Please Note: This blog post is a teaser for the book, Straight: an ExGay Prodigal Story.
An English teacher, my grandma made use of the high school pool. During lunch breaks, she swam laps and continued at the YMCA into her golden years. I started taking swimming lessons at the YMCA early in life. Later I swam competitively – on the summer swim team at the Community Pool and winter swim team at the YMCA. I use the word “competitively” lightly. An only child, I had few competitive bones in my body. Nonetheless, I loved all things aquatic… and still do. In high school, I was on swim team until a scare involving heart palpitations in 10th grade. Dad volunteered as a Timer.
Dad was like a fish out of water at the beach, but he endured it because he knew we loved it. Renting a house on North Carolina’s Outer Banks became a family tradition. I usually took a friend. We always rented a “boogie board” and went to town on the waves for hours.
In my new life in Christ, the Lord has taken me to some of the most beautiful beaches on earth. Released from fear, I have done things I never dreamed possible. Praise the Lord!
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Matthew Karchner | Author | Speaker 