Richard Exley Ministries


The Parable of the Geese
Posted on April 25, 2007

“Experience has taught me that in the early moments of temptation the way of escape is broad and easy to find.  The longer I delay, however, the narrower the way of escape becomes.” 

We have been flying since the first hint of daylight and the sun is now far down in the western sky as we circle the body of water far below us.  Though we have ridden a fierce north wind most of the day, weariness nonetheless makes our wings heavy.  Twice we have bypassed promising lakes after being alerted to danger by our experienced leader.  He is a magnificent bird well past his prime, but he can still fly with the best of the young geese.  He has been my mate for many winters.  For the most part we have had a good life – flying north to Canada in the spring to hatch our young, and then back south with the first hint of winter – but twice we lost offspring to the deadly guns of the hunters.

 Through the driving snow I now see a cluster of geese huddled against a marshy bank at the far end of the lake.  Being surrounded by grain fields, it promises not only a sheltered resting place but sustenance as well.  We will not find a better place to spend the night, of that I am sure.

Category: April

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Braided Rag Rugs, Coal Oil Stoves, and Friends from the
Posted on April 19, 2007

A key figure in my young world was Grandma Miller. Her entire life was lived on the ragged edge of poverty, but she was rich in spirit.

The longer I live, the more I realize just how fortunate I have been.  In addition to a very positive relationship with both my parents, and my brothers and sister, I was blessed with an extended family of loving grandparents, aunts and uncles.  Although I was never given any reason to think myself better than anyone else, I never doubted my worth as a person either.  Within the extended family circle I knew I had a place.  I was loved. I was somebody.

A key figure in my young world was Grandma Miller.  She stood 4'11" with tightly-curled red hair. As a child I never realized she colored it, but she must have, because it remained the same tint until the day she died.  Her entire life was lived on the ragged edge of poverty, but she was rich in spirit.

Category: April

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Mary Magdalene - The First Easter
Posted on April 05, 2007

When Jesus died, I lost not only by dearest friend, but my reason for living as well. Like Peter, I truly believed Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Now I don't know what to believe. As I watched Him die two days ago, something died inside of me. A black despair enveloped me, give birth to an all too familiar hopelessness.

For two nights and a day I have wrestled with my tormenting thoughts, and I am no nearer a resolution.  Was Jesus just a man, an extraordinary man to be sure, but still just a man? His death seems to prove that beyond question. Yet, if He was only a man, how do I explain His miracles?  More importantly, how do I explain what He did for me?

For years I existed in a nightmare world.  I lived in the darkness inside of me with those who had taken residence there -- malevolent spirits, abused and abusing. My name became a byword in the city of my birth -- Mary the mad whore of Magdala.  The life I lived I hated, as I hated myself, but I was powerless to change. I was a prisoner, and death seemed my only escape.
Category: April

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