Also on my website you can find out which women’s conferences I’ll speak at next and whether you might live close enough so we’ll have the chance to meet, to share a hug, or take a picture together. In addition there are links that will help you with matters that are important to you — faith and family, adoption, and ways to help others.
Of course, on my site you can find out a little more about me and my family, my Facebook and YouTube channel, and my Karen’s Movie Monday — where I release a YouTube clip each Monday dealing with some aspect of my family and faith and the wonderful world of Life-Changing Fiction™.
Finally, if you gave your life over to God during the reading of this book, or if you found your way back to a faith you’d let grow cold, send me a letter at
[email protected] and write “New Life” in the subject line. I would encourage you to connect with a Bible-believing church in your area, and to get hold of a Bible. If you can’t afford a Bible — include your address in your e-mail and I’ll send you one.
One more thing: I’ve started a program where I will donate a book to any high school or middle school librarian who makes a request. Check out my website for details.
Again, thanks for traveling with me through the pages of this book. I can’t wait to see you next time. My next book will be a stand-alone called Shades of Blue. It’s a book I’ve been longing to write for three years. After that, look for Take Three!
Until then, keep reaching for the hem of His garment.
In His light and love,
Karen Kingsbury
www.KarenKingsbury.com
READER STUDY GUIDE
Please use the following questions for your book club, small group, or for personal reflection.
1. The editing process was long and tedious for Keith and Chase. What do you think drove them to put in such long hours? What have you been a part of in the past that required an amazing effort? What drove you in that effort?
2. What led to Kelly’s discouragement and depression? Share about a time when you or someone you know was taken into a dark time because of a series of events.
3. Kelly struggled with mindless eating. Discuss what you know about this type of problem. What do you think led Kelly to struggle with this?
4. Thanksgiving Day at Katy and Dayne’s was a chance for the Baxter family to be back together again. Tell about the times during the year when you and your family get together. What made this time special for the Baxters? What makes these times special for you and your family?
5. Discuss the importance of being thankful. What were the things Keith and Chase and their wives were thankful for? What are ten things you are thankful for?
6. What led Andi to be interested in the offer from the student filmmaker — Taz? Why is flattery from worldly sources such a dangerous thing in our walk with the Lord? Talk about a time when flattery led you to make a decision you regret.
7. Bailey felt a strain in her friendship with Cody through much of this story. What caused this strain? Share about a time when you experienced a strain with a close friend. What caused the strain, and what brought the friendship back around again?
8. For Keith and Chase, the first part of Take Two has them at a time in their professional careers when everything seems to be going right. What did the producers learn during this time? Have you learned more about your faith in good times, or in difficult times? Explain.
9. Cody wants desperately to help his mom stay on the right path, but still he worries about her. What does Cody do to show his mother he’s there for her? What have you done to be supportive of someone you love? How has that support made a difference?
10. Explain Andi’s series of compromises where Taz’s movie was concerned. How did Taz convince her that these compromises were acceptable?
11. Talk about a time when you or someone you know made a series of compromises. How were those compromises justified?
12. Midway through the book, Keith began to experience red flags where the smooth and easy details of movie-making were concerned. Why is it important to look closer when the details of life seem too easy? Talk about a time when the easy life suddenly became very difficult.
13. Bailey found much strength in her involvement with Campus Crusade. Why is it important for youth to be involved in a faith group of some kind? Why is it important for all Christians to belong to some sort of group of believers?
14. In what ways did Kelly make things worse in her relationship with her husband? What about her relationship with God? Talk about a time when you or someone you know made choices that harmed their relationships.
15. How could Kelly have helped her situation? Talk about how you or someone you know might find help in a troubling situation.
16. Kelly had the chance to attend a women’s conference. Talk about a Christian conference you attended. Did you come away stronger because of it? Why or why not?
17. In what ways did God soften Kelly’s heart during her day at the women’s conference? Why was she reluctant to allow herself to be changed? Discuss Kelly’s emotions that day.
18. Discuss how Nicole C. Mullen’s song “One Touch” made a difference for Kelly. Explain how the visual illustration of the song connected with Kelly.
19. Have you ever imagined a spiritual battle as a literal force holding you back from Jesus? Talk about a time like that.
20. Cody and Taz are very different college guys. Talk about the differences, and what motivates each of these young men.
READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE NEXT BOOK IN THE ABOVE THE LINE SERIES: TAKE THREE
BAILEY ARRIVED AT THE LAKE MONROE retreat center lost in thoughts about her roommate. Their recent conversation had been good — for the first time in awhile. Maybe if they had more time together, Taz wouldn’t be such an obsession in Andi’s life. No matter what Andi thought about him, he was trouble. Bailey could feel it in her spirit. God didn’t want Andi anywhere near the guy.
Still, convincing her would take a miracle at this point.
Bailey climbed out of her car and was met by a group of her Cru Bible study girls. Tim had had to cancel at the last minute — a case of strep throat — and Cody was spending the weekend with his mom, because of her birthday. At least that was the plan. But when she and the girls walked with their sleeping bags and pillows to their cabin, she heard Cody’s voice.
She waited until she had her bed made before finding him with a few other guys near the fire pit. She caught his attention and he smiled. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
This wasn’t the time for a serious conversation. But she had to know what had changed his mind.
“My mom had other plans.” He grabbed an armful of wood and stacked it near the pit. “I’ll tell you later.”
While they ate, she could feel Cody’s presence the way she could feel the presence of her family when they were in a crowd. A couple times she looked over her shoulder at him, and once she caught him looking too. He still hadn’t explained what had happened with his mother, but there would be time for that later. Right now she needed to give her attention to the girls in her cabin. She’d asked God for closer friendships with them as a result of this retreat.
So far He was answering her prayers beyond anything she could’ve dreamed.
One of the guy cabins had cleanup that night, and Daniel dismissed the rest of the group for an hour of free time. A few of the girls wanted to make calls home, just to check in. Bailey waited until she was sure none of them were looking to talk to her, and then she wandered out the door and down the path toward Cody’s cabin. She saw him long before she reached it, sitting outside on a tree stump, staring at the lake.
She stopped and watched him, the familiar way he held his head, the way the fading sun cast light over his shoulders. What was he thinking, sitting there like that? Was he worried about his mom, or a new girl in his life? Or maybe he was taking in God’s beauty. She almost didn’t want to disturb him, but then — as if he could read her mind — he looked her way and s
miled. “Hey.”
The path was smooth, but she watched her step anyway. Just in case some critter crossed in front of her. She was much more of a hotel girl, more comfortable at the Doubletree with samples of lotion and shampoo, than here in the woods. But she could appreciate both, and she was glad to be here. Especially now, with Cody a part of the retreat.
She reached him and grinned. “You looked lost in thought. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
For a second she thought he might tell her what he was thinking, but then he set his jaw, his smile guarded. “I’m glad you did.”
He pointed at a path that led closer to the lake. “Wanna take a walk?”
“Sure.” They set out side by side, and suddenly Bailey laughed out loud. “I just remembered something funny.”
He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans and laughed a little too. The way he always did around her. “Which thing? There’s lots to laugh at with you around.”
“Hey.” She pretended to be hurt. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
“It is.” His eyes danced. “Believe me, it is.”
“Okay, well, remember when we were at the beach that time, on the other side of the lake? We took a walk and you challenged me to a race.”
“Me?” He stopped and pointed to himself. “That was you, missy. You’re the one who wanted to race.”
“Anyway …” She kept walking, undaunted. “I got about ten steps and I twisted my ankle. You had to practically carry me back to the picnic tables.”
“That was the summer before I shipped out.”
“Yeah, it was.” She allowed her laughter to fade softly, mingling with the early summer breeze. They turned a corner and lost view of the campsite. The lake spread out before them, but still they walked on. Up ahead was a bench, and when they reached it, they sat together. Cody seemed careful to allow space between them.
“So what happened? I thought you were going to be with your mom this weekend.”
“She met some guy.” He frowned. “I’m not sure how good he is for her. I was sort of hoping she’d meet someone at church, but she met this one at the health club.”
“She made plans with him?”
“Yeah. She said she didn’t want me to miss a retreat on her account.”
“That was nice.”
“I guess.” He breathed in slowly, deeply. “I still worry about her.”
“I know. I can tell.” She lifted her chin and filled her lungs with the sweet-smelling air. “I forget how great it feels to be out here, just us and God.”
“That’s why I came. I need time with God. To really think about this coaching idea and whatever else my future holds.”
Despite the cool bench beneath her Bailey felt her heart warm inside her. Cody, whose life might’ve turned out so different, was doing better than any of them had dreamed. His life was a living miracle, every aspect of it. “I’m glad. I still pray for you all the time.”
His expression grew deeper, the connection between them as close as she shared with any of her brothers. “The way I still pray for you.” He faced the water again. “Speaking of which, what happened to Tim? I thought he was taking this trip for sure.”
“He got sick. Strep throat.”
“Oooh.” Cody frowned. “That’s too bad.”
“Yeah. I told him I’d give him details when we get back on Monday.”
Cody was quiet for a long moment. In the distance trilled the haunting sound of a blue heron, swooping low over the water. The sun had already set, and dusk was settling across the lake. “You and Tim,” Cody said finally. “You’re still very serious, aren’t you?”
She sighed. He’d never quite understood that she had loved him first, that if he’d come back from Iraq and declared his love for her, she and Tim would’ve been nothing more than a passing fling. But Cody didn’t have those feelings for her, and now she wished he wouldn’t ask questions about Tim.
“Sorry.” Cody faced her. “You don’t have to answer.”
“No, it’s fine.” She folded her arms in front of her and pulled one foot up onto the bench. “Things are the same.”
“Your dad said you and Tim are auditioning in New York next week.”
“We are.” She shrugged. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. But last time I was in the city it didn’t have the same appeal as before. I don’t know.” She stared at the water, at the light reflecting across the center of the lake. “New York’s crazy. All sorts of noise and smells and cramped living. You have to look straight up on some streets just to see the sky.”
Cody made a face. “Not my style.”
“Definitely not.” She gave him a sad smile. If she wound up in New York, that would be the end for her and Cody. Distance would have the final say. “My dad can’t stand it either.”
The conversation flowed easily, without the walls she’d kept up around herself for so much of the last school year. It felt wonderful, being close to him again. “I guess I realized something this last time. When we go to New York, we stay at this nice hotel and see the top shows, sitting in the best seats. We stay three days and then we’re out of there. But that’s not how it would be if I lived there.” She hugged her knee to her chest and looked at him. “I’d be commuting in on a bridge or a subway, walking fast and trying not to get accosted. I’d pay high rent to share a small apartment and have almost no fresh air.”
The sky grew dusky, but in the dim light that remained an eagle floated in the distance and landed in a towering pine. A breeze brushed against her face and for a few seconds she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she smiled again. “No moments like this.”
“What about Tim?” Cody seemed guarded when he talked about Tim. “How does he feel about the city?”
“He loves it. I think he could live there for the next five years and feel great about it. He really wants to perform.”
“What about finding a church? Do they have anything like that in New York?”
“They do.” She uttered a sad laugh. “But Broadway’s a long way from the Bible Belt.”
They talked for a few minutes about a church she’d heard about not far from Times Square. “If I lived there, I guess I’d become a part of that.”
Again Cody was quiet. Their hour was almost up, and they would need to get back soon. Neither of them had brought a flashlight. “So you really think it could happen, huh? You and Tim, performing on Broadway, living in New York City?” He smiled. “I guess that would be a dream come true for both of you.”
“I guess.” Everything about the possibility sounded right, like something she’d longed for since her early days with Christian Kids Theater. But right now, with the fresh lake air all around them and Cody by her side, her dreams were no longer as clear as they’d once been. “What about you?” She hadn’t asked for a long time, and now she wanted to know. Even if she was afraid of his answer. “You seeing anyone?”
“Me?” A quiet laugh rattled his chest. “Definitely not. God’s still making me into the guy I need to be. I want that before I want a girlfriend.”
His answer made her feel starry eyed. “She’s a lucky girl, Cody.”
“I’m saving my heart for her. Any sort of casual dating at this point in my life would only cheapen what I have to offer.” He looked out at the water again. “Whoever she is.”
For the craziest moment, Bailey wanted to tell him that he didn’t need to wonder, that no other girl would ever love him the way she could love him. But she stopped herself before she said something and sounded like a crazy person. She had a boyfriend, after all. She could hardly confess her love to the friend beside her when she had just finished talking about building a life with Tim in New York City.
“What are you thinking?” Again Cody seemed to read her mind.
“Nothing.” Her smile was shyer than before. “Nothing I can tell you, anyway.” She put both her feet down on the ground and kicked at his tennis shoe. “I’d say let’s race back, bu
t I can’t afford another sprained ankle. Not with my audition next week.”
Again he laughed. “That’s just one of the things I love about you, Bailey. You make me laugh.”
“Same with you.”
“Can I tell you something?” His knee brushed against hers, and just as quickly he eased back, keeping things between them appropriate and on the level.
“Yes. That’s the deal now. We’re friends.” She tapped his foot again. “You can tell me anything.”
“Okay, now, don’t weird out on me or think I’m trying to get between you and Tim or anything.”
She giggled. “Go on. At this rate you’ll never spit it out.” “The truth is I thank God every day for you, Bailey. For your family and your friendship. For the way we’ve found each other again.”
“Ahhh.” She tilted her head and let her eyes get lost in his. The last remainder of daylight shone on his face and she knew without a doubt she’d remember this moment as long as she lived. Without wondering whether it was right or wrong, she put her arms around his neck and hugged him. “That means the world, Cody.” The hug was quick, nothing she wouldn’t give one of her brothers. “I’m glad you told me.” She pulled back and felt her eyes start to dance. “Now it’s my turn.”
“Go on.”
“I thank God for you too. I was so mad at you back in the fall, when you wouldn’t talk to me.” She made a face and wagged her fist at him. “I thought we’d never have a day like this again in all our lives.”