Clothing (Part Two)

The next morning Joe decided to see what he could find out about the fountain. It was an old classic fountain. At ground level was a circular basin with small mosaic tiles covering the inside. There were four floodlights recessed into the walls of the basin angled up to the center. From the center rose the fountain itself. It consisted of three more basins each successively smaller than the one below it. The rim of these basins curved downward with a fleur-de-lis pattern embossed on the surface. The water came up through the middle of the basins and flowed down to be pumped back to the top. Or at least that was how it was supposed to work. Joe had downloaded a few articles about fountains and that helped him diagnose the problem. He found a metal door on the outside of the basin and amazingly, had found the key in the office. With a little lubricant and some patience he got the door opened. Inside was the pump, the shut off for the water, and separate toggle switches for the pump and lights. He tried the light switch and only one of the lights came on. He tried the pump for a moment and he heard a hum, but nothing happened. The water shut off was rusty, so Joe sprayed that with some lubricant, and after ten minutes or so he was able turn the knob. He heard escaping air and then sputtering and finally he saw brown colored water flowing into the basin. He concluded the problem must be the pump. He was trying to figure out how to pull the pump when Bob showed up.

“That looks like a job. How’s it going?”

“Water flows into the basin okay, so I think it must be the pump. I was going to see if I could pull it out and find someone to fix it.”

“Probably too old to fix. Why don’t we just get a new or rebuilt one?”

“Okay.”

“Look around, get a couple of prices if possible and let me know. I’ll pick it up and bring it by.”

“I’ll do that this week.”

“What’s our occupancy?”

“I showed apartments to seven people and rented to two last week. I found out from a college student who lives here that there is a college not too far from here. I was thinking of putting a sign in the student center and talking to someone in the office.”

“Excellent, Joe.” Bob paused. “I think you are doing a great job, but there is something.”

“What is it?”

“I had a tenant call me yesterday and complain. I don’t want to take these calls. That’s why I hired you, but this is a person I rented to, and they have my number.”

“What did they say?” Joe asked, but he already knew.

“Now this is his version mind you, but he said you threatened him.”

“It was Blake, wasn’t it?”

“Yes it was. Why don’t you tell me your side of the story?”

They sat down at one of the tables and Joe told him everything from when Tom dropped him off outside the Refuge, to Saturday when Blake talked to Felicitas and Maria. It seemed far-fetched even to Joe as he recounted all that had happened. When he finished he and Bob sat in silence for a full minute.

“I don’t know what to say, Joe,” Bob finally said. “Of course I believe you. Why would you make that kind of a story up? But he’s right. A lease is like a contract. If we don’t honor the lease we will probably get sued.”

“I don’t want that.”

“I don’t either. Do what you can to keep the peace. Be professional. Remember, we're starting a ministry here. We have a big blow up with him it could all go down the drain.”

“I don’t want to let you down, Bob. Thanks for the advice.”

“Hang in there, Joe. It will get better I just know it.” Bob looked at his watch. “Well, I’ve got a hundred things to do today. I’m going to drop some papers off for Ellie at the coffee shop, and then I’m out of here. Call me when you get the prices on the pump. See you, Joe.” He waved over his shoulder as he walked away.

Joe wanted to believe Bob was right. He wanted to believe it would get better, but from what he knew about Blake, he didn’t think it would. As it turned out, it didn’t get better at all. In fact it got bad just before it got worse, a lot worse.

Every day Blake found some way to annoy or harass Joe. When the rent came due he wouldn’t put his rent in the slot like all the other tenants and so Joe had to go knock on his door. When he answered he would start yelling at Joe and accuse him of calling him a thief. He put notes under the wiper on Joes’ truck complaining about the smell in the laundry. A couple of times a week he called Bob after which Bob called Joe. It was beginning already to strain their new relationship.

The good news during this time was that Sam found a replacement for Felicitas and she started coming over to help out during the day. She took over all the administrative functions which left Joe more time to work on the grounds, paint empty apartments, replace light bulbs, pick up trash and do some minor repair. Since the whole complex had recently been renovated, there was not a lot of repair work to do except for the painting. They ate lunch together and had coffee at Ellie’s. Joe often thought this would be the happiest time of his life if not for Blake. Blake was not only unrelenting, he appeared to be a lot smarter than Joe because he had an answer for everything Joe said and he seemed to anticipate everything Joe did. His frustration grew until it colored every happy thought, and worse, every moment with Felicitas.

He was still meeting with Steve and one morning he asked him about it.

“Why do you think he’s attacking me?” Joe asked.

“What makes you so sure it’s you he’s attacking?”

“Well, I, uh, I don’t know, Steve. I’ve told you the things he’s said to me. What else can I conclude?”

“That it’s not about you. Yes, it’s understandable to take what he’s doing as personal, but ask yourself: is it really? The hard thing to accept when we face opposition is that it may not be about us at all. And if we are to take what he’s revealed to you at face value, then it’s certainly not about you.”

“Okay.”

“Have you ever heard me say, ‘There’s more to this life than this life’?”

“Yeah.”

“I use that phrase in a couple of ways. In one sense this world, this universe really, points beyond itself back to its Creator. But it also applies to you and me. There is more to my life than just my life. My actions, words, motives-all that-point beyond me to my Creator. People like Blake know that about you, Joe. He attacks you not because of who you are, but because of who you represent.”

“Ouch.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I’ve been taking it so hard, but when you put it that way, my frustration seems petty and self-serving.”

“But not for long, Joe. Remember when I said if you feel like you are in a war, you are probably where you ought to be? Well, that applies to internal conflict and external conflict.”

“Lotta conflict.”

“But is it worth it?”

“Yeah, it is.”

The conversation with Steve really helped Joe, but it didn’t stop the craziness with Blake. He left the water running in his shower one day and a neighbor called the office wondering why water was running all day. Joe knocked for several minutes but couldn’t get an answer. Finally he used his master key and let himself in. He turned off the water, but he should have taken someone with him because that night Blake called Bob and claimed that Joe had stolen some cd’s and a couple of his men’s magazines.

“Joe, I only need to ask you this once,” Bob said when he called, “Did you take that stuff?”

“I didn’t take anything.”

“Was there anyone with you to confirm your story?”

“No.”

“Well, I guess that’s my fault. I should have told you to never go in alone.” There was a long uncomfortable pause. “I believe you, Joe.”

“Bob, you don’t know how much I appreciate you offering me a job and an opportunity for a ministry, but I have to know if you trust me.”

“Of course I do, Joe.”

“Okay, but if you have to ask…” Joe trailed off.

“You mean if I had to ask if you took anything it implies I don’t trust you.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, maybe you’re right. If I had any doubts about your integrity I shouldn’t have hired you. It’s just that I want things to end between you and this tenant.”

Joe wanted to argue that it wasn’t between him and Blake, that it was all Blake, but he held his peace, said goodbye and hung up. Later, as he lay in bed trying to go to sleep he was surprised to find himself thinking that he’d rather deal with Bruiser and the beach than have his integrity questioned. But then something else occurred to him. When he was sitting on the beach broken and bleeding it was the biggest crisis of his life. A crisis much bigger than him, but God was with him there and God took him through it and afterward he thrived. If God would do that then, God will do that now. The crisis was different, but God had not changed.

The next day he shared his thoughts with Steve over coffee and Steve asked him, “Have you ever heard of David and Goliath?”

“Sure. Who hasn’t?”

“David said a couple of things in that story that might help you. When he arrived at the front and saw that no one would fight the giant, he asked who this man was who could mock the army of God. In other words, if God’s on our side, what’s a giant? Then when the king told him he was too young to go fight Goliath, David said that when he was a shepherd God had delivered him from lions and bears when they attacked. God had delivered him from them and he would deliver him from the giant. In other words, the beach was a warm up, and probably for this.”

“So Blake is my giant?”

“No. That’s wrong on two counts, Joe. No offense, but first of all Goliath was never David’s giant. That’s the whole point. He was God’s enemy. Secondly, Blake is only a giant now. There are other giants you will have to face. Each one you face prepares you for the next.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“It’s called growth. God won’t give you any more than you can handle, but as you get through a trial you are closer to him and better equipped to meet the next step of your life.”

A week went by without a major incident and Joe was beginning to hope the crisis had passed and he could concentrate on learning his job and preparing for marriage. Sadly, it was just the calm before the storm. It was late one morning and Joe was mowing the grass behind the building when he looked up and saw Felicitas coming toward him. She did not look happy. Joe shut off the mower.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s him, Joe. Blake. Somehow he knows what I used to do, you know, before I became a believer.” She quit talking and looked at her feet.

“What did he say?” Joe demanded.

“It wasn’t so much what he said as how he said it. He told me he’d seen me where I used to work, and I said ‘the Refuge?’ and he said, ‘no, before that. I knew your pimp.’ I got embarrassed, Joe. I felt ashamed. I haven’t felt that bad since I put that life behind me. It was awful.”

“What else?”

“He touched me.”

“What?”

“Well, not, not sexually, but-if it had been anyone else, Joe it wouldn’t have seemed bad, but it was him. I started crying and ran out.”

She started crying again. Joe took her in his arms and tried to reassure her, but inside he was a cauldron of rage.

“What are we going to do?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“What does that mean?

“It means I will talk to him and persuade him to leave you alone.”

“Please don’t, Joe. He only did it to get to you.”

“Maybe you’re right, but I can’t just let this go.”

“Why?”

“I’m the manager. I’m supposed to be in charge.”

“This isn’t a manager issue. What are you going to say to him?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Don’t you think you ought to?”

“Alright, I’m going to tell him to back off…or else.”

“No!” She yelled at him. “That’s exactly what he wants you to say! No!”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Worried about me? I’m worried about you. I’m worried about us!”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m worried that Blake has gotten into your head and that he’s putting a wedge between us. Look at us, Joe. We’ve never fought like this.”

“Well, maybe we should. Maybe we needed to see how differently we look at things.”

She was crying again, only this time they were big, sad tears. “Joe, please. Not like this, please.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Okay, I get that you have to talk to him, but promise me, no ultimatums.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to go wash my face.”

Felicitas went inside and Joe finished mowing the lawn. He put the lawnmower away and went to find her. She was in the office on the computer. As soon as he appeared in the door she got up and launched herself at him. She hugged him and didn’t say anything.

“I’m sorry,” Joe began.

“I can’t explain it, Joe, but Blake scares me. It doesn’t feel right.”

Just then the office phone rang. Felictas answered it.

“Cherrywood Apartments. This is Felicitas.” She listened for a moment and then hung up. “It was Bob. He said the pump for the fountain is here and he can’t get away from his meeting. He’s texting you the address if you’d like to get it today.”

“I’m supposed to replace the screen in Mr. Robokov’s window this afternoon and then I have to look at a garbage disposal. I suppose we could get it tomorrow.”

“I could go get it.”

“Alright. Could you get some decalcifyer while you’re out? I want to do that after I get the pump installed. Here’s the address. Why don’t you just take the money out of petty cash.”

“Okay. I’ll pick up some lunch while I’m out.”

Joe took her hand. “Everything’s going to be okay. I won’t be stupid.”

“I trust you, Joe.”

She grabbed the zippered bag the petty cash was in and took off. Joe went right up to see Blake. He banged on the door and Blake answered.

“What can I do for you, Joe?” Blake asked.

“I think you know why I’m here.”

“Well, then, what can I do for you?”

“First of all, you can leave my fiancé alone.”

“No problem. Anything else?”

“Yeah, you can move out. Today.”

“Why would I want to do that, Joe?”

“Because we both know why you moved in here, Blake. Somehow you found out I was going to be the new manager here and you moved in just to harass me.”

“Did I?”

“You know you did!”

“Aren’t you overreacting?”

“You threated Felicitas!” Joe was yelling now. “You scared her to death. I don’t think I’m overreacting at all.”

“All I did was mention I knew her employer. Was that so bad?”

“He’s not her employer!” People were coming out to investigate now. “She doesn’t do that anymore.”

“Oh doesn’t she? That’s too bad I think I told him differently. I guess I didn’t really know.”

“What? You told her pimp she was still working? Why? Why would you do that?”

“It’s not true?”

Joe grabbed Blake and slammed him against the wall. Blake didn’t resist.

“This is not going to happen. You are not going to ruin my life.”

Joe pushed him away and stomped down hall. He tried to pay no attention to the stares of tenants as he walked past. He went back to the office, but he was not prepared to meet anyone or answer the phone. He went into his apartment and lay on the bed. His heart was pounding, his ears were ringing, and he couldn’t catch his breath. He lay there for fifteen minutes, and then his cell phone rang. He looked at the screen. It was Bob. He already knew why Bob was calling.

“Hello.”

“Joe, this is Bob.”

“I think I know why you’re calling.”

“What happened?”

Joe told him everything including Felicitas’ warning.

“This is bad, Joe. I can see why you got angry, but the way you handled it was all wrong. I encouraged you to be professional, and if you had, we might have something. If you hadn’t physically grabbed him in front of all those people, if you hadn’t yelled and threatened him, we might have had a case to evict him, but not now. Now I have a mess to clean up. Now I have to face the possibility that my idea for a ministry is going to end in failure before it even had a chance to get started.”

“I’m sorry, Bob. I understand if you want to fire me.”

“Well, I want to fire you and I don’t, Joe.”

“I don’t feel as bad about losing the job as I do about ruining your dream for Cherrywood. I respect any decision you make.”

“Let me think about it for a couple of days, Joe. I’m pretty upset right now and I don’t want to make a decision until I’ve put some space between the event and my decision.”

“I wish I’d done that.”

“Yeah, me too. Talk to you later, Joe.”

A half hour later Felicitas got back. Later on when he reflected on the events of the day, Joe wasn’t sure which pained him more: the conversation with Bob or the one with Felicitas. When she entered the office and saw the look Joe gave her she knew something was wrong. She sat down across the desk from Joe. He couldn’t make eye contact with her.

“Everything you said was right,” Joe began. “Everything I said was wrong.”

“You talked to Blake?”

“Yelled and threatened would be a more accurate description of my time with him.”

“What happened?”

“I didn’t listen to you. I went to confront Blake. I was angry. Like always, he pushed my buttons and I got even madder. I grabbed him and shoved him. Several people saw me do this.”

“Joe.”

Joe looked up finally and the sadness in her eyes destroyed him.

“Felicitas, I’m sorry. I had to tell you about that, but it gets worse. Bob called. He didn’t yell at me or fire me; not yet anyway. But he said…he said I might have destroyed the ministry he’s trying to start here.”

“You weren’t honest with me Joe.” Felicitas said quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“You led me to believe you wouldn’t overreact. You led me to believe you could handle it.”

“I was wrong.”

“Do you know what first drew me to you, Joe?”

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“Your honesty. Your transparency. You spoke so openly about your walk with God and your struggles. You forgave Bruiser. You didn’t talk down to people. I was impressed by how real you were.”

“What do you think now?”

She ignored his question. “Love is a trust, Joe. When I told you I loved you I put my trust in you. I trusted that you were who I thought you were.”

“And now?”

“I love you. I will always love you, but there is a crack in my trust now, a little, tiny doubt. How do I repair that? How do you repair that?”

“I don’t know.”

She stood up. “Well, you better figure that out. I’m going back to the Refuge a little early today. I probably won’t be here tomorrow, Joe. This doesn’t mean anything other than I’m upset and I need a little space right now. A little perspective.” She grabbed her stuff and went out. Joe sat there and felt horrible. Finally he saw she’d left the food on the desk. He opened the bag and took out a couple of fries and tried to eat them. But he couldn’t eat. He tossed the bag in the garbage and went downstairs. He wanted to start organizing the shop and at least down there he would be out of people’s way.

Late that night Joe was reading in bed and his phone rang. It was Felicitas.

“A couple of minutes ago,” she began without preamble, “Polycarp reminded me the Bible says not to let the sun go down on your anger. Well, technically the sun is down, but I just want to say I love you, I forgive you and I think we’ll get past this, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’m still not coming in tomorrow. Maria asked me to help her for a couple hours and I said yes. I think maybe a day off is better.”

“I think you’re right. I love you too. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

That next morning Joe had coffee with Steve.

“You look awful,” Steve said as they sat down at one of the tables.

“Good to see you too, Steve.”

“Okay, fair enough. So what’s going on?”

“I have really messed up.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

Joe recounted the whole story. By the time he was done he had tears in his eyes. Steve grabbed his arm.

“Let me pray for you.”

Steve prayed for Joe, Felicitas, Bob and the new ministry at Cherrywood. When he was done he looked up at Joe and said:

“Joe, I want you to listen to me carefully. What I want to say is hard, but you really need to hear it, okay?”

“Okay.”

“The last time we talked I told you to think about the fact that it was not about you.”

“I remember.”

“No you don’t, Joe. Not really. You forgot that Blake is not after Joe. You don’t matter that much to him. He wants to destroy what God can do through you. The minute you take that personally, you leave God out of the picture. That’s like some form of atheism, or idolatry.”

“That’s hard to hear, Steve.”

“I know, Joe, but tell me, do you think it’s true?”

“Yes, as soon as you said it I knew you were right. I got in the way.”

“The word for it is humility. Humility is not just putting God first; it’s integrating God into everything. The opposite of humility is pride. For a prideful person everything is about them. Can I read a Bible verse to you?”

“Of course.”

Steve took out the little Bible he carried around.

“In the book of Colossians, chapter three, verse twelve, Paul says: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I like the idea of clothing there. Someone once said, ‘clothes make the man.’ They weren’t talking about our faith, I’m sure, but the metaphor is sound. Your clothes are what people see. Certainly you need to start with humility in your heart, but you want that to show to others.”

“Thank you, Steve. What would I do without you? In a couple of weeks you’ve become my lifesaver.”

“Again, Joe, it’s God ministering to you through me.”

“Okay, I get it.”

“Something else, have you given any thought to the next chapter with Blake?”

“No. I’m assuming I won’t be working here for much longer.”

“Well, let’s assume the best for a moment. Your girlfriend comes back and you don’t lose your job. What then?”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t either, but I do know this. It is not over with Blake. You need to be prepared. He’s going to step up his game and so you have to also.”

“What’s the game?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I can give you a general scenario.”

“Okay.”

“There is someone living in this building, or soon will be, who is seeking the truth of The Way. They may not know it exactly, but they are. The Lord has placed you in their life so that you can introduce them to Jesus and salvation and eternal life. It’s a divine appointment. The potential of that life for the kingdom is incalculable. That is what Blake is working so hard against. He probably doesn’t know the specifics, but he is crystal clear on the potentiality. Make no mistake about that.”