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Today I want to introduce you to author Jordyn Redwood and her new debut novel, Proof.
Sometimes we can’t explain our faith, we just choose to to have it.
And here’s Jordyn and how faith issues collide in her life and book.
Being an emergency room nurse, I find that my co-workers fall into two categories. Those that believe in God as the creator of life and those that believe in evolution. I would say it is rarer to have a mixture of the two—those that believe that God used evolution as the vehicle for creation.
You might say—well, that’s not so interesting. I work with those kinds of people, too.
What makes it interesting for me is that I work with the human body every day and it is one intricate organism. I’m a creationist—I believe we are God’s handiwork just as there is a watchmaker for your timepiece.
I think our biological nature makes it hard for some to believe in a watchmaker but the human body is far more an intricate piece than anything mechanical—including a computer. Just your brain is more complex than any computer man created.
This fact alone, surprises me, that any one of our body systems could fall together by happenstance and yet when working with a complex organism (the human body) on a daily basis, others chalk it up to something less than divine.
This is the point of view Lilly Reeves, my heroine in Proof, works from. A purely scientific, logical mindset. Now, I’m not saying scientific types cannot be believers—I’m one myself. More, what I’m saying is, for those on the purely evolutionary end of the spectrum, what can be the one thing (or many things) that help them find faith in God?
This is, as an author, what I wanted to explore with Lilly. Some may ask, why waste your time? You’re probably not going to change their minds.
To that, I say this… I’m in the business of saving lives. It’s what I do every day. Even if things seem hopeless, we still try. If I believe in Christ, then I also believe in hell—and that is truly a fate worse than any physical death.
What things did Lilly’s fellow characters try and Lilly go through herself that helped Lilly on her faith journey?
Reason through logic: Early in the novel Lilly’s good friend, Dana (who is a surgeon), tries to present her with some logical arguments as to why it’s easier for her to believe in God. I think this is a common way we scientific types try to persuade others like ourselves. We try and disprove their theory. In my personal life, I haven’t found this method very effective and it perplexes me as to why this doesn’t work. If one operates on scientific theory—and you present them with a better, sounder (at least in your opinion), scientific theory—why isn’t there that light bulb moment? Maybe you can help me here with your thoughts.
Prayer: Prayer is good and vitally important but it is also very intimate. It takes courage to physically pray out loud over another individual and the healthcare environment isn’t an appropriate place to do this. Most hospitals have guidelines against proselytizing. That’s another can of worms for later. And yes, I have prayed with patients but only at their invitation. In Proof, there are moments when Dana and Kadin pray over Lilly—to help her see how God may be working through her circumstances. Can miracles happen through prayer? Yes, absolutely. However, I think prayer is a commitment. I don’t often hear people say—I prayed for their salvation and the next day they came to the Lord!
Crisis: For many, it’s a crisis that brings them to faith. Coming to the absolute end of everything where there is a cry out to God for intervention. Proof, ultimately, is a DNA mystery where DNA testing sets a criminal free. When that happens to Lilly, she still tries to control her situation, but when she sees an act of sacrifice on her behalf, it helps her bridge the gap in her own faith to understand what Christ did for us.
I view God as creator. I think since he designed us, he also made it part of our DNA to search Him out. It’s the free will component that he also gave us that leaves it as our choice to choose faith or not.
If you view yourself as a scientific type, what was it that led to your belief in God? What things have you done to try and bring an evolutionist to faith? Has any book changed your life?
Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.
Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it’s the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find–and punish–her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?
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This looks like a great book!!!
I’ve got it at home and am taking it with me this weekend when we go camping. I can’t wait!