felt their disappointment—keenly: when my first husband left and never returned, while drowning in postpartum depression, when my father-in-law lay ill 18 years, when my mom lost her legs, when my sister was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Lord, if only you had been here. These things would not have happened. Life would be good, as it should be. I know you, Lord. I am your follower and your friend. Why didn&

Welcome to Real Life .   My writer-friend, Raani York, kindly published a recent interview with me.   Hello Peggi, I want to thank you first of all for your readiness to be part of this interview and permit me to publish it on my blog. I did choose you because I have heard of you before and would like for other people to know you and your writing better. Would you explain what made you write in the first place and when you felt the need to write? As a child, I dreamed of writing a book. I can picture my eight-year-old self on the edge of my bed, notebook in hand, penning my first novel. However, I lost confidence and never pursued the dream. Yet, writing remained an integral aspect of my being. I would journal, write for and edit newsletters, and had a strong need to capture every major life event on paper. I’ve always been a voracious reader. Books (both fiction and non-fiction) have greatly impacted my life. Six years ago, while reading a book, God resurrected my childhood

Welcome to Real Life . Every been hit by a stone? It hurts. “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?” Jesus’ radical teachings on love and grace infuriated the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. They had religion down to a neat formula. Obey this, sacrifice that, give so much and you've fulfilled your obligation to God. Jesus messed with their system. (How can you quantify love and grace?)  And, the religious leaders didn't like it one bit. If they could just catch Jesus directly contradicting the Law of Moses, they’d have something concrete to condemn him with. So, while Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, they interrupt the lesson. They drag this poor woman before him. She’s guilty—no doubt—caught in the very act of adultery. What will Jesus do? Will he uphold the Law? But, Jesus won’t play their game. In fact, he won't even answer. Instead, he stoops down and w