Sharise Taylor
Throughout her youth, Sharise had many friends but, everything changed when Pastor John and Sarah came from Nebraska to stay at the Taylor home. In Sarah Wheaton, Sharise found a sister. They truly complement each other—like yin and yang. Until her junior year, her father and older brother, D.J., were the main male figures in her life. That is, until she encountered Titus on the first day of Pastor John's class, "God and Faith." The following is an excerpt from the first book in the Torn Robes Series, "Choices.” Pastor John is recounting the events on the Day of Pentecost to the class and Titus is having none of it:
“The apostles had no reason to lie about something this extraordinary. Explain to me Titus, how could eleven frightened and confused men leave that upper room after receiving the Holy Spirit? No matter how we envision it happened, they received a passion and urgency to share the good news of Jesus. They were no longer confused or afraid. They had determination and an eagerness, to share their newfound love, knowledge and understanding.”
“I don’t know. Maybe they thought they would become famous or something, like Jesus,” Titus volunteered.
“Famous?” Sharise quipped. “Yeah, famous enough to get killed.”
Sarah reached over and touched Sharise’s arm in an effort to calm her down.
“Famous? Sorry, Pastor John. Foolish is more like it!”
“It’s okay, Sharise. We have to give Titus and any other student in class the right to voice their opinions. No matter how much we agree or disagree. That’s how we’re going to learn from each other.”
Sharise gave John a nod of understanding, but John got the impression she didn’t like it.
I admire her spirit and the way she respectfully stands her ground.
As we progress further into the "Choices" story, we discover that Sharise has a deep passion for music, evident in everything from her ringtones to the playlists she creates. She is quite talented, and her love for Jesus is clearly expressed through the songs she sings. Sharise is not shy about expressing her faith through her music and knows how to make an entrance. It's Fall Festival at Cornerstone Church and Sharise has entered the building.
Suddenly the church was alive with the sound of music.
Shaking her head, Sarah knew it could only mean one thing, Sharise had arrived. Flinging open the office door, John greeted the merry group parading through the entry way. Sharise and Shelby led the group singing with unabashed passion, fists pumping high in the air.
Brittany politely tapped Sharise on the shoulder, who was oblivious to everything around her except the song in her heart.
Believe it or not, Sharise can be patient when the other person is willing to listen. In "Choices," Sharise and Titus take a walk to the quarry and find themselves discussing Titus's faith, or lack thereof. In this excerpt, Titus tries to explain to Sharise why he doesn't believe in God.
Sharise hesitantly asked, “Titus? I know you don’t believe in God, but can I ask why?”
He stopped before moving through a doorway of stone that led to a view of rocky cliffs, a grand display of rushing water and white foam sprayed up over the jagged edges. Titus bent down and picked something up.
“Sharise,” He opened his hand displaying the grayish blue stone, dusty and dirty from the trail. “I like to know when I pick up a rock it’s a rock, not because someone tells me it’s a rock but because I can feel it and see it’s a rock. Believing in someone or something because someone tells me it’s true doesn’t make it true. Especially up here.” He said pointing to the top of his head. “I need evidence. Proof.”
Sharise reflects on what Titus has just said as they walk together along the outer edge of the quarry before she responds.
“Remember the story Pastor told us the very first day in class about Thomas one of Jesus’ disciples.”
Titus shrugged his shoulders.
“He wasn’t with the other apostles when Jesus first appeared to them and when the other apostles told Thomas what had happened, he replied ‘Until I put my hands through the holes of his hands and feet or the hole where he was pierced on his side, I will not believe.’”
“That I can understand.”
“Well, the next time Jesus appeared to the apostles, Thomas was there. Jesus went up to Thomas held out his hands showing the holes where the nails went through and he urged Thomas to touch them and to touch where the spear pierced his side. Trembling, Thomas dropped to his knees crying, ‘Forgive me Lord I believe. I believe.’ Jesus said to Thomas, ‘You believe because you see.’” Sharise said opening her hand to reveal the rock she was holding. "Blessed are those who believe and do not see.” Sharise dropped the rock. Titus was about to reply when Sharise put her finger to his mouth and said, “Shh. Let it be.”
I intentionally remained in “Torn Robes: Choices” because I believed it was important to share Sharise's beginnings and the development of the relationships that are important to her journey. In the upcoming third book of the series, “The King's Highway,” Sharise is about to enter her senior year of high school. Like many teenagers, she has doubts about herself, her future, and the dreams she has yet to reveal.
Sharise's character is drawn from the memories and reflections of my youth, influenced by my friends who, like me, were surrounded by music, friendship, competition, and sisterly bonds. Those experiences and cherished moments deeply shaped my perspective and discipline; without them, I know I would be a completely different person today.