Simon of Cyrene is a Jew, but a deep disposition within his character kicks in causing him to act in a way that his logical mind reels at. Geographically the region where Simon is at for this chapter places him within the realm of the Samaritans. I refer to the second situation in this chapter as the “Reverse Samaritan” or the “Good Jew.” This happens to be one of my favorite chapters! It is a complex one too, covering three distinct situations, which all carry the same theme (see previous question!) albeit in different ways. Is Chapter 5 a sort of the Good Samaritan? Here is the layout of the timeline of the book! In essence, it is a creative way to depict a potential way God’s hand is revealed in our own lives. Especially because I didn’t put the themes side by side, instead they bridge chapters from other parts of the book. In truth, so subtle are the themes that tie Simon’s past experiences to what occurs on the road to Golgotha that I don’t expect readers to pick up on them - at least without knowing the structure. The theme of Chapter 3 corresponds with Chapter 16. The lesson of this chapter is mirrored in Chapter 19 as Simon gains a profound insight about people and the earth by observing Christ’s last mortal moments. Read closely and you will see the theme continued in the description of the people along that road, albeit through Simon’s eyes which have not yet made the connection between people and what nature taught earlier in the day. If that isn’t confusing enough!įor example, the theme of Chapter 1 is “The Beauty of the Earth.” In that chapter Simon has a profound experience noticing the delicate and grand majesty of plants, rocks, and scenery. I structured the chapters so the most recent lesson for Simon – which corresponds to the last leg of Simon’s journey to Jerusalem – aligns with a moment, in descending order, that transpires between Christ and Simon. I wanted to convey the idea that God prepares us, even if we don’t know it, for things which are to come and sometimes those lessons span decades in preparation for something significant. The Second ReasonĮach odd chapter has a lesson Simon learns which prepares him for a specific moment on that road with Christ. ![]() The second reason is tied to this structure and was built in with the very first draft. To accomplish this, alternating chapters that go further back in time in Simon’s life (odd chapters) were used to separate the minute by minute and hour by hour progression of that fateful day in Jerusalem. I wanted those pivotal parts to be throughout the novel and not just packed at the end of the story. The core and meat of the story are the even chapters however, these tend to be the shortest, on average being only 5 pages in length. The odd chapters cover Simon’s experiences leading up to his time in Jerusalem. Let’s take a quick step back and look at the layout.īy in large, with the exception of the last few chapters, the even numbered chapters cover Simon’s experience carrying the cross and the events at Golgotha. There are two reasons why this structure was used. Hands down this is the most common question I’ve received. Let’s jump in and have some fun with some common questions! Why do the chapters jump back and forth in time? ![]() So far, responses to the story lead me to negate the uneasiness in my mind and hold fast to the positive experiences’ readers are having. I have always believed a good story induces our minds to reflection, motivates us, and encourages us to good actions. And being good, it will resonate with people, and they will find themselves considering the themes of book in new ways. ![]() However, as I have worked on the story of Simon of Cyrene, time and time again I have had a strong feeling that the story is good. ![]() It has me thinking that readers will find the story dull, boring, and worthy of the garbage can. It has me questioning the value of the story wondering if it is any good, blasphemous, or laughable (probably riddled with plot holes, inconsistencies, and parts that just don’t make sense). It has me questioning the clarity of my writing believing that it is clunky, redundant, and lifeless. As a first-time author there has been a constant lurking uneasiness in the back of my mind. I would like to share my thoughts on these.īut first, I am grateful for the responses to the novel. There are a few questions I’m frequently asked and a few consistent comments that I had not anticipated. The book Simon has now been read my numerous people from all over the country.
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