Sanctuary: A place of refuge or safety
A note from Jessica: I have a tremendous heart for the oppressed and vulnerable, and one of the issues that has long impacted me is that of how we care and advocate for the abused and marginalized. Whether this is a woman in a violent marriage or a child facing neglect and harm, God calls us to be a voice for the voiceless and to stand and help whenever possible.
Perhaps this is why I’m so excited about a new book just released by debut author Lois Kennis called Rise On Eagle’s Wings. The book is about Talitha Joy, who endures enormous loss and hardship before being drawn into a teen marriage with Buddy, who is not afraid to break the law to get what he wants. She and her two young sons soon meet Miss Ella, a blind woman from war-torn Liberia, who extends Talitha and her sons an invitation that could lead to safe haven—if Buddy doesn’t find them first. It’s a hopeful and beautiful story of a young mother’s tenacity, the ever-changing definition of family, and the redemptive power of community, all set in America’s Heartland during the final decade of the twentieth century.
Lois recently blessed me by sharing her thoughts on what it means to find sanctuary, even in this fallen world—a theme that resonates in her novel as well as in our lives as children of the Lord. Take a look. I pray it opens your heart and mind to the plight of abuse survivors and others struggling to find sanctuary. I hope you’ll buy her book as well. It’s available on Amazon here.
Sanctuary: A place of refuge or safety
By Lois Kennis
Little miracles surprise me daily. It is a big miracle that the novel I began writing a decade ago is now published. I wrote the book to bring a gleam of hope to people who appreciate a good story but might never pick up a Bible or set foot in a church. As it turns out, church-goers also find inspiration in Talitha’s gritty but uplifting story.
When I met my inspiration for the main character of Rise on Eagles’ Wings, she was a teenage mother with two children, separated from her husband and working at a rustic campground. Her strength, determination, and love for her children astounded me. My novel’s protagonist, Talitha, is fictional, and the details of her life are entirely different from the teen mom I met. But I’ve long remembered the courage of that young lady at the campground and desire to share her spirit with my readers. When our paths crossed, I was a troubled, twenty-three-year-old married woman with an eight-month-old baby.
In Rise on Eagles’ Wings, a Liberian woman named Miss Ella crosses paths with Talitha at a time when the young mother has done everything possible to raise her sons well, but her resources are depleted. Miss Ella reaches out at a vulnerable point when Talitha suspects everyone of ulterior motives, yet she desperately needs the sanctuary offered.
At the age of fifty, I needed help. My oldest children were grown. I left home with my youngest in the middle of the night. I’d been told women’s shelters were dingy, dangerous places, but the shelter that welcomed us was tidy, and I felt safe for the first time in years. I met other women whose experiences sounded uncannily similar to my own. I learned I wasn’t alone, and I had value. A group of church women offered a journaling workshop. Their kindness touched my heart. But I had unfinished business, and returned home.
Three precarious months later, I loaded the trunk of my old car with clothes, family photos, and my daughter’s basket of Beanie Babies. This time we left during daylight, moments after my husband drove off to get breakfast at the local café. I prayed my vehicle would manage to sputter across the Iowa border before we were missed.
I had called the shelter in Minnesota to confirm they had room. Now, we stood ringing their doorbell. A woman swung open the door. Her eyes sparkled. A sense of peace overcame me, tinged with fear. It was nothing compared to the fear I’d left behind.
The shelter helped me start life over. I landed a job and earned a college degree. I dreamed of someday passing along the help I’d received. I began writing a coming-of-age story inspired by the teen mom I’d met decades ago.
Then, my heart was stirred by a series of human trafficking workshops offered by the Rochester Sisters of Saint Francis. It astounded me to learn slavery is a thriving business in the 21st century. The issue crept into my novel. The first battered women’s shelter in the USA opened in Minnesota in 1974. Where did women find refuge before then?
While searching for a publishing home for my novel, a women’s group I was part of joined with other churches in central Iowa to hold a Single Mom’s event. When I was asked to lead a Writing and Journaling workshop for single moms, I recalled the journaling event I was inspired by years ago. Of course, I said “Yes!” God gives daily opportunities to pass along the hope we’ve received.
“In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.” (Psalm 31:20 NIV)
Please support Lois by finding her book on Amazon here.
Lois Kennis lives in Iowa within thirty minutes of all six grandchildren. Rise on Eagles’ Wings is her first novel. She writes realistic fiction to stir hearts with a healthy gleam of hope.
Lois says, “I don’t have it all together, and neither do the characters in my books. Most are broken in some way, whether by their own mistakes, or somebody else’s. But they're strong, too, and somehow, these broken yet lovable people find ways to rise above their situations and learn from their struggles. They want more out of life. More purpose and meaning. Like the creek, their lives twist and turn. Laughter, heartache, and redemption are part of their journey.”
Born and raised in Central Minnesota, her higher education spans forty-plus years, including Concordia College and RCTC. Finally, at age sixty, Lois earned her BA in Multi-Disciplinary Studies from University of Minnesota.
She is a member of Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Oregon Christian Writers (OCW), and The Authors Guild. Lois loves the outdoors, libraries, and reading.
