What's That In Your Hand?

That next Sunday after church Joe was having lunch in the dining room with some of the Refuge staff. The difference between now and when he first ate here is that now Felicitas sat next to him. Mom had made a big pot roast “kinda tradition on Sundays when I was a girl” she explained,” but it was so good no one felt she needed to explain anything. At one point during the meal Jake said, “Joe, I almost forgot to tell you. Remember that picture we took of that creepy guy at the club?”

“Sure. Anything come of that?”

“Well, sort of. I sent the pic around to some friends. Nothing. I tried this face recognition software I mentioned and ran it through a couple of data bases. Still nothing. Then this buddy I know on the police station calls me. I sent him the photo and he says no more.”

“No more photos?” Joe asked.

“No more nothin’ is more like it. He says don’t call him, don’t bother him ever again. I mean we weren’t the kind of friends who’d hang out and have a beer or anything like that, but still…kind of funny.”

“Thanks for the effort, Jake.”

After lunch Joe told Felicitas he was going to walk down to the drug store and get some toothpaste. As he went out the front door he saw a familiar red Porche parked across the street at the coffee shop. Joe went inside and found Philo at one of the tables.

“Good to see you, Joe,” Philo said as he stood. “How have you been?”

“Never better. So, what are you doing in the city?”

“I came to see an old friend, Joe,” Philo said as he looked Joe in the eye. “I was just having a bite and I was going to pop over and see if you were home.”

“Well, thanks, Philo.”

“It’s more than that. For some reason I can’t understand completely, the Lord has laid you on my heart of late. To be honest, I was feeling kind of guilty because I’m not that good at keeping in touch, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I ought to drop by.”

“I’ve got a cell phone now. Here’s my number. Call anytime.”

As Joe wrote the number down for him on a napkin, Philo asked, “So, Joe what’s new?”

Joe filled him in on the job and his new relationship with Felicitas.

“All that’s is good, Philo, blessings I don’t really deserve, but I’m struggling with an issue.”

“You’re not smuggling guns or anything are you?”

“Ha, I love your humor, Philo. No, I’m just wondering about my future. You know, what God’s will is for me. All that.”

“What is that in your hand, Joe?”

“I don’t get it.”

“Have you read about Moses and the burning bush?”

“I’ve heard of Moses, but that’s it.”

“It’s in the book of Exodus, I don’t remember the exact chapter. Here’s the short version: Moses was out tending his flocks and he saw a bush that was on fire, but not being consumed. The Lord spoke to him from the bush. He wanted Moses to go back to Egypt to free the people of Israel from Pharaoh.”

“Okay, I know some of this story. He parted the Red Sea and they wandered in the desert for a long time.”

“Yeah, that’s it. Only Moses wasn’t sure he was the man. Who’d believe him, or follow him? But then the Lord asked him the question: ‘What is that in your hand?’ It was sort of God’s way of using what Moses had available, and what he was familiar with. I think it’s a question God asks everyone who wants to know what his will is for them.”

“How so?”

“Think about it, Joe. God created you. You are who he made you to be. Even before you became a follower of the Way you were his creation. When you gave your life to him he didn’t just toss out all the things you were good at or enjoyed doing. But when you come to the point where you want to serve him, he asks you: ‘What is that in your hand?’

“Okay.”

“I don’t think we talked about this before, Joe, but what did you do before you met me?”

“I had a bunch of different jobs. I couldn’t afford to go to college. I just got work where I could.”

“That’s not bad, Joe. It just means you have experience in a lot of different things. What else?”

“I’ve spent a lot of my life on my own, you know, by myself, but I really do enjoy being with people. I don’t think I could ever be a monk praying all day.”

“I don’t think that’s God’s calling for very many people, if any, to be honest.”

“When I was alone on the beach it made me realize I liked solitude but only as a break from the business of life.”

“It’s not good for man to be alone,” Philo said.

“Is that from the Bible?”

“Yeah, in the beginning when God created something, he would say ‘It is good,’ but then when he was done God said ‘It’s not good for man to be alone.’ We are social creatures by nature, Joe. Like you said, solitude is good from time to time, but it’s not meant to be our lifestyle.”

“It’s good to see you again, Philo. How long are you going to be around?”

“Day or two.”

“Maybe you and I and Felicitas could have dinner somewhere. I want it to be my treat.”

“A free meal with people I love?” Philo said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

The three of them had dinner that night and the conversation was long and engaging. Joe and Felicitas said goodnight to Philo and then walked back to the Refuge. It was after midnight. They went through the private door where Joe first met Polycarp. They walked back to the sliding door outside the dining room. As Felicitas was about to put her key in the door Joe put his hand on hers.

“Before we go out own separate ways, I want to say something.”

“What is it, Joe?” She looked up at him and in the glow of the back porch light he saw an innocent anticipation that was surprising coming from someone with her background.

“I’m not sure I’m able or ready to articulate the exact nature of my feelings for you, Felicitas, but I do know I want to spend more time with you, a lot more. This may not sound like much, but I want to spend time only with you.”

“You’d give up all your other girlfriends for me?” She said smiling.

“Every last one of them.”

“But you have no girlfriends.”

“None.”

“Okay, then.” She put her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. They stood silent for a moment, and then she said, “Goodnight, Joe.”

“Goodnight.”

Two weeks went by and Sam met Joe at the coffee shop.

“I think I’ve got an opportunity for you, Joe. It’s not going to sound like one at first, but hear me out, okay?”

“I trust you, Sam.”

“Friend of mine has several properties in and around the city. He’s a follower of the Way, and an honest business man. I don’t think I know anyone who uses their wealth as powerfully for the kingdom as Bob. He treats his employees fairly and gives a significant amount of his income to Christian causes. In fact we are one of those causes. At any rate, Bob owns an apartment complex just outside the city and he is looking for someone to manage the place and do some handyman work.”

“Apartment manager?” Joe asked.

“I know, Joe it doesn’t sound like a great work, but listen. Bob wants the person who takes this job to see it as a ministry. In a way the people who live there will become a sort of congregation.”

“I like that idea. Are all the people there believers?”

“No, only a few of them, but if you have the opportunity to share your faith, then Bob is okay with that. He would encourage you to look for such opportunities. He would support you in that all the way.”

“It sounds pretty good, Sam. I mean I can at least talk to him.”

“That’s great, Joe. I think you could really learn to like this. His name is Robert Fletcher. Here is his card. I told him about you and he is waiting for your call. He’s a good guy, Joe, and a good boss.”

“I’ll call him tomorrow, Sam. Thanks.”

The next day on his break Joe called Bob on his break and he wanted to meet Joe at lunch if possible. So, they met at an Asian restaurant not too far from where Joe worked.

“Sam speaks highly of you, Joe,” Bob began.

“Sam’s an amazing guy. His ministry is really changing some lives.”

“I agree. Let me tell you a little about myself. I went to college, got my degree in business. I’ve started several business of my own. Some of them failed and a few have done quite well. As a result I have enough stability now that I can experiment some with what I’m presenting to you. In other words, I bought this building last year with the idea of starting a ministry of sorts. Nothing on the scale of the Refuge, but it’s a start. I’m looking for someone who really has a heart for service to the Lord and who could do the work of being a manager and handyman.”

“I definitely have the desire to serve God. Since I became a follower of the Way it has been a constant thought in my mind. On the other hand, I don’t know if I have enough experience in some of the handyman responsibilities.” Joe said.

“I’m not too worried about that, Joe. What you can’t fix you can hire. If you learn along the way and can pick up, say dry walling, then all the better.”

“Okay.”

“To be honest, I was looking for a couple. The wife could do the bookkeeping and the husband could do the maintenance. But as I said, Sam speaks highly of you, and I trust his opinion.”

“Can you tell me a little about the apartments?”

“Well, first of all, the building is old, but I’ve spent the last year and a lot of money remodeling, refitting and upgrading it. The building is u shaped with three floors and a basement. There is a courtyard in the middle with trees, grass and an old fountain. We’re putting in some tables and a few grills for barbequing. We are also putting in a coin op laundromat. We are going to lease space to a few businesses as well. I’ve already signed a contract with a coffee shop. All told there will be fifty units to rent. There is parking on the sides and in the back. If you are wondering about money, here is what I think is fair. The package starts off at twenty five hundred a month. That may not sound like much, but it includes rent and utilities. That comes now to about forty two thousand a year. It’s not a fortune, but it’s fair. The package includes medical insurance and two weeks vacation.”

“Wow.”

“Are you interested, Joe?”

“I am.”

“Then why don’t we go look at the place after you get off and we can make a decision then?”

“Sounds good, Robert.”

“Call me Bob.”

That night Joe met Bob at the apartment building. He was right, the building was old, but it had charm. It was red brick with an art deco feel. The units had wrought iron balconies and some of the windows had stained glass detail. The front entrance had a large wooden and glass door. Next to the door was panel with rows of buttons for each apartment. Inside was a large foyer with high ceilings and an elevator to the right. To the left were mailboxes.

“What do you think, Joe?” Bob asked.

“I really like it.”

“We won’t rent the two front apartments on the street. One will be for the coffee shop and the other will be for another business. The manager’s apartment is next to the mailboxes. Let me give you a tour.”

They walked through all the hallways and down in the basement. There was a storage locker for each apartment there, a workshop for the manager and another room for the landromat. Outside in back was a grassy area where dogs could be exercised. There was a large shed and a pickup parked next to the shed.

“I forgot to ask, Joe, do you drive?”

“Yes, but I don’t have a vehicle.”

“Well, the truck goes with the building. You’ll need it to pick up parts and such. But you are free to drive it as your personal vehicle. It’s not much, but it’s free. You’ll have a gas debit card to use at your discretion. So, do you want the job?”

“It’s a lot of responsibility, but I’d like to give it a try.”

“It’s a deal, then. Welcome aboard. So, I’d like you to start the first of the month. Can you stay at Sam’s until then?”

“I think so. But I’ll have to give notice at my current job.”

“No problem there, but if they can’t let you go by the first, I may need you here a few evenings.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“I’ll be in touch, Joe.”

The wait was not without its benefits in that he still got to see Felicitas every day. Joe found himself thinking about his new job, but he thought about Felicitas more. His feelings for her seemed to grow more each day. Then one evening when Joe was reading in his room, he came to a conclusion. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He needed to talk to her, tell her how he felt, and what he was thinking. That next Saturday they went back to Floyd’s. After dinner they took a bus to a little postage stamp park that overlooked the freeway. They were the only ones there. They walked to a fence and looked at the cars and trucks far below them.

“I’ve been thinking,” Joe began. Felicitas didn’t say anything. Joe turned and faced her. “Since I came back to the Refuge, my feelings for you have grown to the point where it surprises me. I think about you a lot, Felicitas, and I guess what I want to say is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” There was that look again. She still didn’t say anything. Joe took her shoulders. “I love you.”

Tears came into those dark eyes. It seemed like she couldn’t get her breath. Finally she said, “I love you, Joe. I’ve known I loved you for a while now. I’ve also known that you had feelings for me. You told me that. But I didn’t want to let myself hope that…well you know. I couldn’t believe that God would ever let me hear those words. I know it was probably a sin, or something, but I’ve lived such a bad life. Joe, you know I’ve been with many men, had numerous abortions and worried, worried, worried that I’d gotten a disease and would die a lonely old maid.”

Joe took her head in his hands and kissed her. Then she put her head on his chest like before and said, “I love you, Joe. With my dying breath I will say it one last time before I step into the presence of God: I love you, Joe.”

They stood silently like that for a long time, and then Joe asked, “So, what happens now?”

“If you ask me to marry you, I will say yes.”

“Will you marry me?”

“I will.”
Questions:

1.       According to Philo, why does God ask each of us, “What’s that in your hand?”

2.       Why did Felicitas worry it was a sin not to let herself hope?

Living Sacrifices (Part Three)

That next week proved to be uneventful only in the fact that he did not see the mystery man. That left Joe with plenty of time to plan his date with Felicitas. He gave himself a budget of $150, which worried Joe that it might seem excessive for a first date, but Polycarp gave him the green light and so he forged ahead. He knew of a fairly inexpensive French café with a view of the water for dinner. They would take a cab to the restaurant. After dinner they would walk a few blocks to a movie theatre. After the show, if the weather permitted, they would go on a harbor cruise and still be home before midnight. That was his plan anyway. As it actually happened, he only spent $15.

That Friday Joe got off an hour early. He came back to the Refuge and showered and changed his clothes. Then he read a book and waited for five-thirty when he was supposed to meet Felicitas. She had told him to meet her at Sam’s apartment. But before he went downstairs, Polycarp knocked on his door and came in.

“You ready for your big date?” he asked as he sat on the bed.

“I’m a little nervous, but, yeah, I think so.”

“Well, I already gave you the ‘don’t blow it with my little sister’ speech, so maybe I could just pray for you.”

“Thanks.”

“God… Joe’s a good guy. Help him to have a great time this evening and not to worry. Amen. Listen,” Polycarp continued, “I know you’re just getting on your feet, so let me help a little.” He handed Joe a twenty dollar bill, but when Joe protested he just said, “Take it, Joe. It makes me feel good to help you. Don’t you want your buddy to feel good?”

“Hey, if you don’t feel good, I don’t feel good.

Polycarp laughed. “So you’ll take it then?”

“Okay, man. Thanks.”

Joe headed down to Sam’s apartment thinking that he really didn’t need the money from Pol, but the gesture was nice. He knocked on Sam’s door. Felicitas answered. She was dressed casual in jeans and a grey blouse. It was fairly conservative, but Joe thought she looked great.

“Come on in, Joe. Sam wanted to wish us well.”

They walked back to the little kitchen where Joe had eaten lunch with them so long ago. Sam was at the table.

“So you two are going out tonight?” Sam began. “I hope I’m not too forward in saying that your date is the talk of the whole crew.”

“What does that mean?” Joe said smiling.

“Nothing bad, Joe. Let me just say it’s really interesting. I’ll leave it at that.”

“Fair enough.”

Outside they waited a couple of minutes for a cab. They got in back and told him where they wanted to go. They’d gone a mile or so when two things happened that changed their whole evening. First, it started to pour down rain, and then the cabbie hit a rather large pot hole and got a flat.

“Gotta let you out,” he said.

“What?” Felicitas and Joe said in unison.

“Company policy. I don’t even have a spare. Gotta let you out.”

“It’s raining,” Felicitas protested.

“Sorry.”

They opened the door and started to get out.

“That’ll be six fifty.”

“You’re kidding me,” Joe said.

“That’s how far I took ya. That’s what I gotta charge. Sorry.”

Joe paid and didn’t tip him. They got out and stepped on to the curb. They got soaked almost immediately.

“Look, Joe,” Felicitas said pointing. Up the block and across the street was a covered bus stand. They ran for cover and sat down. After they caught their breath, Joe looked at Felicitas.

“Well, that changes our plans, I suppose. I don’t want to go to a nice restaurant like this.”

“Me either.”

“Any ideas?”

“Way I see it, Joe, we can sit here till the rain stops, we can get another cab back to the Refuge, or we can go see what they’ve got to eat over there at that place.” She gestured at a rundown place across the street. There was a neon sign that said “Floyds” in the window.

“You serious?”

“To be honest, Joe, spending the evening with you is more important than where we spend it.”

Joe got up and extended his hand. “Then let me escort you to yonder food joint.”

She took his hand and they crossed the street to a little place that specialized in hot dogs. Inside were three tables, a juke box filled with oldies, and an ancient man standing by the cash register. He was wearing white painter’s pants, a black tee shirt with a giant jar of mustard on the front and one of those Greek fishermen’s hats. Behind him on the wall was a large hand-lettered menu with several dozen different hot dog variations listed in neat columns.

“Howya doin’ folks.”

“That’s a lot of hot dogs,” Joe said.”

“First time?”

“For me, yes,” Felicitas said.

“Then, just get the Special. You won’t be sorry.”

“So, two Specials?” Joe said as he looked at Felicitas.

“I’m game.”

“Sumpin’ to drink?” the old guy asked.

“I’ll have the lemonade,” Felicitas said.

“Make it two.”

“Lemme guess. You onna date and got caught in the rain.”

“How’d you know?” Joe asked.

“Nice couple. Dressed nice. Doan get that onna Fridee night much.”

“I think your place will do fine,” Felicitas offered.

“Name’s Floyd. Thanks. Tell you what. Drinks are onna house.”

“Thanks, Floyd.”

They sat down at one of the tables while Floyd made their meal. Suddenly Felicitas laughed out loud. Even Floyd looked over. “Oh man, I was so nervous about tonight, Joe.”

“Me too.”

“But look at us now.”

That made them both laugh, and Joe knew the evening would be okay. Pretty soon Floyd brought their meal over in plastic baskets. The Special turned out to be a big kosher frank stuffed with cheese with a side of sweet potato fries and a paper cup full of baked beans. They talked and ate and laughed. Floyd entertained them with stories of being in the Army and growing up in the city. Finally Floyd said, “Ya know, I probably ought to close up.” Joe looked at his phone. It was five till nine. They’d been there for almost three hours.

“Sorry, Floyd. I didn’t realize it was so late.”

“Sokay. You kids looked like you was having fun. I got nothing at home but an old tee-vee. Been good talking to ya.” He paused and then said, “Maybe you could come back again sometime.”

“Plan on it, Floyd,” Joe promised. He paid the bill and left a generous tip on the table. By now it had stopped raining. They took a cab and had an uneventful ride back to the Refuge. They took some coffee out to the courtyard and talked until after midnight. There was no kiss goodnight or verbal affirmations, but Joe knew as he turned out the light and went to sleep that he wanted to see a lot more of Felicitas.

That next evening just as Joe got back from work, Sam approached him.

“Joe, I need your help. We have a crisis downtown and everyone else is busy. It might take a while.”

“Sure, Sam. Let me put my stuff away.”

Sam filled him in on the details as they drove. A young man named Ethan had got drunk and punched his wife. He felt so guilty he jumped off a bridge. He survived, but both arms and one of his legs were broken.

“The wife is not going to press charges if he would get help,” Sam concluded.

“Let me guess, we’re the help.”

They arrived at the hospital and went to the desk. Sam needed to talk to someone responsible, but the gal behind the desk gave him a stack of forms to fill out. Everyone was worried about legal issues and insurance.

“Can I do some of that paperwork while you’re doing that other stuff?” Joe offered.

“That would be great Joe. Thanks.”

Sam took off down the hall, and Joe sat down with the forms and filled out what he could. Some of the questions he didn’t know he researched on the Internet on his smart phone. Other information he got by calling Polycarp. Finally Sam and a nurse brought Ethan out in a wheelchair. It had only been a couple of weeks since his attempted suicide, and he looked bad. Both arms and his right leg were in casts, his eyes and lips were swollen, and most of the exposed parts of his body were either bruised or bandaged. A home health care person was going to come to the Refuge every day for a few weeks, but Sam was taking responsibility for his daily care.

“Hand me those forms, Joe, and I’ll finish them up.”

“Here they are, but I think they’re mostly done.”

“That’s great,” he said surprised. “Let’s head back.”

They wheeled Ethan out to the van and managed to get him strapped into the front passenger seat. Joe put the wheelchair in the back and they drove gently back to the Refuge.

Maria and Felicitas had made a room for Ethan on the third floor. After figuring out how to get Ethan on the elevator they made it upstairs and met the women at Ethan’s new room. No sooner had they got him in bed when Sam got a call and had to leave. Ethan watched Sam go and then looked at Joe.

“I’ve gotta go.”

Joe looked at the gals and they looked at him. There was a long awkward pause and then Joe resigned himself to the inevitable.

“Okay, everyone out. I’ll take care of this.”

It was really the last thing Joe wanted to do right now. He didn’t want to help a stranger go to the bathroom and the fact that he hadn’t had dinner only made it worse. But there was no other option. He helped Ethan sit up and then got an arm around his waist. Somehow they both got through the bathroom door. Joe got Ethan’s pants down and then got Ethan on the toilet. Joe stepped back into the room and sat down. Pretty soon Ethan said “I’m done.” That’s when it occurred to Joe that the worst was yet to come. Ethan was going to need help wiping. Joe took a deep breath, prayed a silent prayer and went in and did the deed. He would have taken cleaning up after Eddie any day over this. He got Ethan’s clothes back in the right place, washed his hands, and called the gals back. They all got him back in bed and Joe headed downstairs to find some food.

Two weeks went by in a sort of routine. Joe would come home from work, get dinner, and then check on Ethan every hour. Thankfully he only had to help with the toilet one other time, but there was still the feedings. Ethan couldn’t bend his arms until the casts were off and so he had to be fed. They had chances to talk during this time and Joe found he looked forward to that even though his other duties were distasteful to him. He asked Sam about this and he said, “Sometimes we refer to ‘wet help’ and ‘dry help.’ Those terms are kind of coarse, but you get the point. Nurses, rest home workers and hospice are good at wet help. Pastors, counselors are good at dry help. There is no shame in shying away from body functions, Joe. It takes a certain kind of person to do that well on a regular basis.”

On the weekends Joe and Felicitas tried to make time to be together. They made it back to Floyd’s and tried different hot dogs each time. They were all good. One Saturday morning they were sitting in the coffee shop across from the Refuge and Joe expressed to Felicitas a conclusion he’d come to.

“You know, my trial month at the Refuge is almost up.”

“Yeah, Maria and I were talking about that last night.”

“I think the whole thing with Ethan has made me realize this is not where God has called me. I mean I love the Refuge. The people are incredible, and I get how valuable a ministry it is, but I’ve found myself dreading having to do certain things. That can’t be right.”

“Probably not, but you’ve covered that up pretty well. By that I mean that you’ve done the right thing without complaining even though your heart’s not in it.”

“I’m planning on talking to Sam about it next chance I get. He’s pretty busy.”

“That guy has more energy than anyone I know.”

“So, Felicitas,” Joe continued, “Where does that leave us?”

“Yeah.”

“I mean, right now, I want to spend more time with you, not less.”

“I feel the same way, Joe. I guess if I had to put my feelings into words, I’d say I feel like I’m kind of on a common path with you, and I’d like to see where it’s going. I do find myself thinking about you, well a lot, and if you move far away, it’s going to be a hard decision for me. I just don’t know if God’s will for you or me, and God’s will for us, are exactly the same thing. But I’d like to find out.”

“So would I.”

That next week Joe finally caught up with Sam and talked to him about leaving the Refuge.

“I kind of thought that might be true, Joe. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad you came. I’m glad you volunteered here. You don’t find out what you’re about sitting still.”

“That makes sense, but-“

“Can I tell you what I think, Joe?”

“Of course.”

“First of all, I think you have a heart that wants to serve God. Second, your next stop may not be your last. Following The Way is always in some way a journey. The key issue is to make yourself available. However, what I see in you is someone who has a strong desire to share your faith, someone who has the gift of mercy, and someone who has some deep administrative skills.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The way you handled all that paperwork at the hospital was impressive, Joe. Don’t think I didn’t notice. So, here is what I propose. Why don’t you stay here a few more days, let me make a few phone calls, and we’ll see if we can find something for you. Would that be okay?”

“Sam, you have already helped me more than I deserve.”

“Well, I’m doing this partly for Felicitas. She really likes you.”

“That works for me too. Thanks Sam.”

That night Bruiser knocked on Joe’s door. “Hey, man” he said as he came in, “I wanted to talk with you.”

“What’s up?”

“If you haven’t heard, I’m taking off.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going the distance, Joe. I’m going to follow the Seven Truths.”

“I’m really glad to hear that, Bruiser.”

“That’s another thing. I’m not Bruiser anymore. My real name is Aaron.”

“Hi, Aaron.”

“Look, Joe, I’m taking off in the morning. I gotta make sure everything is okay with us.”

“Always with you. Always. But let me say something.”

“Okay.”

“Time’s coming when you are going to have to face the issue of forgiveness.”

“Okay.”

“I forgave you. That’s done. You need to forgive yourself. Okay?”

“Okay. Hey I’ve got to get packed and stuff. Thanks.”

“Keep in touch, Aaron.”

Questions:

1.       Why was it important for Joe to have to help Ethan?

2.       What did Sam mean by “You don’t find out what you’re about sitting still?”

3.       What’s wrong with not being able to forgive ourselves?

Living Sacrifices (Part Two)

Joe got Mayor Jake to go with him to see Tom Ames show that Friday. The comedy club was old but it had a lot of character. It had some theatre seats on tiers in the back of the room and a dozen or so tables in front next to the stage. Joe and Jake got their drinks and were directed to one of the tables. There were four acts that night, three comedians including Tom and a magician who was also a comedian. The magician opened the night. He hammered nails into his head and pulled a frog out of a ladies’ purse. Throughout his act he kept up a running monologue of wisecracks, jokes, and sarcastic comments to people in the audience. Joe thought he was pretty funny, but Jake laughed so hard he fell out of his chair. Tom was the second act. As he came up to the mike he saw Joe.

“Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. How do you follow an act like that? I wanted to give a shout out to a buddy of mine, Joe, who’s in the audience tonight. Let’s give it up for a classy guy.”

Everyone applauded and Joe felt a little uncomfortable, but he smiled and enjoyed the rest of the show.

“I got into an argument with a co-worker the other day,” Tom began, “Big mistake. That’s because she was a woman. No offence ladies, but arguing with a woman is totally different than arguing with a man. In the history of arguing, no man has ever had an argument with a woman. No, I’m serious, a man never has an argument with a woman…he has an argument with every woman who ever lived. Let’s say you’re at a restaurant with two women who were arguing with each other. If you make the mistake of taking one woman’s side, the two of them will join forces and destroy you. Case in point: Let’s say one of them got mad and cut her husband up into little pieces and fed him to the ducks. Now let’s say they are arguing over whether she should have done it or not. Listen carefully men. What I’m about to say could save your life: Don’t take sides! Don’t-tell-the-murderer-she was wrong! If you forget this advice and say anything-ANYTHING!-suddenly you will have both women on your chest with steak knives in their hands. Not only can you NEVER win an argument-EVER…you should get on your knees and thank God above you are alive. ALIVE!

“Which, for some reason, reminds me of toilets. Listen, guys, you’ve heard the decree: always put the seat down! It’s like having your Miranda Rights read to you by the arresting officer: ‘You have the right to remain silent-and put the seat down. Anything you say or do-other than ‘I’m sorry, I will always put the seat down’-can and will be held against you in privy court. You have the right to apologize to me and every other woman on the planet. If you cannot think of what to say, I will tell you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?’ It doesn’t matter how many men use the toilet; you MUST put the seat down. Take the Smurfs for example: there are like five million MALE Smurfs, right? And then you’ve got Smurfette, the only female Smurf. Even though she’s the only female, you can bet your life that Smurfette rules the bathroom. Count on it. I can see it all now. Papa Smurf comes home from a hard day of smurfing, or whatever, and goes in and uses the toilet. Ten minutes later he’s listening to a tirade, that would have put Hitler to shame, about why he should have put the seat down. I can imagine it would have gone something like this:

            “Papa Smurf!”

            “Yes, Smurfette?”

            "Did you forget something?”

            “Forget what?”

            “I think you know.”

            “But I don’t know.”

            “Well, you should know. I shouldn’t have to tell you.”

            “Tell me what?”

            “There you go again!”

            “Smurfette!”

            “Achtung! You dumkopf!”

“Where I work-don’t ask me why-they only have one toilet for both the guys and the gals. You can probably figure out where this is going. At our staff meetings we have these “conversations.” The emotional investment during these conversations would make you think we were discussing the end of human existence or something. So, one time we actually discussed the whole process. Guys are supposed to put the seat up so they, you know, don’t pee on the seat, right? Okay, that’s kind of a courtesy. Now because of this kindness we are forever obligated to put the seat back down. It’s a law now. So, to comply, I do all the women a favor and leave everything down and pee on the lid. That way the seat stays dry and everyone’s happy, right? I can only do that at work. I tried that at home and my wife doubled our life insurance policy.

But seriously. My wife and I do have a solution to this problem that seems to work. Take notes, it may save your marriage. I love my wife. My wife loves me. When I need to use the toilet, the first thing I do is look at it. If the seat is up, no problem. I was the last one to use it. If the seat in down, I put it up. I flush, I wash my hands, I leave the bathroom…My wife comes in. The first thing she does is look at the toilet. If the seat is down, no problem. She was the last one to use it. If the seat is up SHE PUTS IT DOWN! Did you get that? What is wrong with this pic-ture?...that’s right, nothing! Oh yeah…the toilet paper, too. If I replace the roll the flap hangs off the front. If my soul mate replaces the roll it hangs off the back. You know, we’re both intelligent people. We figured out how to get an adequate amount of paper off the roll no matter how the flap is hanging. It’s like magic.”

Tom’s monologue lasted another ten minutes or so and Joe was impressed. Afterward he and Jake went backstage.

“Great show, Tom,” Joe said. “I loved the Smurf bit. By the way, this is Jake. He works at The Refuge.”

“Are you the guy who fell out of his chair?”

“Yeah, that’s me. I can’t even blame it on booze.”

“So, how is Eddie doing?” Joe asked.

“He’s doing okay, Joe. He wanted me to make sure and say hello to you. He says he owes you his life. He wants to reassure you he’s taken his last drink. The Cornells took all the alcohol out of the house to honor his commitment. He’s going to meetings, and so far so good. That’s how it is with recovering alcoholics. One day at a time as they say.”

“Send him my regards, will you? Tell him I’m praying for him.”

“Will do, Joe. I’m not religious like you, but I get it.”

“Thanks, man.”

 They left and headed out to the parking lot. It was about ten thirty. Just as they got in the car Joe thought he saw someone coming over to speak to them, but the person stopped at the corner of the lot. As they drove out Joe realized it was the mystery man who’d confronted him the other day.

“Hey, Jake, you recognize that guy?”

“Never seen him before.” He answered as they turned on to the street. “Why?”

“I’ve seen him twice since I got back. We had a tense conversation at the bus stop the other day. He seems angry, or something.”

“Just a minute.” Jake turned the car around right in the middle of the street and somehow managed to take out a little pocket camera he had in the console between the seats and roll his window down. As they drove past Jake took a picture of the man, then hit the gas and sped off.

“I’ll upload this pic to my website and ask around. Lotta people lookin’ out for each other these days. I’m beta testing some face recognition software. I’ll try that too. Something might turn up. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

“I’m impressed, Jake. Is that a spy camera?”

“This old thing? Nah, I just keep it around for stuff. I’m not that good of a photographer or anything, but it comes in handy. Like right now.”

They drove back to The Refuge and Joe didn’t think too much about the mystery man. But on Wednesday it all came to a head. Joe had decided to take his lunch break at the little park with the statues he’d found when he first came to the city. He was sitting on bench eating his sandwich and letting the sun warm his face when someone approached. Joe looked up but the person’s face was right in the sun and he had to squint and shade his eyes. He didn’t have to wonder for long who it was. As soon as he spoke Joe knew it was the mystery man.

“How’s the sandwich?” the man asked.

“It’s good. Why do you ask?”

“Just making conversation,” the man said smiling.

“I think you’re following me.”

“Really?”

“This is the fourth time I’ve seen you in the last few weeks.”

“We’ve been watching you for a while, Joe,” Was all the man said.

“Oh?”

“Long before you came back to the city.”

Joe stood up and moved so he wasn’t looking into the sun. “So you are following me.”

“We were there on the mountain when you hurt your leg. We were there that night on the ship when Bruiser beat you up and threw you in the ocean. But since you’ve come back we’ve been watching you almost every day.”

“I don’t get it. Why me? Why now?”

“Let me tell you a story, Joe. There were these two guys. Farmers. One farmer has the biggest and best farm in the valley and the second farmer is just barely getting by. The one guy-everybody buys his stuff. He’s making a killing. It went on for years like that, just getting better all the time, but then the second farmer figures it out and pretty soon he’s selling vegetables and all kinds of stuff. He gets better at it, and better at it, and before long he’s the other farmer’s biggest competition. Now the other farmer is hurting. He can’t sell like he used to. He’s sad.”

“Can you get to the point,” Joe said. “My lunch hour is almost up.”

“You’re the second farmer, Joe.”

“How is that?”

“You’re a threat now to my boss. Before you came down the mountain nobody cared. But now you are telling people about The Way. We can’t have that.”

“And you want me to stop, is that it?”

“Let me finish the story, Joe. Like I said, the first farmer is sad. So late one night he goes over to the other farm and torches it; the barn, the fields, everything.”

“Seems a bit excessive.”

“My boss doesn’t like competition.”

“That’d do it.”

“All or nothing.”

“And that’s why you’ve been following me. You want to threaten me.”

“I’m just trying to help you, Joe. Let’s just say I’m trying to save you. Things stay the way they are and a lot of pain is in your future, and maybe, probably, not just you. You might want to think about that.”

“So, tell me, who’s your boss?”

“I don’t need to tell you that, Joe. You already know.”

The man turned and walked out of the park. Joe watched him go through the gate and disappear as he went around a bend in the path. He hadn’t shown it, but the threat really scared him. It wasn’t just the threat of “pain,” whatever that meant. The several encounters with this man were so out of context. They didn’t seem to have any relationship to anything. He hadn’t hurt anyone, or created any enemies. The few people he’d had trouble with-Eddie and Bruiser-were now his friends. This didn’t make sense. Joe finished his lunch and headed back to work. That night at dinner he asked Sam about it.

“I don’t know the man you’re referring to,” Sam began, “but I think I know what’s going on.” Sam paused and gathered his thoughts, then, “this mystery man as you call him is a tool of The Enemy.”

“I don’t have any enemies,” Joe protested.

“Oh, but you do, Joe. They may not be your enemy, but believe me when I tell you that you are definitely theirs.”

“What do you mean?”

“Alright, here goes. The Enemy is a person as real as you and I. He is the Adversary of every Christian.”

“Really?”

“Joe, what do you know of Satan?”

“The Devil?”

“Yeah.”

“Not much. He’s evil and takes people’s souls I think. Oh, and he’s the ruler of Hell.”

“That’s partly true, Joe. He is evil, but he can’t take your soul and he is not the ruler of Hell. Hell is more like his prison than his kingdom. But the reason why I bring him up is that he is the enemy of all who follow the Way.”

“That reminds me,” Joe said. He then told him the little parable the mystery man had told him in the park. “Is that what you’re talking about?”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Sam said. “Before you became a Christian, and while you were still a recent follower of The Way, you posed no threat to the Enemy, but now you do. The mystery man’s role is to use one of Satan’s most effective tools: fear. In a very real sense fear is the opposite of faith.”

“I thought doubt was the opposite of faith,” Jake interjected.

“You’re right, of course, Jake,” Sam said, “but it’s not too hard to see how closely those two ideas are related. Joe do you know of the story of when Jesus walked on the water?”

“I’ve heard of it, that’s all.”

“The disciples were on a boat and a storm came up. They looked and Jesus came walking out to them. The disciples were afraid and Jesus said to them: ‘You of little faith, why are you afraid?’ Now it seems to me they were afraid because they lacked faith in God. That’s how the Enemy works. He gets you thinking about your circumstances and before long fear spreads to every area of your life: you become afraid to lose your job, or your health, afraid to try something new, afraid to lose a spouse or a friend. Pretty soon you are frozen by fear and God is out of the picture.”

“I think I get it, Sam” Joe said. “Do you remember I told you about Luther? That’s pretty much the same thing he told me.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the next stage of your life is going to be harder for you in ways you haven’t experienced before. You can face these challenges with faith or you can cave in to fear. It’s like a crisis point, or a crossroads. You will either be stronger or weaker on the other side. I’ll be praying for you, Joe.”

Joe lay in his bed that night thinking about all he’d been through. It didn’t seem fair. He’d given up so much, been through so much, he sort of thought it would get easier, not harder. What was he to expect from all this? But he did see Sam’s observation that he could be at a crossroads. If he gave in now he’d be choosing comfort over service to God. That’s the same decision he’d faced when he sat on the park bench so long ago. It was also the same crisis he’d faced the day Richard Barker offered him a job. And then there was Gloryhaven. He wanted to stay, but Paul had shown him why he couldn’t. What was it Paul had written in the note he put in his Bible? Joe thumbed through his Bible and miraculously it was still there. Joe read the note again and came to the part where Paul had written: “…Remember: all your best days are ahead of you.” That was always true. His best days were always ahead. That implied growth and growth implied struggle. Well, so be it. If he had to fight the Enemy, he wasn’t alone. God was with him, and that was enough.
Questions:

1.       Why is the mystery man so hostile to Joe?

2.       Why did he choose this point in time to confront Joe?

3.       What is the point of his parable?

4.       In what way is doubt the opposite of faith?

Living Sacrifices (Part One)

Lunch was served in a common room on the first floor. There were three tables with chairs. To his right there was a cut out in the wall and he could see a small kitchen through the opening. There were a couple of old couches along the back wall where they came in. The opposite wall was mostly sliding glass doors that opened to an enclosed courtyard. Joe could see some picnic tables outside leaning up against a wall. Instead of linoleum the floor was varnished wood. He had expected the eating area to be more like a cafeteria or soup kitchen, but this was real homey. Sam and Polycarp were sitting at one of the tables with three other people. Joe noticed that Felicitas was one of them. They all looked up as the two new friends entered.

“Ah, I can see peace has been reached. Everyone is alive and happy,” Sam announced without pretension. “Joe, I think you know Felicitas. This other scruffy fellow is Jake Dougall. He calls himself ‘The Mayor of Rat Town,’ and I’ve never really gotten that. Jake does all our computer stuff. He has a room up on your floor, but most of the time he’s either in the library fixing a computer, or tinkering with a server, or shopping for parts, or on the phone with some tech guy speaking a language I’ll never know. He has single-handedly brought us into the Twenty First Century. Everyone has their gift and that is certainly his.

Jake reached across the table and took Joe’s hand, “Pleasure, Joe. Need any computer advice, come find me. See what I can do.”

“Thanks, your honor,” Joe responded, which made Jake smile.

“This beautiful soul next to Felicitas,” Sam continued, “is Maria Chavez.”

Maria stood and shook Joe’s hand. “Buenas tardes, senõr Joe. I have heard so much about you. Welcome.”

“I hope it’s good,” Joe said.

“She and Felicitas have taken the responsibility for all women’s ministries here at The Refuge,” Sam interjected.

“I think you’ve met Marge,” Sam said as he pointed. “She does the cooking and shopping. She is also ‘Mom’ to pretty much everyone but me.”

“Good to see you again, Marge,” Joe offered. “Thanks, by the way.”

“Just ‘Mom’, Joe. Everyone calls me Mom, even Sam. But he’s older’n me. Just so ya know.”

“Yes, Mom and I have difference of opinion on that. However, we are glad you are here, Joe,” Sam said smiling. “Why don’t we all sit down and have some food?”

Sam prayed and they ate. Spread out on the table was all the fixings for tacos: tortillas, spiced meat, diced onions and tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and various salsas. There were also bowls of refried beans, guacamole and sour cream. There was a big pitcher of ice tea. Everyone talked and ate and passed around the food. It was kind of messy and loud, but the food was wonderful. During the meal Joe looked around the table at the people who clearly enjoyed each other’s company. Could he fit in here? What did he have to offer? Well, he’d give it a month and leave the rest to God. After the tacos Marge brought out a big container of rainbow sherbet, which was the perfect finish to a great meal. As she served the ice cream, she said, “So, Joe, why don’t you tell everyone how you came back from the dead?”

“You all really want to hear that now?” Joe asked.

“You’re kidding me, Joe,” Jake said. “We’ve been dying to hear that story all day. Hey! Did I just say, ‘dying’? I think I made a joke.”

“Please Joe, tell your story,” Polycarp said, “before he tells another one.”

“Okay, but I’ll try to make it short.”

Joe gave an edited version of his whole saga, from the time he left the Refuge to coming back. The parts that involved Bruiser were kind of awkward, but when he looked over Bruiser nodded and he pressed on. At the end of his story he said: “I’m not a theologian, but I think I’ve learned something through all this. God’s plans are not hindered by our plans.” He looked at Bruiser. “I have no regrets. God was with me all the way.”

That seemed to be the signal for the end of lunch. Everyone began ferrying things to the kitchen and cleaning up. Afterward, Felicitas approached him.

“Joe, it’s so good to see you. When Bruiser showed up and told us what he’d done, we thought you were dead. What must that have been like for you?”

“Terror, shame, defeat all come to mind,” Joe said. “But, you know what?” He paused. “God brought a great victory through all that. I got the privilege to be a part of a miracle.”

“And now Bruiser’s recovery,” Felicitas added.

“Yeah, that’s true, isn’t it?”

“You suffered for a while, but now Bruiser has become a believer. God touched his life through you in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine. Sam told me once that each person in the world is the center of an ever-expanding circle of influence that transcends time and space.”

“That’s pretty profound.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. So what are your plans, Joe? Are you going to hang around for a while this time, or are you off again?”

“Well, as I said at lunch, I found the Seven Truths. So now I am trying to become better at the Basic Lessons.”

“Who isn’t?”

“Yeah, I guess that must be true. Anyway, I’m staying here, at least for a month. I’m going to make myself available to The Refuge, and to God, and see what happens.”

“I’m glad, Joe.” Felicitas said as she got up. “I think you’re going to be great for the work here. I prayed for you every day, Joe, even when everyone thought you were dead. Listen, I’ve got things to do. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other a lot. It’s like a family here.” She hugged him. “It’s good to see you alive. I’ll see you later.”

Joe spent the rest of the day looking up some of the contacts the Cornell’s gave him. The first place he wanted to go was the computer store. He found Jake downstairs in the library.

“Hey, Jake. A friend wants to help me buy a computer and told me to ask for the store manager at a place called The Cyber Cave. What do you know about that?”

“Cyber Cave’s good. I bought a lot of stuff there over the years. Bob’s a good man. He won’t cheat you. I mean I know places that give me bigger discounts on software and peripherals, but the Cave’s alright. No problem there.”

“Thanks, Mayor,” Joe said as he left.

The Cyber Cave was six blocks from the Refuge. It took some persuasion to make the clerk believe that he wanted to talk to the store manager, but didn’t have a complaint or want a job. The manager was skeptical, but perked right up when Joe gave him the phone number in the envelope. The manager recognized it right away as his boss’s number. He called and confirmed and then immediately got the clerk to help Joe pick out a computer.

“Get whatever you want, Joe,” the manager told him. “I can sell you any desktop on the floor for $100 and any laptop for $250. Software and peripherals I’ll sell at cost. How does that sound?”

“That’s great. Thank you,” Joe responded. He decided he would rather have a laptop. He didn’t know a lot about computers, so he had to trust the clerk. In the end he walked away with a nice computer set up for wireless. He got a bag, a mouse and a little digital camera. He’d ask Jake about software.

His next stop was for a phone. After he stood in line for a half an hour with what seemed like a whole busload of teenage girls, the manager told him “I’ll give you our best phone and our best package no charge, but you’ll have to sign a two-year contract.”

“I don’t have a job yet,” Joe informed the man.

“I know, Joe. Roger Cornell vouched for you. That’s all I need. So, here is what I suggest,” he said as he moved to a display with a lot of phones attached. “This phone is what we call a ‘smart phone.’ Along with the basic phone features, it will keep your calendar, email and all that. You can go online with it if you want to. I’m throwing the service in with the package. It’s even got a little digital camera/camcorder in it. Real nice.”

“That’s great. I’ll take that,” Joe responded.

“And Joe,” the manager said, “do you want a job?”

“Are you offering me a job?” Joe asked.

“I’m offering you a job, Joe. It doesn’t start until next week, though. I’ve got a sales girl-er-person, whose quitting to have a baby.”

“Yes, if you’re offering, I’ll take it.”

“My name is Bill Blake. I’ll call you with the details.”

 “Thanks for everything. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

After that Joe went to the clothing store. The clothes Pricilla made were great, but they weren’t the kind of clothes you wore to work in the city. The store manager told him he had a thousand dollar balance on account. A nice young woman helped him get some khaki’s, jeans, a couple different kinds of shoes, a hooded sweatshirt, and a half dozen different kinds of shirts. He also got underwear, socks, a belt and a pair of sunglasses. After it was all tallied up with tax he still had over three hundred dollars on account. He’d just have to come back later. By then he was so tired he called a cab. He didn’t realize shopping was so difficult. He got everything into his room and immediately fell asleep. He woke up when Polycarp got him for dinner.

At dinner he asked Jake about software and he recommended several things. He also suggested some excellent Bible Study software that Joe might consider. He gave Joe the web address.

“You can download the basic package and upgrade as you feel the need.”

As summer approached the weather got better and better. Joe spent his mornings helping out at The Refuge. He started at the phone store at eleven and worked until seven thirty. It was almost eight by the time he got back and Mom always had something saved for him in the kitchen. In the evenings he and Polycarp would play Cribbage on the roof, or he would seek Sam out to answer a question about the Bible. Some evenings a new person would show up and Joe helped out. Increasingly he found himself wondering what Felicitas was doing, and although she had things to do a lot of evenings, they found time to visit a couple of times a week. One night he finally got up the courage to ask her on a date. They were sitting in the courtyard where he’d first gotten to know her.

“Felcitas, I’ve got a friend who is doing some stand up at a local comedy club. He gave me some tickets for this Friday and I was wondering…would you like to go?”

“I’d love to, Joe, but the club scene brings back bad memories for me.”

“Even a comedy club?”

“A lot of the clubs are pretty close to each other. I’m just afraid I might see someone from my former life.”

“I understand.”

“It hasn’t been that long and the guy I worked for is still out there, and to be honest I’m still afraid of him.”

“Yeah, that’s okay. I understand.”

“Something else, maybe? On another night?”

“Sure. I’d like that.”

“What about dinner or a movie?”

“Or both?”

“Okay with me.”

“How about Friday after next?”

“I’ll be ready, Joe.”

“It’s a date, then.”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” She smiled at him and left.

Several days later, on his way to work, Joe sat at a bus stop reading his Bible. A nicely dressed young man sat down next to him. He was wearing a business suit. Joe looked up and smiled, but then went back to reading. After a few minutes he caught the man staring at him out of the corner of his eye. Joe looked up again.

“Can I help you?”

“I doubt it,” the young man said. He didn’t seem happy, and he didn’t offer any more information. He just stared at Joe.

“So, why are you staring at me?” Joe asked.

“I’m not staring at you.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t like you.”

“Really?” Joe asked. “Why is that?”

“I think you know.”

“Does my Bible offend you?”

“Yeah, your Bible offends me.”

“How about I just put it away?”

“Your religion offends me. You offend me.”

“I’m sorry,” Joe responded. There was a long silence. Joe was unsure of what to say. It seemed obvious to Joe that there was some kind of history here. Finally, the young man spoke.

“You Christians think you have all the answers, but you don’t.”

“Where’d you get that idea?” Joe asked.

“What?”

“Where did you get the idea that Christians think they have all the answers?”

“Well, look at you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re reading the Bible in public like you’re some kind of saint.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Yeah it is. It’s just like that.

“Do you think a person who reads a Bible is a saint?” Joe asked.

“What the hell? No!”

“But you kind of said that.”

“Forget that, then. You claim to believe in God, and you read the Bible to prove it, but you call the Bible the Word of God…like they prove each other or something. But it’s all crap because there is no God anyway. He’s not there. He doesn’t answer prayers. No one’s listening. No one. Just get over it.”

“No offense, but it sounds like you are the one having trouble getting over whatever ‘it’ is.”

“There’s no ‘it’. There’s no God. There is nothing. Just a black emptiness. And when people die, they just die. They breathe their last breath and then nothing.”

“Do you know what it sounds like to me?”

“What?”

“It’s like you’re saying, ‘There is no God, and I hate him.’”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” he declared as he stood up. “I’m saying ‘Why don’t you shut up and leave me alone.’”

As Joe watched him walk away something didn’t feel right. He couldn’t escape the feeling of menace. As soon as that thought formed in his mind he realized what had been bothering him. The young man looked familiar. It seemed incongruous, but he reminded Joe of the man who’d pointed at him when he first got back to The Refuge. “But it can’t be the same person.” Joe thought. It made no sense. The possibility that it could be the same person implied a conspiracy or something. Joe felt he was being paranoid and quit thinking about it.

Joe looked down at the Bible in his lap. The same Bible Abigail gave him. The same Bible Bruiser gave back to him just a few days ago. He opened to the presentation page and looked at the words Abigail had written. It seemed so long ago. He noticed someone had written on the other side. Joe turned the page. It was from Bruiser: “Joe, if you are reading this it means you are alive. I am writing this at The Refuge waiting to go turn myself in to the police for killing you. I don’t know what will happen, but whether you are alive or dead, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I hated you so much. I’m sorry for everything I put you through. If you are alive it would be a miracle, but that probably means you have some great thing to do in your life. –Bruiser”

The bus came and Joe got on. He thought about Bruiser’s comment. God had some ‘great thing’ for Joe to do. What did that mean? Both Philo and Paul had told him essentially the same thing. It was encouraging to Joe, but it didn’t answer his big question about the “what” of this great thing. That night on the roof he and Polycarp were playing Cribbage.

“Fifteen two, fifteen four, and a pair for six.” Polycarp moved his peg. Joe showed him what Bruiser wrote in the Bible.

“ A pair for two, a run of three for five, and nobs for six. Nothing in the Crib. So, any ideas what the great thing is?”

“Not exactly,” Polycarp answered as he shuffled the cards, “But you have to remember that the great thing may not be a great thing.”

“What’s that mean?”

“God calls some people to change the course of history, to do things that will be talked about for generations. That’s all good, of course, but most of the time the greatest thing you can do is be faithful. Think about it this way: what if every evening you wrote down on a piece of paper, “The greatest thing I did today is…”, what would you see at the end of a month? Probably a lot of small things, some of them nothing more than a kind word or a smile.

“That’s pretty cool when you put it that way.”

“Yeah, think about it. A smile could save a life. I have a friend who was out for a walk one evening with his daughter. There was a lady working in her yard and the daughter, who was only six went over and talked to the lady. No big deal, right? A week later the lady stops to see my friend and says that she was so depressed she was going to commit suicide, but his daughter’s kindness gave her a little ray of hope, and she reconsidered. They were able to help her as a family and now she’s doing okay. True story.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, a lot of wow’s you may never even know about. That’s why we need to stay faithful.”

“When do you get the idea that this is the thing God wants you to do?”

“You going to play?”

“Three,” Joe said as he placed a card.

“Eight.”

“Fifteen for two.”

“Twenty five.

“Go.”

“Twenty nine,” Polycarp said as he moved his peg. “Your question isn’t that hard if you do what I said and remain faithful. What I mean is, you make it your priority every day to serve the Lord and pretty soon you’ll find what you’re good at and what you enjoy. Sort of like your spiritual gifts.”

“Spiritual gifts? This is the first I’ve heard that term.”

“A spiritual gift is something God gives you to serve him. It’s like a skill.”

“How do you know what your gifts are?”

“Well, the Bible talks about them in several places. Like I said, keep faithful, but here,” Polycarp wrote some references down on a note pad and gave them to Joe. “Read these when you get a chance. And ask around. Other people will see your spiritual gifts usually before you do.”

“Okay, I will. Eight.”

“Eleven.

“Eighteen, and last card.” Joe laid down his hand. “Okay, I’ve got fifteen two, fifteen four, a pair for six and a pair for eight.”

“I’ve got fifteen two, and a double run for ten. I’m out.”

“Way to go, man.”

“’Bout time, Joe. You won the last three games. I was beginning to think I’d lost my edge.”

“Three games? You lost your edge over three games? What about the ten before that?”

“You won a couple of those.”

“No, no. You are the Cribbage master. I bow before your magnificence.”

“Now we’re talkin’!” Polycarp was silent for a moment, and then he said, “So, Joe, I hear through the grapevine you and Felicitas are going out for dinner.”

“That’s the plan, yes.”

“Can I say something?”

“Sure. Anything.”

“You know about her past, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, maybe you figured this out, I don’t know, but you’re her first-no that’s not right, uh, this is the first date she’s had since she quit turning tricks.”

“Really?”

“And that’s not all. You know she ran away when she was really young, and this is her first real date. Ever. I know she’s known a lot of men, but not like this. Not in a normal way, and certainly not with a godly man.”

“So…?”

“So, you’re the man, dude. This is a big deal to her. Huge. Don’t blow it.”

“Help me, Pol. I mean I’ve had female relationships before, but this is a lot of pressure. I don’t know the rules now that I’m a follower of The Way.”

“You’re going to be fine, man. When I said ‘don’t blow it’ I just meant don’t expect too much. And by all means don’t come on to her. Just relax and be yourself. Have a good time and leave the rest to God.”

“I can do that.”

“Your deal, man.”

“I can do that too.”

Questions:

1.       What is important about the people Joe met during lunch at the Refuge?

2.       What is it about sitting down to eat with other believers that is so valuable to the Christian walk?

3.       Sam’s observation (quoted by Felicitas) “that each person in the world is the center of an ever-expanding circle of influence that transcends time and space,” is basically the theme of The Mountain. How is this true for us? For you?

4.       What does the man who confronted Joe at the bus stop represent?

5.       What did Joe mean by “It’s like you’re saying ‘There is no God, and I hate him.’”?

6.       What did Polycarp mean by “the great thing may not be a great thing.”?