- Speaker #0
Welcome back to Promise Hill. This is Chapter 7, The Walk, The Wood, and The Fire. Hello, I'm Kimberly Herman, your host. I want you to know that I made this podcast in this way, by mixing fiction with self-care. care because it's something I wish I had when I was younger. I could have really used something that held my attention and helped me understand myself through stories. I hope this blesses you. In our last episode, Mira arrived at Grandma Eden's with a photo of her and Jackson, not knowing if she was ready to face what it stirred up. Over tea, Eden reminded her that healing can't be rushed and gave her a soul care kit glowing in the dark. And we can't forget about the mysterious text. And let me just say, today's episode holds a little more heat, a little more heart, and a few unexpected turns. I'll meet you on the other side of the story with reflections, live it out action steps, and prayer. Let's listen in.
- Speaker #1
That strange text from the day before hung over Mira like a blanket as she woke up this morning. She rolled out of bed. got dressed, and sat in her living room letting the thoughts swirl in her mind.
- Speaker #2
I'm afraid to read the text response, but if I am going to grow, I need to start doing things differently, especially when they're hard and out of my comfort. Okay, here we go.
- Speaker #3
Mira reached for her phone and read the response.
- Speaker #2
It's too much to tell you over text. Would you be willing to meet me at the lake in Whispering Pines? Oh gosh. Meat? I need a morning walk to clear my mind. I know. I'll walk to the Daily Bread for some fresh coffee and catch up with Charity. That sounds perfect.
- Speaker #1
It was a bright morning, with crisp gusts of wind that softly brushed Mira as she strolled downtown. The rhythmic sound of a saw cutting through wood caught her attention. It was Nathaniel Ember's woodworking shop, Ember and Oak, across the street from Charity's Bakery. The door was open, revealing the scent of fresh-cut timber and varnish. She stepped over the threshold and found Nathaniel at his workbench, running his hand over the smooth grain of a half-carved chair leg. He looked up, his expression warm but perceptive.
- Speaker #4
Hi there, Mira. It's good to see you again. How can I help you on this beautiful sunny morning?
- Speaker #2
Um, I wasn't planning on stopping by, but your shop drew me in. It's peaceful here.
- Speaker #1
Nathaniel nodded, setting down his chisel.
- Speaker #4
I have to agree. Wood has a way of teaching patience, which brings calm. Every piece has imperfections. A good carpenter doesn't throw it away. He shapes it.
- Speaker #1
Mira let those words settle. She ran her fingers over a carved armrest, feeling the grooves and curves, the careful touch that had shaped it.
- Speaker #2
But what if something's too damaged, too warped?
- Speaker #1
Nathaniel smiled gently.
- Speaker #4
Well, even the most broken wood has purpose. Sometimes it just needs a different use.
- Speaker #1
A sudden clang from outside behind the shop made Mira jump. She turned toward the open rear door, where the unmistakable sound of metal striking metal rang out. She stepped outside and saw a large man. His ginger wavy hair blew in the soft wind as he was at his forge, hammering a glowing piece of iron with sharp, forceful strikes. The heat from the fire flickered in his eyes, and the intensity in his movements told her that whatever he was forging, it was more than just metal. Nathaniel walked over to join her.
- Speaker #4
That's Gideon Thorne. He comes off a little gruff, but he's a good man. and an excellent iron craftsman.
- Speaker #1
Mira studied the tension in his shoulders, the way his grip tightened around the hammer. Just then, Gideon turned around and noticed Mira. He thought to himself that it looked like she was standing in a fire herself. Gideon knew all too well what that feels like. He turned the cooled iron in his hands and loudly shared,
- Speaker #4
Metal doesn't always cooperate. Sometimes it bends wrong, cracks under pressure. He turned it over again, testing its strength. Doesn't mean it's useless. Just means you have to go back to the fire and try again. Mira swallowed,
- Speaker #1
hearing something deeper in his words.
- Speaker #2
And what if it keeps breaking?
- Speaker #1
Gideon met her gaze.
- Speaker #4
Then you learn how to reshape it.
- Speaker #1
A gust of wind swept through the alley, carrying the scent of burning coal and fresh bread. Mira felt something shift in her soul. Maybe there was something to be learned here. Maybe she wasn't as alone in the fire as she thought. As Mira turned to leave, She caught one last glance at Gideon, still holding the iron in his hands. He wasn't just shaping the metal, he was shaping himself.
- Speaker #2
And maybe,
- Speaker #1
in some way, so was she. Mira said goodbye to Nathaniel and Gideon, and briskly walked across the street to see Charity for her morning brew.
- Speaker #3
Oh, Mira, it's so good to see you. I have a hot coffee with a side of a steaming hot croissant, with a hint of chocolate, just for you.
- Speaker #2
Thank you, Charity. Your food is delicious, as always. Quick question. Do you hang out with Nathaniel and Gideon? Not really.
- Speaker #1
Charity responded as she wiped small crumbs from the counter.
- Speaker #3
Just at church and around town we bump into each other.
- Speaker #2
But I'm a bit older than they are.
- Speaker #1
Mira sipped her coffee, her thoughts drifting as she watched the steam curl up from the cup, which felt safe and good. But something about this morning had stirred the ashes of something long buried, much like the photo and the one she and Jackson she showed Grandma Eden yesterday. She glanced out the window toward the woodworking shop and the forge beyond it.
- Speaker #2
This may sound strange, but I feel like they know something I need to learn. Like I was meant to see both of them today.
- Speaker #1
Charity studied her a moment.
- Speaker #2
Perhaps you were.
- Speaker #1
Mira leaned back.
- Speaker #2
Charity, do you believe things happen on purpose?
- Speaker #1
Charity didn't answer right away. She wiped her hands on a linen towel and leaned across the counter.
- Speaker #3
I believe God doesn't waste a thing. Not a broken heart, not a wrong turn, not even a morning walk for coffee.
- Speaker #1
Just then, a gust of wind pushed through the bakery door before it clicked shut again. Mira felt it in her bones. Something was coming.
- Speaker #2
What can you tell me about them?
- Speaker #3
Both are great men with very different life stories.
- Speaker #1
Charity spoke as she put warm chocolate mint chip cookies in the display case while keeping her eyes on Mira.
- Speaker #3
Nathaniel's been here his whole life. His family's all local. Salt of the earth. He's never been married, though plenty of women have tried to catch his eye.
- Speaker #2
He seems... settled.
- Speaker #1
Oh, he is. Quiet,
- Speaker #3
silent. Steady? One of those men who really focuses on the present moment and his craft. You won't get gossip from him.
- Speaker #2
And Gideon?
- Speaker #1
Charity's smile faded just a touch.
- Speaker #3
Oh, he is a gruff one, yeah. But he'd show up for a friend in the middle of a storm. His dad raised him when his mom left town, years back. He lived a few towns over in Lake City for most of his life. He doesn't talk about it much. Keeps things close to the chest.
- Speaker #1
Mira leaned in.
- Speaker #2
And?
- Speaker #1
Charity hesitated, wiping her hands on a towel that was already clean.
- Speaker #3
He has a story to tell, but it's not mine to share.
- Speaker #1
She looked toward the window, her voice softer now.
- Speaker #3
Let's just say, if you ever do hear it, you'll understand why he keeps the forge fire going so late. And there is something unusual that Gideon does each year. Every year, on the same night, Gideon disappears. No one knows where he goes, not even Nathaniel. He just vanishes and comes back. comes back quieter than ever before. I'm sharing that with you because when he returns, his demeanor changes significantly for about a week after. You'll feel like he's angry with you, when actually, he's angry at his inner turmoil.
- Speaker #2
When does he leave?
- Speaker #1
Charity looked over at the calendar on the wall.
- Speaker #3
It looks like it's coming up... In a few weeks, right after the Promise Hill Parade.
- Speaker #1
Mira's eyes followed Charity's gaze, back across the street to the forge, where smoke still trailed faintly from the chimney. Just then, a text came in. Mira read it to herself. Amira, can we meet? I've waited so long to find you.
- Speaker #2
Charity, I've been getting these texts.
- Speaker #1
Mira showed her.
- Speaker #3
Any idea who they're from?
- Speaker #2
No. And I'm freaking out. But I know I need to do this. If I send you my location when I meet this person, will you keep an eye on my whereabouts to make sure this isn't a dangerous situation?
- Speaker #3
Of course. But how about I go with you?
- Speaker #2
No, I can drive off if it seems weird.
- Speaker #1
Mira responded to the text.
- Speaker #2
Okay, I'll meet you this Monday at Pucker's at the lake at 10 a.m.
- Speaker #1
The person responded, and Mira read it out loud to Charity.
- Speaker #2
They said, yes, and I will find you. And please talk to your mom before we meet. She can prepare you. Prepare me? Oh, Charity, what in the world? This sounds like it'll be a lot. Do you have faith in God, Mira? No. Why?
- Speaker #3
Because it sounds like you're going to need some peace and wisdom. God will provide both. Can I pray for you, Mira?
- Speaker #2
Um, I guess?
- Speaker #1
Charity placed her hands on Mira's shoulders and prayed.
- Speaker #3
Heavenly Father, Mira's walking into a potential life change and is unsure what to do. There's so much going on with a lot of unknowns. Please give her peace, wisdom, and direction as she talks to her mom and meets with the mysterious person behind the texts. Amen.
- Speaker #1
Mira's phone rang. It was Ruth, Mira's mom.
- Speaker #2
Hi, Mom. Oh, Mira.
- Speaker #3
I need to see you today. I really messed up. Please don't talk to Eleanor before you see me. I'm so sorry.
- Speaker #2
Eleanor? Who's Eleanor?
- Speaker #1
What began as a simple walk for coffee turned into something more. A quiet window into two lives shaped very differently. Nathaniel, steady and patient. Gideon, guarded. Carrying a fire he doesn't yet know how to name. And beneath it all, the prayer, the texts, the stories, pressing at the surface, ready to break open all at once. And as for that one night Gideon disappears, it's coming soon. Take it away, Kimberly.
- Speaker #0
What started as a walk for coffee turned into a holy interruption. Mira stumbled into two men. Nathaniel, the steady craftsman whom she first met at Grandma Eden's a few episodes ago, and Gideon, the guarded blacksmith, each carrying wisdom wrapped in wood and fire. Their words? Quiet truth bombs. Broken doesn't mean useless. Shaping takes time and a new plan, and often healing does too. Charity dropped a few breadcrumbs, just enough to hint that there's more to Gideon than meets the eye. Especially around parade day, Mira's not just passing through anymore. Promise Hill is calling her deeper. And friend, something's coming. One more thing before we dive into reflections and action steps. You may not want to listen to all the reflections, and you certainly may not want to do all the action steps. Don't feel like you have to. I love to give choices. And you can use whatever you feel like using, including nothing at all. Maybe you're here just for the story, and that's okay too. I'm just happy to have you here. Let's jump into our three reflections. Number one, we are not discounted just because we're broken. God shapes us. Nathaniel's words about woodworking mirror how God sees us. Even with imperfections, we are shaped by his hands, not discarded. Hear it and hold it. Isaiah 64 verse 8. Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter. We are all the work of your hand. So maybe you've been feeling chipped, cracked, like life's carved a little too much off the edges. But friend, God doesn't toss aside what's flawed. He gets closer. Like Nathaniel with a crooked piece of wood, he leans in, sees the grain underneath, and says, I can work with this. You're not scrap. You're not far too gone. You're still in the hands of the craftsman. And when God shapes, he shapes with purpose. Number two, the fire of life refine us, not destroy us. Gideon's forge is a powerful image of how hardships refine our character. Trials aren't meant to break us. They're meant to make us stronger. Hear it and hold it. Malachi 3 verse 3. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. If you've ever felt like the heat's been turned up in your life, you're not alone. Gideon's forge isn't just a place where metal bends. It's where strength is born. That fire, it's not there to destroy you. It's there to draw out what doesn't belong and reveal what does. God's not walking away when things get hard. He's pulling up a stool next to the fire, watching, refining. Knowing exactly how long to leave you in before pulling you out stronger, steadier, and more like him. So if you're in the thick of it right now, don't assume you're being punished. You might just be the forge, and that means something precious is being formed. Number three, God often uses ordinary moments to prepare us for something sacred. A simple walk, a clang of a hammer, a hot mug in a bakery. They are all breadcrumbs leading Mira closer to something deeper. Don't overlook the divine in every day. Hear it and hold it. Proverbs 3 verse 6. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. We're always looking for burning bushes and parting seas, but more often than not, God shows up in the clink of a spoon or the warmth of a mug pressed between your palms. He speaks through the ordinary. Through routines, through the nudge to stop and breathe when everything feels too loud. That's what's happening to Mira, even when she didn't know it. A walk, the wood, and fire. Tiny moments carrying holy weight. They weren't random, they were breadcrumbs. So today, don't overlook the sacred just because it's simple. God doesn't always shout. Sometimes, he just clinks the metaphorical teacup and waits for you to notice. All right, let's move into three live it out action steps. Number one, ask God what the fire is forging and not just what it's burning away. Hardships aren't pointless. They purify. In your journal or quiet time, list a trial you've been walking through. Under it, write three possible things God could be strengthening in you through it, such as courage, humility, patience, endurance. If you're meeting with a counselor or mentor, bring this into the conversation. Invite them into the refiner's fire with you. This turns your plan into a spiritual formation process, not just survival. Number two, practice quiet presence for yourself or someone else. Choose one moment this week to not fill the silence. Actually, I highly recommend doing every day, but we got to start somewhere. Whether you're sitting with someone who's hurting or sitting alone with your own grief, don't rush it. Let this quiet be sacred. This doesn't mean emptying your mind. This means being intentional with the Lord. I highly recommend using breath prayers in that space if you're alone. So let's do this together. So on the inhale, you're going to say, God is here. And then exhaling, God is with me. Let's do that again. God is here and God is with me. And you can use whatever scripture or prayer you want to in your breath prayers. But by doing that, you are being intentional with focusing on connecting with the Lord and just allow him to bring peace to you. Number three, look for one sacred breadcrumb in your day. Before the day ends, pause and name one ordinary moment that carried unexpected peace or meaning. A smell, a sentence, a gesture. Write it down and thank God for speaking softly. Every once in a while, I'll walk outside and I smell this beautiful scent of jasmine. And I look around to look for a jasmine plant. Where I live, there are some that grow around here. So I'll look around to see where that plant is coming so I can go pick a little, you know, jasmine leaf or flower off so I can carry it with me. But oftentimes, there's no jasmine plant around. It is, I truly believe it's from the Lord just blessing me with that heavenly scent. He knows how much I love jasmine. So look around and just notice what is that sacred breadcrumb that the Lord gave you. For this episode, I wrote a blessing for you. And as I was recording my blessing, I had this idea of turning it into a song. So I did. I'm not a singer, and I don't know music composition. So I did have an AI program help me with the music and find me a singer. But I think it turned out really great. So I'm going to play that for you. You can also find it on YouTube. I actually spent about I don't know, 20 to 30 hours making a music video to go with this. So it is called Reach for the Light. So I hope this blesses you. And I'm going to sign off here and leave you with the song. Until next time, friends, may you find peace in the presence and hope on the hilltop. This is Kimberly Herman cheering you on from Promise Hill.
- Speaker #5
Reaching the tender places that are blue Weary, scared, and worn May you feel held by grace Nothing is broken beyond fixing It's for the love It's right here in the darkness Waiting for you to see Hold on to the promises And step into peace May you feel a quiet kindness That does not rush or condemn is broken beyond fixing. Reach for the light that's right here in the darkness, waiting for you to see. Hold on to the promises and step into peace. Step into peace.
