Luke also tells us that Jesus called this woman a "daughter of Abraham." Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. He believed God's word when circumstances looked impossible. So I expanded on that as well. This broken woman had attended the synagogue; she would have heard the scriptures. Perhaps they had spoken to her heart very personally and directly about her specific need, and her faith had taken hold of them. Then when her moment came and Jesus spoke to her, her heart was prepared.

Bible scholars have interpreted this miracle in several ways. Some see this bent-over woman as a picture of the human heart that is "bent toward sin" and "missing the mark" -- that can only be "straightened" by an instantaneous touch from God. Others see this as a an example of the blessings that come to those who are faithful to the "means of grace." Still others emphasize the compassion of Jesus for the downtrodden and they say that He was demonstrating his desire to lift the yoke of slavery to sin as well as political oppression from his people.

Eva:  With so little known about her, how did you develop her character?

Catherine:  A good story needs conflict, and there's conflict aplenty in this account:  between the woman and the spirit that crippled her; between Jesus and the leaders of the synagogue; between the people the burdensome Sabbath laws; between walking by faith and walking by sight; between an oppressive government and people seeking a Deliverer; between a woman's emotional needs and the demands of society upon her.

I considered the context of the scriptures and researched life in those days, especially in regards to women. And I suppose I somewhat unconsciously gave her some traits of people I've known, including myself.

Beyond that, I spent time meditating on this woman and imagining what it would be like to see the world through her downcast vision, to raise a child, to keep house and try to make a living and just get through her days, to interact with village people, and to live under the religious and political authorities of the time.

I gave her a name, Joakima, which means "One whom God has lifted up spiritually." She gradually became a very real person to me and I felt I knew her.

There is a bit of mystery in the creative process.

Eva:  You’re so right, there is! Okay, other than pure entertainment, what are you hoping the readers will catch from your work?

Catherine:  When they read my book, "Face to Face," I hope readers catch a sense of the challenges and difficulties of life - especially for women - during the time of Jesus. And I hope they catch a sense that our day is similar in many ways to that day; and that, though we may not be able to stand face to face and look into Jesus' eyes literally and physically, the words and the Spirit of Jesus still call us. And, like Joakima in the story, we must respond.

For more information about "Face to Face," please visit www.cladach.com.
Catherine Lawton has a B.A. degree in English from Point Loma Nazarene University and studied at New College Berkeley. For several years she held a preacher's license in the Church of the Nazarene and was a church musician for 20 years. Catherine and her husband, Larry, have participated in and led volunteer short-term missions teams to Mexico, Africa, Venezuela, Sicily and Rome.  The Lawtons have lived in Northern California for 33 years and have two married children, a son and a daughter, and two beautiful granddaughters.

Eva Marie Everson is the very busy author of fiction works like "Shadow of Dreams", "Summon the Shadows", and "Shadows of Light" and nonfiction works like "Intimate Encounters with God" and "Intimate Moments with God." To find out more about having Eva Marie come to speak to your group, please visit www.evamarieeverson.com.   Eva Marie and husband Dennis have been happily married for over 25 years.