Finding Luck with Roland McCray

by Blaine Coleman

Teenage Roland truly wants a relationship with God, wants to know more about the teachings of Jesus, but the churches his aunts and uncles attend aren't any better than his old church, where the Reverend seemed more interested in everyone tithing and his own lavish lifestyle than in being a "shepherd" of his flock; different, yes, but not better. Roland has no interest in attending the church where his one uncle is the preacher and a leading member of the local KKK, or an aunt's church where congregants are "caught up in the Holy Spirit" and writhe in the aisles and pews or speak in tongues. Roland's grandfather had taught him that faith isn't showy, a thing to be displayed; it's simple and quiet, an unwavering belief that all things work for the good of those of seek the good. Roland sees the beauty of that simplicity and knows it's the kind of faith he wants. Despite the peer pressure to conform, Roland rejects the religious tenets of the churches his various family members attend and embarks on his own quest, seeks his own path to God. In doing that, he comes to the realization that all paths to God are valid because all people choose their own Path, and that is the simplicity he sought. Roland McCray's story is clothed in beautifully vivid, descriptive imagery, and is, in some small way, everyone's story.

158 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2013

About the author

A lifelong resident of Virginia, I grew up in the rural southeastern part of the state with a large extended family. I majored in Religious Studies and minored in Creative Writing-fiction at Virginia Commonwealth University. I now live in a rural area near Richmond where five year old beagle, Leah, and her new companion beagle, Sage, have room to run. I spend my free time with my favorite activity, gardening, participate in Midlothian Wordsmith's Workshop, and read and write as often as possible.

Reviews

[George Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Blaine Coleman's first set of Roland McCray stories (Tunnels in the Briar Patch), I was already looking forward to the next set of stories and Mr. Coleman did not disappoint.
Roland is now considerably older than in the first book and the stories are told through the eyes of the teenager. The stories are well written and captivating. Throughout the set of stories, Roland experiences a wide range of emotions from loss to love, all of which are told in a way that the reader can empathize right along with Roland.
The stories are set in the southern United States circa the 1960's as Roland grows up, comes of age and learns valuable life lessons. I didn't grow up in this era or location but the stories are so well told that i can easily relate.
Well done. This book is highly recommended, although I'd suggest Tunnels in the Briar Patch first. While this book does stand on it's own, I think seeing the progression from youth to adolescence was nice.

[Blaine Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second book in the "Tales of Roland McCray" series, Roland enters his teen years and encounters the angst of being a teenager, the pain of loss and the indescribable joy of first love, as well as the need of forgiveness and acceptance in the face of an often confusing world. Roland's moral compass is grounded in his grandfather's example that faith is not showy, it's a quiet and unwavering belief that all things work for the good of those who truly value good. Each chapter is a complete story, but taken together, his experiences form a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories that help you remember what it was like to be a teenager, seeing through the world through multiple lenses while coming to grips with the realities of life, then this is the perfect book!