Clothesline - Edition 206

By Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson, Pastor

June 12, 2024  

I like reading memoirs, autobiographies and I didn’t realize why…until today. Growing up I wasn’t an avid reader.  Consequently, college and seminary were more difficult than they had to be. It was a chore, sometimes painful, to remain connected to the written word.

But today, I seen to enjoy autobiographies. They actually hold my attention. Why… I wondered. Then in a flash I remembered one book from my childhood, probably the only book I ever really devoured. It was called Three Crowns for Elizabeth. Of course, I was attracted to the book in the eighth-grade library because it had my name. But later, I realized the attraction: it was a true story. It was reality. It was the muck and mire of a real, live person who came through, with God’s help, to the other side.

When I read life stories of the apostles and other followers of Jesus—and Jesus himself—it reminds me that life isn’t easy, but with God’s help, there is redemption. Even a few autobiographies of the rich and famous allude to God’s hand in getting them safely to the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t matter if you are a famous person or a young girl who lived a thousand years ago, a life story can be a helpful testimony to others, especially if God becomes a factor.

Many stories of the saints ended in martyrdom, which is not exactly something we strive for, but it does remind us that this life isn’t the end. In Three Crowns for Elizabeth, she began as an Hungarian princess, she became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, and she was canonized a saint. She had all the wealth in the world, and she gave it up to live in a community with others who had given up all their worldly possessions, and she found total happiness with her God.

Not everyone writes an autobiography, but everyone has a story to tell. I wrote my autobiography a few years ago with the intention that future family members of mine, that I will never know, might read about my life that had many ups and downs, but it was a life dependent upon God.

You have a story to tell, and your story might help someone else find their light at the end of the tunnel. Share your experiences with someone. You may be surprised that your journey through life might help someone else.

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A Journey of Faith: In Hindsight, Author: Elizabeth L. Nelson. Available through Amazon and BookBaby.