For Rowdy Christians Everywhere Page 18

Chapter 16: Fellowship and Fooly-cake, Lacrosse Balls and Altar Calls

  “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:50

  One week westward, Wow! Luke thought as he looked around at the beauty-full day. He took a greedybig breath of fresh, far-from-the-city afternoon air, and he looked at the warm blue sky and his joy pretty near exploded. Maybe it was just the last few days of ruling things out, and the feeling that he must be getting closer to finding what was missing. In any case, “If this is life,” Luke said with a laugh, “I think I like it!”

  “There ya go,” Bert added more calmly. Barefoot, they strolled green-grass happy to the top of a gentle hill, and from there looked out at the whole world and said “Yeah!”

  “Breathtaking!” Luke praised.

  “Breath-giving,” Bert countered, as he gulped a big breath and savored it, before explaining lyrically: “It’s like being given mouth-to-mouth by the sky.”

  Luke was amused, and grilled his friend mischievously, “Now, would that be the same sky you slapped the other night?”

  Bert squinted playfully and smiled suspiciously. Then he wrapped himself in solar robes, turned shining eyes skyward and proclaimed confidently, with a cherubic smirk, “The heavens hold no grudges.”

  Then Bert looked back down, and noticed what seemed to be some kind of settlement, in the valley before them. He pointed, and Luke’s curiosity was aroused, since they had seen so few settlements since the circus, and what a good time that had been! Also, since it was a curious settlement... There was an old-fashioned log fence--which was appropriate, because it was the olden days, after all. (Though no one realized it at the time). Bounded by the fence was a pleasant-looking compound with vegetable gardens, soccer fields, greenhouses, longhouses and outhouses.

  Bert and Luke went down the hill to see what it was all about. There was a big old gate, which was wide open, and above it was a colorful hand-painted sign proclaiming that all were ‘WELCOME’.

  “Cool,” said Luke. “So let’s go on in.” They put their shoes back on, went on in and started roaming around the camp, looking for signs of life. They didn’t see anybody.

  “Maybe they are taking a nap,” Bert speculated. Just about then they saw an attractive young lady hurrying across the camp towards one of the longhouses. Luke smiled and waved, in a friendly, casual way.

  The woman stopped when she saw them, and she looked a little bit surprised, but she recovered herself quite nicely and said, “Hi! You must be new here?”

  “I reckon so,” Luke agreed. “We were walkin’ along and saw this here place, and it looked inviting, so we came down to see what it was all about. If we’re not welcome, we could leave,” he offered.

  “No, please!” the woman replied enthusiastically. “Y’all are just in time for dinner, actually! Won’t you come join us?”

  Bert flashed a smile and flirted, “How could we say no to one so beautiful as you?”

  The young woman smiled back and replied politely, “Thank you. You’re very kind,” in a flattered, friendly, but clearly-not-interested way. “Come on, let’s go get some food.” Then she led the two hungry travelers to a longhouse filled with good people and good food. Luke was grateful. (Bert was forgetful.)

  Luke helped himself to some salad and some peaches and some rolls and some lima beans and some rice, and fresh French bread with marmalade, and a tall, cool glass of apple juice. He noticed that there was no meat being served, but the rest of the food was so fine that Luke didn’t mind. Bert minded a little bit, “What, we’re not allowed to eat meat here? he wondered out loud.

  “You can eat whatever you like, but we’re not obliged to provide it,” someone corrected him. Bert shrugged, and stocked up on the cookies and potato chips. After that he was okay.

  The whole group prayed (even Luke and Bert showed respect by bowing their heads with the others), and then Luke sat down and ate his perfect meal with the lovely young gal who had befriended them upon their arrival. Bert smiled coz this gave him a reason to sit with her too. Luke had a lot of curious questions for her about this place, but first he ate most of his lunch, because he was a Hun, and when Huns eat, they generally mean business. After he had got the better part of his hunger settled down, he introduced himself to the lady who had brought him there. “Oh, I’m Luke by the way. From Hun-Country.”

  “Ah,” she said knowingly, and possibly a little disapprovingly. Luke blushed, ashamed of his past and displeased with his people.

  “Bert Loreword,” Bert chimed in. “From Canada.”

  At this the woman looked confused. “Sorry? Canada?”

  Bert tried to help her out, but merely fired off three more references that also escaped her: “You know, Canada? Home of such notable figures as Governor-General Ray Hnatyshyn, hockey giant Curtis Leschyshyn, and Kip Brouwer the Electrician?” She still shook her head, so Bert shrugged and ate.

  Luke felt bad that they hadn’t introduced themselves sooner. “Sorry, we didn’t mean to be rude, just we were kinda hungry.”

  “Dinner time is dinner time,” she said understandingly. “I forgive you. I am Rebecca, and these are my friends,” she told him, gesturing at the whole crowd. Luke looked around, and estimated that there were about 140 people, including a disproportionate number of teenagers and young adults. There were a handful of older people, but even they looked like they were probably young at heart.

  “It’s nice to have friends,” Luke said contentedly, scanning all the smiling faces.

  “It’s even better to have dessert!” Bert pointed out, for the chefs were bringing out some kind of tasty-looking orange cake. Bert said he would bring them some, and hurried up to wait in line.

  Luke took advantage of the opportunity to chat with the fair Rebecca. “What is this place exactly?” He wondered.

  She was careful: “Some might call it a cult. But we call it a church! A community of servants of the living God! It’s fun: we work a little, we play a little, and we Worship all the time!”

  Luke pricked up his ears. Another woman to show him the way? He had a good feeling about it, a hopeful tingle, after having come fresh from days of Work and Play himself. He took out his pen: maybe ‘Worship’ was the word he had been missing! He hoped so, but first he had to find something out: “That sounds great. But don’t you like it here? You look a little sad today.”

  “Oh. Do I? Sorry, that’s not usually me. I just got a letter from my sister is all, back home on Prince Edward Island.”

  “Is everything okay?” Luke asked, concerned.

  Rebecca smiled. “Of course. Dad’s still running the Bar and Grill, Jenny’s still helping him with the farm. And they still only hear occasionally from my brothers, who ran off to become pearl divers in Bonimo Bay. ‘Short, happy messages’ are all the boys send, Jenny says. So, it sounds like everything is the same as always. That makes me miss home even more!”

  Luke got kinda puzzled, and wondered, “Miss home? Isn’t this your home?”

  Young Rebecca sighed, and agreed. “It is. But still... I do wish I could see them all again.”

  “You can’t? Can’t leave here? ...Or can’t go back there.” Luke didn’t quite understand.

  Rebecca shook her head. “Everyone here is free to leave any time they choose. I’m just not ready to leave yet. Still growing in His Word; still strengthening myself through the promises of Christ. This place is so good for me, Luke! These people are such a blessing! Besides, this is my home now, and my family. For now. It would be too hard for me to go back right now; but maybe later I’ll be able to visit them. I’m not sure they understand why I came here, and I don’t think I’m strong enough or wise enough to make them understand.”

  “Why did you come here? Make me understand,” Luke suggested, counselor-style.

  Then, since Luke was a non-threatening third party, Rebecca did just that, opening up and telling him where she was coming
from: “Y’see, it’s like this--‘The Garden’ is a kind of religious commune, a refuge… our very own holy place. We took the name partly from the Garden of Eden, to reflect that we are reconciled to God through Christ; and partly from the specific work we do to serve Him.” (Luke remembered the greenhouses he had spotted.) “We worship God here, and live our lives the way we believe is best. And it’s very different, in many ways, from the way other people live. Consequently, most folks are very suspicious or even hostile towards us! Aren’t we always afraid of what we don’t understand? They think kids get ‘sucked in’ to a cult, or something sinister like that. Well, maybe some are like that, but here at The Garden, everyone has chosen to be here, because we like it here and we all believe in what this commune stands for.”

  This was what Luke was anxious to learn. He interrupted curiously, “And what is it that you folks stand for?”

  Rebecca smiled with her eyes, and said softly, enraptured, “We believe in Love!”

  “Oh, right on!” Luke approved enthusiastically.

  “And we believe in God, of course!” Rebecca continued blissfully. “God is Love. The Bible teaches us that; but even better, so does experience! And so a number of us have gathered here to immerse ourselves in God, and to celebrate one another, and to live our lives in peace and joy, sharing everything. It is beautiful, really.”

  “What, the cake?” Bert interrupted, returning with three plates. “Yes It Is!” Then he sat down and dug in, while Luke and Rebecca continued talking, barely even pausing for foolycake!

  “Wow, it sounds quite marvelous--so pure and innocent and happy and simple and good.” Luke conceded. “But how does it work out? I expect it would take a special type of person to pull it off. Everyone would have to be awfully unselfish and loving.”

  “We are!” Rebecca excitedly ensured him. “Because we’re all friends for one thing; but also because we all believe in Jesus, and we ask God to give us the strength and the goodness to follow His loving ways and be like Him. Right now, we’re all still human, and imperfect--but when we do fail to do the right thing, we forgive each other, and everyone stays happy!”

  “How astonishing,” Luke said admiringly, then added the sad observation, “I wish the whole world could be like that.”

  Bert was more skeptical, however, and asked between cake-bites, “But tell me-- what happens if a rrrebel like me comes to your camp--someone who maybe believes differently, and isn’t even necessarily your friend. What if you are infiltrated by infidels? Overrun by outcasts? Does that ever cause trouble and strife in your innocent little community? Or are motley hooligans such as I simply not allowed at this place?”

  Rebecca laughed and shook her irrepressible head full of love. “Everyone is welcome here, but sadly, most people tend not to stay here long if they don’t agree with our views. Those who do stay, we teach! And forgive. After all, ‘Love bears all things...’”

  Luke was growing more and more impressed. “You sure sound like good people,” he praised.

  “Actually, that’s what we call ourselves, ‘The Good Guys’. We thought about calling ourselves the Children of Hope or the Children of God or something like that, but those names were all taken. Good Guys is simple and to the point, and it conjures up all the connotations of the heroes in a storybook. We think that is neat.”

  “Indeed,” Luke agreed. At that point the cakely aroma got to him and he had to shut up and eat.

  The foolycake was excellent. It tasted like manna, except with food coloring and fruit flavoring. “The chef has a gift,” Rebecca explained.

  Bert finished first, and was peering up at the serving table wondering if there would be seconds. While waiting for the others to finish, he wanted to know, “Why do they call it foolycake?”

  Rebecca shrugged, and guessed, “Maybe just because it’s not quite cake? I’ve heard it called foolybread and foolypie as well.”

  Luke had a different explanation: “When my mama made it for us, back in Hun-Country, she told us it was called that because, after you eat it, you feel foo-ull.” Luke patted his belly.

  Nope, that wasn’t it, Bert decided, as he slipped up to catch a second plate.

  At last a guy in overalls at another table stood up and led the group in another prayer of Thanks, after everyone was done eating.

  “Thanks is right,” Bert agreed. “What a great meal; how much do we owe you?”

  This question took their young hostess by surprise. “You are our guests,” she explained. “There is no charge for the meal. We are just glad you enjoyed it!”

  Bert tried again, “I’m not a socialist, lady. More like the Anti-Socialist59. In the real world we know there is no such thing as a free lunch. So, how much?” But Rebecca waved her hands, declining again. “You guys can use the money more than I can,” Bert insisted, offering some money. “Take it, please.”

  “True, we are not rich, but... God will provide,” Rebecca explained, refusing him again.

  Bert started to feel a little insulted, and pleaded, “Look, I don’t like to be in anyone’s debt...”

  After this much badgering, Rebecca got a little stern, and reproved him, “But you already are, Bert! And more than you can ever pay! This meal was not given to you by us. It was given to all of us by God. God, who creates every living thing. God, who gives us the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. You owe him your very being, Bert, your whole life. And you think to pay with a ... pewter and a kryptonite coin? His gifts are beyond price! But if it’s in your heart to do so, you can give those not as payment, but as an offering, if you care to stick around for the worship service.”

  “I knew there was a catch,” Bert smiled smugly, casting a playful wink to Luke. Rebecca rolled her eyes.

  Since dinner was done, Rebecca suggested to Bert and Luke that she could show them around the camp if they liked. Luke said sure. Bert said why not. Away they went.

  Rebecca led Luke carefree and glad through the summer evening warmth across the camp, pointing out the attractions. Bert tagged along behind, sizing it up. “The longhouses are where we sleep,” Rebecca told them, pointing in a tour guide way, “except for that one where we eat, and that one where we meet for Bible study, and that one we use as a recreation center, with a roller rink and basketball hoops and such. If you want to stay with us for a while, you can stay in one of the guys’ longhouses: there are two for guys and two for ladies, and one with separate apartments for married couples, though there aren’t that many of those here yet. Marriage is a serious thing, so we don’t usually rush into it.”

  “That is very wise,” Luke said wisely, with a wise grin.

  “Oh, and there we have the outhouses,” Rebecca pointed out, “Ahem. In case you’re feeling too full after that big dinner.” Luke said that he would keep it in mind, and they walked on to the far end of the camp, a jungled up, overgrown, lots-of-plants area. There they found the greenhouses. “Come on in,” said Rebecca. “These are great!”

  Luke followed pretty Rebecca into a greenhouse, and he was amazed. There were flowers everywhere! Beautiful flowers, all different kinds and colors: red flowers, yellow flowers, purple flowers, white flowers, pink flowers, blue flowers, and even some pretty fuchsia-colored flowers (which no one could remember the name of), all living together in harmony. Luke wasn’t a gardener, so he couldn’t tell what all the different flowers were called, though he thought he recognized some roses. He loved the flowers so much that he wanted to hug them, but you can’t hug a flower so he hugged Rebecca instead. Then he apologized, but she wasn’t sore, just amused.

  “What do you do with all these flowers?” Luke inquired. “Do you make floats for the Rose Bowl Parade, or do you just come here to look at them and be happy?”

  “Sometimes we come here to be happy. But we also grow these flowers for distribution.”

  “She means they sell them.” Bert explained to his less worldly-wise amigo.

  Rebecca laughed and shook he
r head smiling. “No! Whoever heard of such a thing? We give them away. Flowers make people happy, and we love to make people happy because we love people. So we give them flowers! They are usually surprised, but that makes it even more fun, for us and them. Actually, that’s how I learned about this place: I met a girl from here who was giving folks flowers at the college in the town of Delightful, and I liked what she told me about their camp so I came all the way out here and joined them. And you know what? I’m very happy here. And you know what else?”

  “What?” asked Luke.

  “I think you would be too.”

  Luke was a little startled because he hadn’t really been thinking about staying, but when he thought about it he realized, “Well, I’m happy so far. Why don’t you teach me some more about the camp, and we’ll see if I feel like staying.”

  Rebecca was glad to. She led them back to the other end of the camp, and the soccer fields. On the way, she talked about their self-sufficient agrarian economy, and their simple, wholesome lifestyle. Luke liked the sound of all that, coz he was a simple country-boy his own self.

  When they got back to the soccer fields, most of the people were already there. A lot of the young ladies were dressed in soccer uniforms, and they were about to get a game up. Luke was interested. (He kind of had a thing for lady soccer players, since he had known a gorgeous one named Karen, and of course his amazing friend Lisa!) But Luke was even more interested by what was happening on the other soccer field: the boys were dressed for lacrosse! When he saw the prospect of getting in a lacrosse game for the first time all year, Luke was thrilled. “I guess I can stay a little longer,” he told Rebecca slyly.

  Good Guys that they were, they let Bert and Luke join the game--on the visiting team, since Fort Wayne always had trouble scrounging up enough guys anyway. They borrowed extra sticks, and someone came up with some old helmets and gloves for them. And by thoughtfully planning ahead, they were already wearing their football shoes, so they were all set ta go.

  As the teams lined up, Bert couldn’t resist talking a little trash, now that he was back in his element. As he took his attack position, he made sure to single out the biggest, toughest defender, a rough customer named Kip, and get in his face, warning: “I will fool you; I will school you; and I will RULE you!”60

  Though not usually given to foolish talking, Kip wasn’t about to let that challenge drop unanswered, so he responded softly, strongly, certainly, “I will rock you; I will shock you; and when you’re face down in the mud, I will mock you.”

  The game commenced. True to his word, Kip knocked Bert flying, right off the draw, and drew a penalty which allowed Bert to score a quick goal with the man advantage. Bert wondered if it had been worth it as he rubbed his ribs, and on the next draw he stayed a few feet further from the danger.

  Luke was taken aback by the pace and skill level of the game, partly because he was rusty, and partly because I guess he expected a bunch of choirboys to be pushovers. After he got fooled on defense by a couple quick headfakes that led to goals, he got his own head in the game and he started taking the body like a true Hun. He knocked everybody over at least once, (including several of his own teammates. Hey. Accidents happen.) And he flattened one guy named Bill Burke so hard that Bill lost his helmet and lay on the ground for five minutes before limping to the bench. Luke also went on a rush and got an assist, but while he was up there attacking he also got sandwiched by two of the tougher choirboys, the juggernaut Kip and a wiry middie named Mike. ‘No free lunch is right’, he reflected.

  All in all, it was a great game (the Good Guys won 13-12 in overtime), and they all left the field feeling beat-up and tired, yet strangely rejuvenated. That’s the magical thing about lacrosse. Then they watched the end of the soccer game and then everybody got cleaned up and they went to Bible study in the meeting house, as night began to fall.

  Luke was a little nervous because he was a stranger and he didn’t know much about their faith. Bert acted like he had seen it all before. Rebecca and several of her friends were in their study group--an innocent man named Mark, and a lively, lovely, shy yet bold girl named Shelley, and a thoughtful young thing named Louise. They were helping Luke (and trying to help Bert) to understand what they were studying. Luke was grateful.

  Shelley tried to explain what they believed in, starting from scratch. “We believe in God, who made all things--the rain, the earth, the people. He’s everywhere and in everything, but you can’t really see Him because He’s spirit, He’s not physical like you and me. Have you got that so far?”

  Bert nodded, then shook his head instead. “I’m sorry, what? I kinda got distracted when you started talkin’ about you and me bein’ physical,” Bert truthfully joked, winking at his friend Luke.

  Shelley laughed, but she also scolded him, “Don’t talk that way in church, please. Be serious, this is important stuff.” Then she went on, confident that they would pay better attention. “We also believe in Jesus, who was a man but he was also the Son of God, so He and God aren’t really separate, but they are one.”

  “Whoa, you lost me there,” Luke said honestly.

  Mark laughed. “We lose everyone there. It’s hard to understand the mysteries of God, because God is too awesome for us to understand! So don’t worry if you’re confused: all things will be made clear in time. ‘Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am known.’ I suppose I could quote you something from one of the creeds: they are useful at setting in order just what we believe…

  ‘For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s son, is both God and man. He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother--existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body; equal to the Father in divinity, subordinate to the Father in humanity. Although he is God and man, he is not divided, but is one Christ. He is united because God has taken humanity into himself; he does not transform deity into humanity.’

  Luke still looked puzzled, so Mark smiled and continued. “But the phrase that always helps me the most for now is, ‘God was manifest in the flesh’. Also ‘In him all the fulness dwelt bodily.’ Or, simply, as he said Himself, ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me.’ ”

  “Anyway,” Shelley continued, “Jesus did many miracles and healed everyone He met, and taught about Love and Faith and Obedience to God. Then He was crucified, and by dying in our place, Jesus paid for our wrongdoing so that we don’t have to die.”

  “What a great guy,” Bert interjected, with questionable sincerity.

  “True!” Shelley exclaimed, overlooking Bert’s tone. “But here’s the best part: He rose from the grave, and He lives forever, and we will live forever with Jesus, if we believe and follow His example!”

  Luke had to sit there and sort through that for a minute. Finally he said “Far out.” Then he thought about it a little more and said, “This is the same story I have been reading about. It does make it a little clearer when you boil it down like that, but...”

  Eager to help, several of the others each asked, “Yes?”

  “But how do I know any of it is true?”

  Bert smiled proudly. “There it is. Don’t forget to ask the important questions, little buddy.”

  The believers weren’t afraid of the question, however. “A good question,” Mark admitted. “And this may not be the answer you want... I’ll admit, at some point you just have to trust.” Bert nodded Aha, but Mark went confidently on. “But there’s nothing unusual about that. Heretics and Heathen trust too, in their own stories, or their own judgment. We just trust in someone else’s story... the martyrs’. The Bible is a great historical account of what happened long ago--but it’s not just a story. It is confirmed by the witness of the early disciples--all of whom were willing to give their lives for the Gospel, and most of whom actually d
id! These were the same people who personally saw the miracles, the signs, the healings, the mighty works that Jesus wrought. Now if they hadn’t really witnessed, if they knew these Bible stories had never happened, would they all give their lives for a lie? How absurd! And we have the same beliefs, the same sacred church, passed on through good and honorable Christians, trustworthy people, man to man and woman to woman--friend to friend --from the original eyewitnesses right down to the present day.

  “So yes, we trust that: A) the testimony has been handed down to us faithfully--not such a hard thing to comprehend that when you remember that Peter called it ‘the words of eternal life’, with all the care and sacredness that deserves; B) the testimony describes miracles witnessed firsthand, when Jesus walked among them in all his power. ‘For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.’-- second Peter 1:16. And we trust that, C) these miracles which they witnessed show that God was with Jesus, and His claims about Himself are therefore true. John 5:36-- ‘for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.’ Listen: even if you’re not ready yet to trust, at least consider the possibility, at least investigate the claims, at least search to see whether all the martyrs and witnesses might really have known something that you don’t. You owe them that much respect at least. You owe yourself that much respect!”

  When Mark finished this orderly argument, Shelley eagerly added, “But here’s the best part! You can start to believe because of the other witnesses, but once you believe? You’ll become a witness yourself! You’ll be able to see God working in your life, and your eyes will be opened to see all the goodness and truth you once were blind to! Faith may draw you to God, but experience will keep you.”

  Bert, who was from Earth, thought this sounded remarkably similar to the slogan of the Detroit Pistons’ sponsor Dunham’s Sporting Goods, and couldn’t help wise-cracking, “‘Our big names bring you in, our low prices bring you back.’”

  At this point, Rebecca decided that Bert wasn’t taking their efforts seriously, and like two rambunctious kids, maybe she had better split them up, so that Luke’s study’s at least would not be hindered. “Bert, why don’t you come be in a new group with me? Kathryn and Susan are by themselves, we can join them.”

  “That seems like the sign of a cult, Luke,” Bert warned. “They trying to divide us and outnumber us so they can brainwash ya better, maybe.”

  Louise resented the accusation, and responded with a warning of her own. “We all have to appear alone before the judgment throne of God. So you better take this seriously, and start using this occasion to get prepared, like Luke here.”

  “Trouble-y woman,” Bert muttered. But he changed his mind and perked up soon enough, when he realized that Kathryn was a cutie and Susan was a beauty, and he already had a sea-rush on Rebecca too, so... ‘Hmm, maybe it will be kind of fun to have my defenses broken down!’ He grinned slyly, and went with Rebecca to the corner table.

  Luke had a lot to think about, so he asked to be excused for a minute, and took advantage of the reshuffling to slip outside for some air.

  Luke stood outside in the tender night, as a light and pleasant rain brushed over him. He stared up at the sky and out at the horizon, and he watched a distant lightning storm and he felt a chill. He tried to think about what they had told him, but the thoughts didn’t come right away. When they did, he thought to himself, “The Gospel...What a remarkable story it all makes! I hope it’s true; that would be so excellent! But it is so extraordinary, I can barely imagine that it could be! I know my friends wouldn’t lie to me or make this up, but couldn’t they honestly be mistaken? ...Or they could be right. I have felt that I’m missing something, but is this it?” That was the only question that mattered, but Luke didn’t have the answer, and he didn’t know where he would find it--didn’t know how to move from hopeful to faithful. He stared into the storm and felt strangely lost.

  Around about then, Louise came out to stand beside him and see how he was doing. “Luke, what are you thinking?” Louise asked softly.

  Luke told her straight-up: “I like you guys. I think I’d like this life. I know I’d like Jesus, if all that I’ve read is true. But I still don’t know whether it’s true or not. Maybe I have to see it to believe it.”

  Louise shook her head. “That’s what most people say. The strange thing is, you usually have to believe it before you can see it! Maybe that’s because God is Spirit, so you have to see Him with your spirit, by believing. You’re welcome to stay with us--take all the time you want. And maybe we can help you learn what’s true,” she offered gently.

  Luke weighed the offer carefully, but concluded, “I think you’ve already told me all that I need to know. Now it’s up to me to find out the truth for myself...though I don’t rightly know how.”

  “Look within,” said Louise. “God writes truth there. Search your heart, and search with your heart. And pray. Pray, pray, pray!” Luke thought the advice was kinda strange, especially the part about praying, since Luke wasn’t sure if he really believed in prayer, so why would he pray that he would believe? Louise saw that Luke was thinking hard, so she reminded him, “If you have questions, never be afraid to ask.”

  So Luke asked. “If I don’t believe, how can I just pray all of a sudden? How can I just start talking to someone I don’t even know exists? What kind of prayer would that be? Be hard to put my heart into it, wouldn’t it?”

  Louise was thoughtful. “So don’t do it ‘all of a sudden’. Do it little by little if you have to. So long as you do it!” Then she tried to explain it: “Let’s say, you are here, and God is way over there.” She pointed off into the distance. “It’s not like that, it’s never like that, but I know it can feel like that. So how will you meet him? One big jump? No! Take some steps, get a little closer. Take some more steps, closer still. Then walk up and shake hands. It’s not hard. Just start! And move as God draws you. Patiently... Carefully.” Looking to where she had pointed, she extended her example, speculating, “You could walk that far in a single afternoon, I bet. But if it takes days, or weeks, or even years: God will still be there, wanting you to come! Like a Father watching his baby take its first steps--is He going to give up and walk away? Just don’t give up on Him, either, Luke.”

  Luke liked her gentle, tenacious efforts, but was still a little confused. “So how does that work with prayer, specifically?”

  “Have you never prayed?” Louise asked, trying to gauge how much knowledge of it Luke had, and what way to explain it.

  “As a child, briefly, but I don’t remember very much. Nowadays, no, never.” Then he remembered the exception, and told her about his awkward prayer for the good men in Penetanguishene. Louise made him try to remember it word for word, and Luke felt quite awkward all over again, especially for having to share such a humble prayer with such a prayer expert.

  But Louise reassured him, “That’s an excellent prayer! Like the woman with the two copper coins: God judges what we give based on what we have to give. If that’s where you were then, no problem. Maybe next time you’ll move a little closer, instead of ‘If you are there,’, make it ‘I think you are there’ Then next time, ‘I know you are there.’ And finally, ‘I know You are there and I want You in charge of my life!’ Just don’t force it--there is no magic formula. The only formula is to be sincere, and willing, and to let God do all the rest. Let Him draw you closer, let Him teach you the right words. Trust in Him to hear your humble prayers and know, Luke, know! that He will respond with love and mercy.

  “This I guarantee you Luke, as one who has experienced God’s faithfulness, God’s grace, God’s wonderful promises kept: I guarantee it. Carve it in stone, or write in your heart, or do both at once if you have to. ‘If God has sent you out, know that He will lead you in again too. Whether it’s this very day, or down the
road, God’s good plan must be fulfilled.’”

  “But did God send me? Did he start me on this search?”

  “You’re here, aren’t you?” she answered summarily. That was proof enough, to her. But then she remembered that Luke himself was probably still wondering what he was after, and possibly thinking his whole search might merely be due to loneliness, or grief, or fear. Anticipating these thoughts, Louise spoke out against this error in advance: “What is loneliness, or grief, or fear, but the absence of God in your life? Tell me if I’m wrong, but I would be willing to bet that, the little voice you’ve heard telling you something is wrong in your life? The little voice telling you to seek and get healed? That voice is the voice of God Himself, drawing you to Him! Jesus said, ‘No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.’ And you are coming to Jesus. Make no mistake about that! You’ll come to Jesus if I have to pray for you every day for a thousand years! And since you’re coming to Jesus, that means the Father has drawn you. And He will raise you up at the last day--make no mistake about that either!” she concluded, suddenly quite happy. Louise gave Luke a little hug, and then tugged his sleeve and took his hand, as a muffled melody wafted out of the chapel. “Come in, come in! They’ve started singing!”

  They went back inside the meeting house, and with the press of bodies, and the woodstove radiating, it seemed just so welcoming and warm compared to the stormy evening. The warmth made Luke content, and the music made him glad, and the beaming faces of his great new friends made him happy, and their certainty that this all was true, and that he would soon know God, this almost made him joyful! He started to sing along.

  Bert sang too, but Bert was a good singer, and sometimes sang just to hear himself sing. Everyone else sang songs of praise and worship directed to God. Luke couldn’t yet direct it to God, but surely participating sincerely in a song directed to God was something too? Not quite the same, true. But a step, Luke decided, remembering the example Louise had used. A step closer to God. And he sang even more exuberantly at the thought!

  He didn’t want it to end; and the music did go on for quite a spell, but finally the songs stopped and they had to sit down and listen quietly for the preacher to do his part.

  There were prayers, and Luke participated in the prayers the same way as the song-worship: not-quite-prayers, not yet personally directed to God, but still Luke kinda tagged along with the others in spirit, and felt something.

  Then there was a bit of a speech (a sermon, was their word for it.) He didn’t follow it too closely, as he was still distracted by thinking about what he had learned so far, and as it was still a little deep for Luke’s shallow understanding anyway. But once in a while, (usually when the preacher got louder to make some point seem more important), it would break in on Luke and impress him. Finally, he heard the preacher citing a familiar verse, one he had read earlier himself: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven...” This reminded Luke that Oops, maybe the time for reflection was on his own time, and that maybe he should try to keep listening and learning while the preacher continued:

  “‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

  The words echoed through Luke’s spinning head, with a weight like truth: Now the day, now the time... Was this the call of the Holy Spirit? or just the power of suggestion and repetition? For the mood was shifting, the congregation was suddenly participating, prickling with excitement, beginning to repeat the preacher’s phrase like a chorus:

  “Now is the time to confess that we are human, to admit that we are frail!”

  “Now is the accepted time...” they echoed.

  “Today is the day to come before God and ask for His mercy!”

  “Now is the day of salvation.”

  “Now is the time to leave our sins in the past!”

  “Now is the accepted time...”

  “Today is the day to begin a new life, in love and holiness!”

  “Now is the day of salvation.”

  “Now is the time to give up our grief and our doubts!

  “Now is the accepted time...”

  “Today is the day to take hold instead of eternal life! through Jesus our Savior!”

  “Now is the day of salvation.”

  Having established that, the preaching changed abruptly again, into questions and answers. “Are any of us perfect?” the preacher asked his flock.

  Parishioners piped up, from around the room. “Not us, Lord.” “Only Jesus...” “Thank God for mercy!” Then last of all, with a pause for comic timing, just before the preacher carried on, Mike the Middie got the last word in: “Not this bunch!” Luke smiled and looked a little startled, to discover how much fun they all were having.

  “But is God perfect?” the preacher followed his thread. The affirmations were vociferous. “Glory, glory!” “Make it known.” “Praise the God of wonders!” Then goosebumps up Luke’s arms, to realize how earnest and reverent they were as well, as a last speaker, Susan, raised her answer clear and bold above them all, simple and ringing: “He Is!”

  “So, can any person earn their way into His perfect kingdom?”

  And the congregation answered: “No way!” “By what works?” “Help us Father!” Again a last speaker, a middle-aged woman named Joanne, gave a word that felt to Luke like prophesy, embodying both their humility and their confidence: “By His grace.”

  Once more, the preacher showed them the contrast: “But can God make a way for us?”

  “Absolutely!” “Praise Him for miracles!” “All power belongs to thee O God.” And then suddenly Kip added a word, and Luke was on the edge of his seat rooting them on, stunned by the love and loyalty of a disciple sticking up for his Lord, insisting gruffly in his deep voice: “Give it a name!”

  The preacher smiled and took over again. “Amen, children. God did make a Way, and He did give it a name! The name of Jesus!...the Way to the Father. The perfect sacrifice!...pure and holy. To pay for our sins!...freely and completely. To reconcile us to God!...forever and ever.” Then he slowed down, and let their attention linger in suspense for a moment, before adding one last question, looking right through Bert and Luke: “Is there any reason then, why you shouldn’t come to Jesus and receive God’s mercy?”

  Luke thought that over, head swimming and heart fluttering, as the preacher surged on to the end of his message: “Because make no mistake: there is One God. The maker of heaven and earth. The savior of all men. What do we have that He has not given? ‘For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.’ And if God has both created us, and redeemed us through Christ, if we owe our entire existence and all of our hope to God, ought we not therefore to live our lives for God?

  “Because we have One Life: one life only. Brief and precious. Use it carefully. We have a simple choice this day, and each day: live for ourselves, or live for God. Remembering this only, that ‘He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.’ Why? Because ‘this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.’ That, dear friends, is the life, the joy, the good way which we can never find on our own! No man can earn it, no woman can buy it.” (With a wink, still having fun in the joy of the truth. Then continuing seriously:) “The only way we can know God is to yield to Him. Yield our hearts, yield our lives, and trust Him to lead us into life eternal.

  “Will you yield this day? Or will you continue to wander in the wilderness?”

  The end came suddenly, and the congregation bowed their heads in prayers of thanks and worship, as they made their choice. Luke was left a little breathless, trying to think quickly and figure out the answer to that last question, when another offer was abruptly tendered:

  “If there is anyone here who has not yet chosen to give their life to God and to accept Jesus Chr
ist as Lord and Savior, and if you would like to, please come forth now. Come down to the altar and we will pray with you... And God Himself will come and heal you! ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation’.”

  It was certainly an attractive offer. But Luke stood still.

  Then suddenly he thought, Yes! and started to move!

  But he felt someone grab his wrist, and he paused. It was Bert, leaning in and whispering: “I’m not trying to stop you--but are you sure? This is a lifelong commitment. Best not to do it unless you’re sure. Even the Bible says: ‘Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay’.”

  Luke blushed a little. He had thought he was sure, but once Bert made him think about it, doubt crept in. Then the moment had passed, the service had moved on, and pretty soon it was over, with Luke still wondering what had happened, and whether he had missed his big chance.

  Louise convinced them to stay the night at the camp, in extra beds in the men’s longhouse, rather than traveling in darkness, in the rain. Luke agreed gladly, Bert reluctantly. Before bed Luke wrote down Louise’s word, ‘Steps’, and the preacher’s word ‘Now’. They got a good night’s sleep and had an early breakfast with their Christian friends. After they had eaten, Bert sidled up to where Luke was standing with Rebecca and Louise. “Bacon would have been tasty…” he teased. But despite his jokes, Luke could see that Bert was restless to leave, and since it was Luke’s journey after all, Luke figured he better go be a part of it too.

  He sadly said good-bye to his friends, Rebecca, Shelley, Mark, Louise... even Kip. (hey, why not?) They told him that they would miss him, and they reminded him that he should come back whenever he felt ready or willing, and they all promised to pray for him. “Your time will come,” Louise assured him. “God has a plan for you!” Then she leaned close and whispered, like a code between them, the words that Luke would remember her prayer pledge by: “A thousand years...” Overwhelmed by the enormity of the vow, Luke drew her close and held her long, so she would not see his sudden tears. Finally he forced a bright grin, and gave her a quick kiss good-bye and a heartfelt thank-you, though these seemed like such small tokens in return for all her care and endless love.

  Then Louise tapped a finger into Bert’s chest, and though still smiling, warned seriously, “I’ll be praying that your cynicism doesn’t stand in the way of Luke’s hope.”

  Bert smiled yeah-yeah; but then he smiled for real when she gave him a prayer promise as well: “I’ll pray for you too Bert...”

  “Oh, rill-aaay?”

  “I’ll pray that your cynicism doesn’t stand in the way of your own hope, too,” she said gently.

  Bert thought maybe he could take advantage of the touching moment to give her a hug too, but she was on to his tricks. So he laughed, waved, and left The Garden with Luke.