JASON GRIMSLEY / CROSS STITCHED
“Whether I’m high or low, in heaven or hell, nothing can ever separate me from God’s love.” Jason dives into a memoir he helped his friend, baseball legend, Jason Grimsley, write. They guys talk about Jason’s wild and unbelievable life. This conversation is part storytelling, part revelation, and all testimony of the love of God.
Jason shares about several hardships he’s faced, including a botched suicide attempt and the near destruction of his marriage. The guys shared insights and wisdom for the highs and lows of life. And all along the way, they highlighted the message of the book. Cross Stitched displays the very real and present love of God and the abundant life He offers us when we surrender to Him.
For more on Jason Grimsley
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The Adventures of a Dyslexic Map Reader
Everything in this next story is true—metaphorically.
One day, I summited a mountain. While taking in the stunning view, I discovered a systematic friend had also just arrived and was enjoying the same vista. We embraced and then, filled with wonder, reveled in our shared awe of the landscape—it was revelation.
As we pointed out the beauty, we experienced a shared sense of eternal life. Then, mesmerized by our perspective, we each told our story—the highs, lows, wonder, confusion, epiphanies, and all the ways we found ourselves here, now. In every story, we referenced an everyday resource, a shared treasure. The Map.
We both loved The Map and gave it great authority over our journeys. I was amazed as I listened to my friend give his insights into The Map. He’d gone to Map School and had studied for many years to become an expert Map-reader. I learned much from him and still have much to learn.
But whenever I spoke of The Map, he became distracted and uncomfortable. I’d seen it before with other Map experts. I thought about telling him of my Map School days but knew from experience that such a conversation would likely become hyper-Map-focused, and I’d eventually lose interest.
You see, with regard to Map reading, I have a learning disability. Even on my best day, I will never be more than a novice Map-reader. When I was young and insecure, I tried to hide my relational disability from my systematic friends, but I’m growing ever surer in love.
I’m also older and have learned that when connecting with my systematic friends, it’s best to get my learning disability out in the open quickly.
“I’m a dyslexic map reader,” I told him.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“I tend to read The Map backwards,” I responded.
“What does that mean?” He queried with growing discomfort.
“Well, I can’t truly comprehend it until after I’ve taken the journey and seen the view,” I answered, pointing at the view.
“But that’s the wrong way to read The Map,” he said, strangely ignoring the view.
“So I’ve been told,” I responded, laughing, but he didn’t think it was funny.
Concerned, he asked, “How did you even get here then?”—emphasizing “here” as if he ran security at Highmark Stadium and had just found me in the luxury suites of a Bills game without the proper ticket—as if I didn’t belong “here.”
I smiled. “Same way as you, I imagine. By the grace of God.”
My answer conflicted with what he’d been taught at Map School and would have received a failing grade. I know this because I, too, went to Map School. It’s where my dyslexia first showed up—and also where I first discovered I was a half-decent storyteller.
His demeanor changed. Where once we’d shared wonder, now he was full of educated doubt, informed concern, and systematic dissatisfaction. Then, he did something odd. He turned his back on the view, the revelation, picked up his Map, thrust it out, and insisted, “Show me the route you took.”
I glanced at The Map, pointed to the Emmaus Road I’d taken, and saw him shake his head. “That’s a slippery slope.”
I laughed again, “No, my friend, the footing is sure.”
Then I pointed to the view—the revelation in which I was still reveling, but for my systematic friend, everything had become secondary to the Map.
“I’m telling you; you’re reading the Map wrong!”
I shrugged, “Maybe, but good Lord, check out this vista!”
This article is excerpted from my book, Leaving and Finding Jesus
THERE IS NO “US OR THEM” AT THE CROSS
This podcast highlights Jason’s book, Leaving and finding Jesus, where he writes about his deconstructing faith journey. The book is Jason’s Emmaus Road discovery of a love that is reconciling all creation; a journey where he’s awakening to a burning heart while leaving every Jesus who won’t lay His life down for His friends.
This podcast features a message Jason gave at an icuTalks where he addresses trauma within the church. He confronts the myth of separation with the truth that absolutely nothing, not life or death, powers or authorities, not present or future, not our understandings, beliefs, systems, or actions, nothing separates us from the reconciling love of God.
To Pre-Purchase CLICK HERE
To Pre-Purchase through the Idiegogo campaign / multiple book titles CLICK HERE
To receive an early PDF copy for the purpose of endorsement, email me at, contact@afamilystory.org
To Learn More About icuTalks CLICK HERE
To Learn More About Jason’s Speaking Engagement in the San Fransisco Area on Oct 7-8 2022CLICK HERE
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JOHN ELDREDGE / RESILIENT: RESTORING YOUR WEARY SOUL
The human soul has a built-in yearning for joy and beauty and all good things. But that craving for life has taken a real beating in recent years. Between false promises of ease and comfort on one side and the sheer trauma of global disease and disasters on the other, people today are facing a shortage of peace, happiness, and strength.
In this conversation, John and Jason dive into John’s new book, Resilient. The guys talk about life and faith during and since the pandemic. They dive into the evidence of trauma, how to discover peace in the midst of disappointment, the dark night of the soul, de- and reconstruction, and ultimately union. This conversation reveals a path toward genuine recovery and resilience provided by Jesus himself.
For more on John Eldredge
www.wildatheart.org
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