One Thing Leads To Another
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One Thing Leads To Another
My hotel had a hot breakfast that was included in the price. What a treat. I did not have to cook this morning. I was in a great mood. I started watching the amusing 3 children sitting with their grandparents. What a blessing, breakfast with entertainment. I wondered if the cute children were paid actors from my pleasure. I noticed how the grandparents were enjoying the children. I liked this family and I had not even met them. I could not resist. I pulled out my bubbles. Soon the children were gathered around me catching them. People were staring but we were having fun. Besides, there was only one other customer in the restaurant.
Marge was the grandmother of these delightful children. As she told me her story, I was vaguely aware that the waitress and other customer were listening. Marge is from Texas. She is active in a local Baptist church. “I had grandchildren late in life. That worked out great. Now I’m retired so I can spend time with them. We are out west with our three grandchildren and no deadline. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
“How many children do you have?” I asked.
She smiled, “I had three but lost one to breast cancer.”
“I’m sorry,” I offered. “I lost my oldest son several years ago.”
“It is difficult and I don’t know how people get through it without God, the Bible, and a church family. I trust the Bible and know she is in heaven. My poor son-in-law was devastated and rejected God and the church for a while. Thank God, he has returned. He has found peace since he let the word of God minister to him.”
While she didn't mind giving details about her daughter she had lost, she was much more interested in talking about her future and the joys in her life. “My remaining son and daughter have given me these three wonderful grandchildren. I enjoy every minute with them.”
Marge and I shared our love of God and the Bible. It was a sweet conversation. As we talked, I noticed the single woman at the table next to us was listening intently. As Marge left, I smiled at the woman, and asked if she was traveling alone. She was. I joked, “It’s surprising that a woman is willing to travel alone.”
Her name was Cherel. “I couldn’t help listening to your conversation. You and Marge obviously love the Bible and your church. That is not my story.”
Cherel was on her way to meet a boyfriend in Utah. “He is visiting some property he owns. He invited me to meet him there. He is an interesting person. He lost his wife, his teenage daughter, and his grandchild all in the same year.
“Is he a Christian,” I asked.
“No,” she said. “He grew up in a Christian church but is also Navaho. Being Navaho has its own spirituality. He has embraced it.”
“Does his spirituality help with his grief?” I asked.
“I don’t think. He is pretty miserable. I don’t really know. His loses are fairly recent and I just met him.”
“Was there ever a time that you found the Bible relevant or helpful?” I inquired. I guess I was hoping that she just didn’t know what she was missing.
“Oh yes. I grew up in church while living with my grandmother. She was the church pianist. I spent my childhood playing all over the church building. I loved church, read my Bible, and assumed I would always attend. I married a doctor and thought I had an exciting future ahead of me. Instead, we had a child with a physical problem that caused behavioral problems. Five different churches asked us to leave because of this child's behavior. The Mormon Church was the only church that accepted use. My child crawling under the pew during services did not bother them.
“Did you become Mormon?” I asked.
“No,” she sighed. “I may have given up on the Bible but I couldn’t accept their doctrine. I appreciated their acceptance but could not join their church.” We discussed the differences in beliefs between the Mormon religion and what she believed the Bible taught. Try as she might to reject the words of the Bible, her belief was still apparent. She quoted scripture. I did not realize it at the time but God was setting up a third conversation with the waitress.
“We kept changing churches and religions. We even helped start a Lutheran church but all they wanted was our money. When my husband turned 50, he announced that he was gay. He left me. Technically I am still married to him. Since he is gay, he has no reason to get a divorce. Now, I now don’t believe in anything.”
As Cherel talked, I could hear her bitterness and pain. She was disappointed with her life. I wondered about her parents since she grew up with a grandmother. I didn't ask but I suspect they also had let her down. Her disappointments with life must have started in childhood.
“Life can be unfair. I have no idea what it must have felt like to have a husband announce he was gay. I know how devastated I was when I realized my son David was gay.”
“Is that the son that died?” she asked. She had listened to every word of the earlier conversation.
“We lost him to AIDS,” I told her. “You heard Marge’s story. You have heard a little of mine. Life is difficult on earth. The Bible never promises differently. In fact, if you read Job, you will find horror stories worse than anything discussed here today. At least the Bible tells us what to expect. The Bible does offer hope for the future and an opportunity to find peace in spite of our difficulties. You saw the peace on Marge’s face. That peace has nothing to do with circumstances.”
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 NIV
Cherel listened as I talked. “You seem to be in so much pain. For your own sake, give the Bible another try.” She would not agree to read the Bible but she took a “Pocket Full Of Quarters” card and promised to read the stories. She would read her own story on the website. She left and I began to get up. The waitress came over to me. Her name is Colette and she is 19 years old. “Can I talk to you?” she asked.
“Sure.” I sat back down. I lost my breath as I realized that God how had been orchestrating each conversation.
“I couldn’t help but hear you talking. I need some advice. I am confused. I have grown up in the Mormon Church. I know about the Bible but we mostly study the Book of Mormon. When we do read the Bible, it is always with the Book of Mormon as an explanation. I had never studied it alone. My sister started going to a contemporary Christian church. They started a Bible study and invited me. I went and I love it. I have started going to the church. I don’t want to hurt my parents so I haven’t joined it yet. I can’t believe how hungry I am to study the Bible. And yet, the more I study, the more confused about my church I get.”
“Are you a Christian?” I asked.
“I’m confused,” she said.
“Do you believe that Jesus is the son of God and God himself?” I asked. She hesitated. We talked about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We talked about who the Bible said Jesus is. I avoided doctrinal discussions or debates. I encouraged her to study the Bible and discover how to get to know the Deity of Jesus Christ. “God the Father is our creator. He became man to show us the way. He died for our sins and rose on the third day. He left us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. All we have to do to become a Christian is to believe that, ask Jesus into our lives, and ask for forgiveness. The Holy Spirit will guide you in your choice about churches. I suspect he already is.” She nodded.
“My new church has encouraged me to go further. They have told me everything you have said. I just worry about my parents,” she said.
I gently reminded her that she was an adult. “The Bible does tell children to obey our parents but you are an adult.”
“What about the ten commandments?” she asked.
“Actually, the commandment says to honor our parents. There is no greater honor you can do than to seek the truth of God. Don’t be afraid. Trust God’s leadership. Trust the Bible. God is guiding you. This conversation was no accident. God planned everything just for you.”
“Thank you for talking to people about God,” she said. “You are helping people.”
I laughed. “I was just having a free breakfast. God did everything else.” She asked for a card said she would read the stories on the website.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
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