Parable of the Lantern and the List
Inspired By A True Story
There was once a brakeman who worked the midnight railroad, his breath fogging the air as sleet fell like shards from heaven. He wore layers of warmth, but the cold still found his bones. All he wanted was to finish his shift and return to the arms of his bride, where cocoa and comfort waited.
But death had other plans.
As he stood in the road with his lantern and flare, a chariot of chaos driven by a drunk and chased by law came roaring through the night. The brakeman had nowhere to run. The impact sent his body flying, his clothes torn from him, his light extinguished midair.
They found him nearly naked, unconscious, two feet from death’s final roll. The doctors said he should’ve burst like a balloon. But he didn’t. He woke five days later to the face of love his bride crying and smiling all at once.
The doctors gave him a future filled with crutches, canes, and limitations. But the brakeman wasn’t buying it.
He went home and made a list not of dreams, but of lies. He called it his Crap List. Every prognosis, every limitation, every “you’ll never” he wrote them down. Then beside each one, he wrote a defiant truth. He taped the list to the fridge, next to pictures of tennis courts and victory.
Each day, he stared at the list. At first, it made his blood boil. But over time, the pictures began to speak louder than the words. His rage turned to resolve. His pain turned to prayer. His doubt turned to faith.
And the man who was supposed to limp for life?
He walked in 12 months. He jogged in 18. He ran in 24.
Not because the doctors were wrong. But because God was right.
Moral of the Parable
When death comes calling, you better not be alone. Not alone in body. Not alone in spirit. Not alone in belief.
Because sometimes, survival isn’t just about breath it’s about who’s waiting when you wake up. It’s about the list you write. The pictures you tape. The prayers you whisper. The grit you choose.
And above all, it’s about the God who catches you when you fly.
Mirror Journaling Prompt: “The Face That Refuses to Settle”
Setup: Stand in front of a mirror. Let the room be quiet. Let your breath be slow. Look into your own eyes—not to judge, but to witness.
Prompt:
What do I see in the mirror today? Write down the first three words that come to mind. Don’t filter. Don’t fix. Just name them.
What has been spoken over me that I refuse to accept? List every prognosis, prediction, or label that others have placed on you. Medical, emotional, spiritual, relational. Write them in bold. Then, beside each one, write your rebuttal—your “Bull Crap” declaration. Let your soul speak louder than their certainty.
What do I want this reflection to become? Describe the version of yourself you long to see in 12 months. Be vivid. Be unreasonable. Be holy. Include actions, emotions, relationships, and dreams.
What does God whisper to this reflection? Close your eyes. Imagine Jesus standing beside you, looking into the same mirror. What does He say about your future? Write it down as a letter from Him to you.
What will I tape to my soul’s refrigerator? Choose one image, one phrase, and one scripture that will anchor your healing journey. Write them down and commit to seeing them daily.
Suggested Scripture to Reflect On:
“I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord. — Jeremiah 30:17
“Crap List to Christ List Template" for seekers ready to defy their prognosis with faith and fire.
CRAP LIST → CHRIST LIST
A defiant journaling ritual for seekers who refuse to be defined by diagnosis, despair, or defeat.
STEP 1: Write the Crap List
List every lie, limitation, or prognosis spoken over you. Be honest. Be raw. This is your battlefield.
Examples:
“You’ll never walk again.”
“You’re too broken to be loved.”
“Your best days are behind you.”
“You’ll always be anxious.”
“God forgot about you.”
STEP 2: Write the Christ List
Now, beside each lie, write a defiant truth rooted in scripture, testimony, or Spirit-led fire. This is your resurrection song.
Examples:
You will have to use a cane to walk for the rest of your life - “By His stripes I am healed.” — Isaiah 53:5
You will never play tennis again. -“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” — Psalm 139:14
Lie stated here - “The latter glory shall be greater.” — Haggai 2:9
Next lie here - “I have the mind of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 2:16
STEP 3: Tape It to the Fridge
“He will never leave me.” — Hebrews 13:5
Place your list where you’ll see it daily. Let it provoke you. Let it preach to you. Let it become your altar of defiance.
STEP 4: Pray Through the Fire
Each morning, pick one pair. Pray it. Walk it. Live it.
Example:
Crap: “You’ll never walk again.”
Christ: “By His stripes I am healed.”
Prayer: “Jesus, I reject this prognosis. I receive Your healing. I walk by faith, not by sight.”
STEP 5: Track the Miracles
Leave space at the bottom of your list to record victories—no matter how small. Each one is a crack in the tombstone.
Examples:
Stood without crutches for 10 seconds.
Slept through the night without panic.
Laughed with my bride again.