Grayfox (25 page)

The next morning I was up early.

Pa came upon me outside where I was standing with a washbasin beside the creek and holding up a mirror to my face with one hand—a broken one at that!

“What in tarnation you doing?” he exclaimed.

“Shaving off my beard, Pa,” I said.

“What in thunder for?”

“I figured if I'm going to come back to civilization, I ought to look civilized. Besides, I figured you'd want it off.”

“Well, you figured wrong. I like it!”

“You do?”

“Sure I do. Makes you look like me when I was your age.”

“You want me to keep it?”

“Well, it's up to you, son. But I sure think a man's beard looks good on you.”

“Okay, Pa,” I said with a smile. “I'll keep it.”

Pa turned and walked a few steps away, then stopped and glanced back around at me. His eyes had a twinkle in them. If I didn't know better I'd think
he
was the fox.

“Hey, Grayfox,” he said, “who's the young lady you didn't tell us about last night?”

“What?” I exclaimed

“You heard me plain enough.”

“How'd you know?” Right then I was mighty glad for that beard! I could feel red crawling all over my cheeks.

“What do you think, son, that I don't know that look in a young man's eyes? I been in love a coupla times myself, you know. So . . . what's her name?”

Pa had eyes to see too!

“Laughing Waters,” I admitted sheepishly, staring down at the ground.

“Indian?”

“Yeah . . . the Paiute chief's daughter.”

“I can't believe it!” exclaimed Pa. “My son smitten over an Indian princess. She pretty?”

I didn't answer immediately. I had to stop to think, even though Laughing Waters' face was hardly ever out of my mind.

“I . . . I don't know, Pa,” I said. “Her eyes are as pretty as I've ever seen. But I don't know if she's what other folks would call pretty.”

“You gonna see her again?”

“I plan to, Pa . . . I sure plan to.”

He grinned at me, and then we turned and walked back toward the house.

It is considered somewhat unusual for a writer, especially a novelist, to intrude himself personally into his work. But this is a very personal book for me. Therefore, I hope you will forgive a few intimate words from an author to his readers.

This is not a book only about growing into manhood. I hope many girls, young women, and grown women have enjoyed it, too. For this is a story for boys
and
girls, women
and
men. It is about discovering
personhood,
discovering who we are.
All
of us—male and female—have to discover our unique identity and personhood within the context of our own masculinity or femininity.

Zack, and the men who read his words, have to discover what being a
man
means in their lives. We men are notoriously noncommunicative, and we have an extremely difficult time becoming comfortable with the inner worlds of thoughts and emotions—especially within ourselves, as Zack discovered. We tend to make what we call
independence
an idol, thinking there is no greater goal in life. How wrong we are!

So we men have much to learn about the nature of the true manhood God intended for us.

Women, likewise, have different points where
inner eyesight
will help them see the pockets of independence within them. Corrie and the women who read her words have to discover what being a complete
woman
means in their lives.

The principles of personhood, however, are universal. What Corrie has learned about herself in the other books of this series applies equally to men and women. So does what Zack has learned about himself.

There is one aspect about the discovering of personhood which is uniquely masculine.

God is our
Father
.

All of us must, therefore, at some time in our lives, come to terms with that Fatherhood in order to be whole and integrated sons and
daughters of God. As we strive to do that, however, our own earthly fathers stand directly in the middle of the path.

That's why Zack's story and his struggle are so important and so universal. Men
and
women must all experience something of that same struggle, for earthly fatherhood is indeed a “broken mirror” in its reflection of heavenly Fatherhood.

The whole range of human family relationships—fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, mothers and daughters, mothers and sons—come into and are contained within the all-encompassing Fatherhood of God. Wholeness in
all
such relationships is the destination we journey toward on the road that also leads to fruitful, contented, integrated personhood in one's relationship with our heavenly Father.

Zack's story, I hope you see, is but one small window into a much larger story—a story in which each one of us, you and me, are the main characters, the real-life adventure of learning to see and hear what God has to tell us about himself.

The mirrors of example we all look to are broken. Never forget that. But just the fact that mothers and fathers exist means that God's Fatherhood cannot help but be built into the relationships they have with their sons and daughters—if only we allow God to develop our inner eyesight to see it, whichever side of those relational fences we may be standing on.

If you are interested in reading more that I have written along these lines, may I suggest two novels,
Robbie Taggart, Highland Sailor
and
The Eleventh Hour
. Both are listed along with my other books at the back of this book.

I hope and pray you enjoyed the story of Zack “Grayfox” Hollister and that you will continue reading in the J
OURNALS
OF
C
ORRIE
B
ELLE
H
OLLISTER
series. If you know a young man or woman whom you feel would benefit from Zack's story, but who is unable to afford it, please write us at [email protected]. We will do what we can to see that he or she obtains a copy.

God bless you!
Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips
is a bestselling author of a number of beloved novels, including such well-known series as
S
HENANDOAH
S
ISTERS
, C
AROLINA
C
OUSINS
, C
ALEDONIA
,
and
T
HE
J
OURNALS
OF
C
ORRIE
B
ELLE
H
OLLISTER
. He has also served as editor of many more titles, adapting the classic works of Victorian author George MacDonald (1824–1905) for today's reader, and his efforts have since generated a renewed interest in MacDonald. Phillips's love of MacDonald's Scotland has continued throughout his writing life.

In addition to his fifty published editions of MacDonald's work, Phillips has authored and coauthored over ninety books of fiction and nonfiction, ranging from historical novels to contemporary whodunits, from fantasy to biblical commentary.

Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland but make their home in California. To learn more about the author and his books, visit fatheroftheinklings.com. He can be found on Facebook at
facebook.com/michaelphillipschristianauthor/
. To contact the Phillipses or join their email family, please write to:
[email protected]
.

Fiction

T
HE
R
USSIANS
*

The Crown and the Crucible • A House Divided • Travail and Triumph

T
HE
S
TONEWYCKE
T
RILOGY
*

The Heather Hills of Stonewycke • Flight from Stonewycke • Lady of Stonewycke

T
HE
S
TONEWYCKE
L
EGACY
*

Stranger at Stonewycke • Shadows over Stonewycke • Treasure of Stonewycke

T
HE
S
ECRETS
OF
H
EATHERSLEIGH
H
ALL

Wild Grows the Heather in Devon • Wayward Winds

Heathersleigh Homecoming • A New Dawn Over Devon

S
HENANDOAH
S
ISTERS

Angels Watching Over Me • A Day to Pick Your Own Cotton

The Color of Your Skin Ain't the Color of Your Heart • Together Is All We Need

C
AROLINA
C
OUSINS

A Perilous Proposal • The Soldier's Lady

Never Too Late • Miss Katie's Rosewood

C
ALEDONIA

Legend of the Celtic Stone • An Ancient Strife

T
HE
H
IGHLAND
C
OLLECTION
*

Jamie MacLeod: Highland Lass • Robbie Taggart: Highland Sailor

T
HE
J
OURNALS
OF
C
ORRIE
B
ELLE
H
OLLISTER

My Father's World* • Daughter of Grace* • On the Trail of the Truth

A Place in the Sun • Sea to Shining Sea • Into the Long Dark Night

Land of the Brave and the Free • A Home for the Heart

T
HE
J
OURNALS
OF
C
ORRIE
AND
C
HRISTOPHER

The Braxtons of Miracle Springs • A New Beginning • Grayfox

T
HE
S
ECRET
OF
THE
R
OSE

The Eleventh Hour • A Rose Remembered

Escape to Freedom • Dawn of Liberty

A
MERICAN
D
REAMS

Dream of Freedom • Dream of Life • Dream of Love

The Sword, the Garden, and the King

Heaven and Beyond

Angel Harp

Murder By Quill

From Across the Ancient Waters

Angel Dreams
**

S
ECRETS
OF
THE
S
HETLANDS

The Inheritance

Nonfiction

The Eyewitness New Testament
(3 volumes)

The Commands

The Commands of the Apostles

George MacDonald: Scotland's Beloved Storyteller

*with Judith Pella    **with Chris Schneider