The Long Black Line by John L’Heureux, 2018
The magic trick:
Layering a crisis of religious faith with additional simultaneous identity crises
We’re heading to the Catholic church of the 1950s. No JF Powers though. This is a very different kind of story from those.
Finn, our young protagonist, is probably not well-suited for priest training. But here he is, trying his best. Or at least showing up.
Making the story about a crisis of faith would be too simple. So instead, we’ve got at least three major identity crises coursing through the narrative. They all inform each other too in completely believable ways.
It’s an excellent portrait of the complex reality that is figuring out who you are.
And that’s quite a trick on L’Heureux’s part.
The selection:
“Grace is God’s free gift. We can’t earn it. We can’t deserve it. God gives it to whom he wills.”
Finn knew this well and he found it depressing.
“We can open ourselves to grace by constant prayer, but we can’t merit it. It’s given gratuitously.”
Finn’s mind wandered. Was novitiate life making him infantile? Other men his age were fighting in Korea, and here he was on his knees, confessing to uncharitable thoughts. What ever happened to making his life a sacrifice?
As always, join the conversation in the comments section below, on SSMT Facebook or on Twitter @ShortStoryMT.
Subscribe to the Short Story Magic Tricks Monthly Newsletter to get the latest short story news, contests and fun.
Short Story Magic Tricks 