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Jackson nodded.

“You risked your own life to save hers, even though there was the chance that you would die.”

“Well, it’s not like I had much choice!”

“Actually, you did have a choice. You could have let her fall.”

“I couldn’t have let Meeka die!”

Josh nodded. “And that’s what makes you who you are. You didn’t worry about what could happen to you. You just had to save her, no matter what. And that is what faith is. You just stepped out to save her. You knew, way back in your mind, that somehow, if you could save her, the Author would make sure that everything would be okay. You didn’t think of yourself. The Author tested your faith and found it abundant. You, Jackson, are a man of great loyalty, great courage, and great selflessness. And those are very admirable qualities indeed,” Josh finished.

“But what about the stones?” Jackson asked.

“Jackson, it’s easy to pick up any stone. It’s easy to believe lies. There are lies all around us, and they are easy to see. But these white stones, they don’t tell you who you are; they are just part of the journey to figuring it out. No one can tell you who you are, because deep down, you know who you are. You are who the Author created you to be. You are yourself. The white stones are everywhere, but it’s easier to find the ones that lie. It’s up to us to choose what to believe.

“Two voices are always speaking to us. One helps us be who we are; the other tells us how we fail. One wants to encourage us, to tell us that we are awesome and wonderful because the Author created us, and the other wants to tear us to shreds so that we become nothing. Just bits of nothingness, barely making it through life. You always have a choice in which voice to believe. And once you believe the true voice, you have to hang to what it says and not listen to the other voice,” Josh explained.

Jackson was quiet. He thought about the stones etched with lies. As easy as it was to believe them, he liked the idea of believing the Author instead. “So I guess I have a lot to look forward to, growing up I mean. I didn’t know it would be so hard.”

“Of course life is hard. No one ever said it was easy. I mean, you still have high school and acne to deal with, college courses to pick, debts to pay, a career to decide, bills, taxes, politics, and telemarketers. It’s all ugly and it’s all annoying.” Josh laughed. “It sure is fun though.”

“How can you say its fun? It sounds awful! I don’t want to grow up to that!”

Josh smiled. “It’s fun because you find your fun. In high school you’ll get smarter, you’ll figure things out, and you’ll make new friends. In college you’ll get to study something you want to learn. You’ll get a job that you like, or at least one that pays the bills and taxes so you can do what you love to do. Joy is where you look for it.

“Do you have the Book?” Josh asked.

Jackson handed it to him. “It got all wet. I think it’s ruined.”

Josh held it gently. He shook it gently and water droplets flew everywhere. He handed it back to Jackson.

“Open it,” he said.

Jackson opened the Book to the first page. It opened easily. It was completely dry, and the pages were intact.

You are smart, it read. Jackson turned the page.

You are a good baseball player, read the next page.

Jackson smiled and kept turning pages.

You are worthy, said the next.

You seek out the truth.

Jackson turned the next page.

You were created for a purpose.

Jackson looked up at Josh. “What purpose?” “That, my friend, is a question that only you can answer—with some help from the One who created you. I bet you’ll have an awesome time trying to find out.”

Jackson smiled. He felt pretty good, actually.

“I bet you’re pretty hungry and tired about now,” Josh speculated.

Jackson nodded vigorously. He was so hungry, he could eat his arm.

Josh pointed at the river. “Go ahead and take a drink.

It’ll make you feel better.”

Jackson shuddered. “Are you kidding? It’s gross! I fell into it awhile ago, and I got some of it in my mouth and that was disgusting!”

Josh