by Becca Fisher
"It's more than a feeling. Everything does happen for a reason. And our relationship is proof of that."
That was all new to Patricia. "How so?"
"I was offered two jobs before I settled on the diner. I was leaning towards taking the other job. But something inside of me was telling me my place with at the diner. When I saw you, I immediately knew I had made the right decision. And I knew that it wasn't just a coincidence that the diner felt right. It was the Lord leading me to you."
"Maybe you're right then. It did seem more than just coincidence that I'd meet you. That I'd come across a singing competition. And that you'd happen to take me to the kind of concert I'd been dreaming about my entire life."
"God is leading you down the path to success. And he's letting me tag along for the ride."
Patricia chuckled. "You are certainly doing more than just tagging along. My world wouldn't be the same without you."
"Nor would mine. And I wouldn't want it any other way."
***
"Do you never run out of surprises?" Patricia asked.
Patricia had always loved gazing up at the stars, but David had found a way to bring them closer than ever. The observatory had telescopes that made Patricia feel like she could just reach out and touch the moon. Patricia almost couldn't believe her eyes as she looked at the blanket of stars in a whole new light.
"The universe never runs out of surprises, so why should I?" David replied.
"It's amazing to think how big God's kingdom really is."
"Yet he still finds time for us when we need him the most."
"That's why he's the Lord almighty. And that's why we need to spread his message. If anyone deserves it, it's God," Patricia insisted.
David was focused on the blanket of stars above though and wanted Patricia not to miss the light show.
"It's truly amazing to see what he created though, isn't it?" David asked.
"It never ceases to amaze me."
"No one puts on a show quite like God."
Patricia thoughts turned to a more serious nature. "It's hard not to think about how small we are though. How we're just a tiny part of such a vast universe."
"Just because those stars up there seem small doesn't mean they don't serve a much bigger purpose," David replied. "Each one of them has a number of planets revolving around them. That depend on them to survive. To light the way. So it doesn't matter how small you appear to be. What matters is how brilliantly you shine. You should know that. You're a star. So, how brilliantly will you shine?"
***
Patricia and David's relationship seemed poised to never lose it's shine. They couldn't wait to see each other every day and delighted in the simple things. There was an instant comfort in being together. Like they had known one another their whole lives. Grand romantic gestures gave way to the quiet contentment of just laying in each others arms, talking about God's purpose for them.
Both Patricia and David had waited so long to have met their match that neither was about to let the splendor slip away. Their relationship had the makings of permanent bliss. A hard fought journey finally reaching a most satisfying conclusion.
While Patricia's love life was all but settled, the life of her music career was faced with either sinking or swimming. With the competition upon her though, it seemed like the stars were aligning for Patricia. The moment she'd been waiting for was upon her. And her nerves were racked beyond belief.
"How does it feel to know that your life is about to change forever?" Adam asked.
Patricia started shaking like a leaf. "What?"
"Adam please. As if Patricia isn't under enough pressure already," Eve jumped in.
Never in Patricia's life had breakfast become less about food. Expectations were wreaking havoc on Patricia's stomach, making an appetite all but impossible.
"I meant because she's going to win," Adam clarified.
"Then why didn't you just say that instead of scaring the bejesus out of her?" Eve asked.
"No, it's ok. I'd rather have Adam on my side than not," Patricia insisted.
"See. It's the thought that counts," Adam said.
"Patricia was just being nice because she's renting from us," Eve added. "But after she wins this competition, we might find ourselves renting from her one day."
"I must say, you two have very active imaginations," Patricia said.
"No, we've just heard you singing in the shower for the last three months," Adam said. "And let me tell you, no one belts it out in the bathroom quite like you."
"Why don't you leave the complimenting to me honey?" Eve remarked. "What my verbally challenged husband is having trouble saying is that I hope you're ready for success, because it's coming your way fast."
Patricia smiled to herself. "I sure hope you're right."
***
"Welcome to the first ever Tri County Sing Off For Christ," a blustery Announcer said at center stage. "As I stand here, there are two hundred hopefuls looking to take home the top prize. But by the end of the day, only one will be crowned champion and claim a highly coveted recording contract. The question is, who will it be? Stay tuned to find out."
It didn't take long to realize how fierce the competition was. Each singer to take the stage was more talented than the last. And the auditorium was not shy with their praise. Rapturous applause greeted the best vocalists.
Patricia could feel the pressure mounting. The expectations rising which each competitor. It was going to be a duel to the finish. And Patricia knew she needed to give her best performance to even stay competitive. There was one person who wanted to do more than compete though.
"Well, aren't you lucky?" Valerie said.
Just the person Patricia had been trying to avoid backstage. If Patricia was all nerves, Valerie was all bluster. But maybe Valerie had finally turned a corner.
"Yeah. I'm feeling pretty good about my chances today," Patricia declared.
"I meant because you have front row seats to watch me," Valerie boasted.
Or then maybe Valerie hadn't turned a corner. Maybe she was the same petty braggart as always. But even if Valerie hadn't changed, Patricia sure had.
"And here I thought you had found some kindness in your heart," Patricia said.
"I am this close to victory. Now is not the time to take my foot off the pedal."
Patricia looked deep into Valerie's eyes and for the first time saw beyond the shameless put downs. And one thing became completely clear.
"Do you know what the difference between us is?" Patricia asked.
"That I'm a born winner and you'll never measure up?" Valerie answered.
"No. That I'm doing this for the Lord. To honor him. To share my love for him with others. To spread his message of hope. And you're just doing this for yourself."
Valerie furrowed her brow, confused. "What trick are you trying to pull?"
"I wish you all the best Valerie," Patricia said. "God bless."
***
Valerie gave a show stopping performance. Her amazing vocal range was on full display as she sung. By the end of the song, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand. A standing ovation awaited at the end of Valerie's performance.
Patricia couldn't believe what she had seen.
***
"Forget about Valerie," David insisted.
"I already have," Patricia replied.
David couldn't believe what he was seeing. His anxious beyond words girlfriend seemed to have found her cool backstage before the competition of her life.
"Are you ok? You seem unusually calm," David said.
"I'm fine. I just decided to turn myself over to God. And to let whatever his will is to be done."
"Wow. I like that approach," David said. "Especially since you're going to kill it out there."
"Your confidence in me never wanes, does it?" Patricia asked.
"Of course not. I love you and I believe there's nothing you can't accomplish."
Patricia broke into
a smile and gave David a kiss. She then whispered into his ear. "You're a blessing."
David started to blush. "Why don't we pray?"
Patricia turned to the Lord, thanking him for all the blessings in her life, while asking for one more. A sense of great calm washed over Patricia. She felt at ease with herself. And she could feel the confidence stirring from within. As if God was imbuing her with the strength she needed.
Patricia felt different all of a sudden. It wasn't all the other times she had prayed in her life. There was something special at work. Patricia was asking for more than just personal achievement. More than glory. She wanted to do well in the Lord's name. Patricia could feel God's love filling her heart. With that, Patricia had all she needed. And like that, it was time for Patricia to take the stage.
***
Patricia had never stood in front of so many people in her life. All eyes were on her. She could tell there was still a palpable buzz left over from Valerie's performance. There was a lot to live up to. But Patricia felt up to the challenge.
Patricia closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then started to sing. After the first couple of notes her nerves settled. She had come too far to let anxiety wreck everything. With the jitters out of the way, Patricia's voice soared. The whole crowd was enraptured as Patricia belted out a stirring rendition of a church favorite. She was giving the performance of a lifetime. And it wasn't until she was done singing that Patricia realized what she had accomplished.
When the song ended, the crowd stood up and cheered. The applause was thunderous. The reception was amazing. And the feeling of absolute joy in Patricia's heart was unrivaled. Patricia had done it. She overcame her fears. She lived up to her potential. But most importantly, she did well in the Lord's name.
For Patricia, it was like a dream had come true. It was a validation of her purpose in life. To sing about the Lord. To spread his message. And to see the smiles on the audience members faces as she did.
With Patricia's performance over, it was time for the judges to deliberate. Patricia had done her best. But was it good enough? It turned out she didn't have to wait long to find out.
Patricia held David's hand tight as the Announcer took center stage to announce the results.
"Well, that was certainly a competition to remember," the Announcer said. "And let me tell you, the judges did not have an easy job today. But after careful deliberation, they picked a champion. So without further ado, the winner of the first ever Tri County Sing Off For Christ is..."
The Announcer paused for effect, making more than a few hearts skip a beat. After all, it was the moment of truth and so much was on the line. There was a record contract at stake. The chance to sing in front of thousands of people every night. And for Patricia especially, the sweet validation she'd been craving.
Finally when the tension was nearly too much to bare, the Announcer declared the winner.
"...Valerie."
***
It was hard to overstate the disappointment Patricia felt. And try as David did, there was no cheering his girlfriend up. How could he? Patricia had so much on her mind. She firmly believed that God's purpose for her was to be a singer. That the competition was a chance to live up to her promise. And that the stars had aligned for her.
But clearly that was not the case. The Lord obviously had a different plan for Patricia. She just had no idea what that plan was. God did not make mistakes though. And Patricia knew deep down that she had to keep faith. That holding strong through the tough times would play off in the end. But it was easy to praise the Lord when everything was going right. It was a lot harder to believe in God's plan when everything went wrong.
"It's going to be all right," David said.
"I know," Patricia replied. "It's just a lot to deal with."
"You did great Patricia. I'm really proud of you."
"Well thank you. Too bad it wasn't enough."
"Don't stop believing in yourself just because the judges didn't believe in you."
"You still have confidence in me after all this," Patricia said, surprised.
"I'm not the only one. There's someone else that hasn't given up on you either."
"Who?"
"God," David said. "The Lord never stops believing in you. And I'll bet he has something else planned for you."
"Like humility? Because I've had more than enough of that lately," Patricia bemoaned.
"I know this must be crushing for you, but this isn't the end of the road. It's just a bump," David explained. "You keep focusing on what you did not accomplish instead of what you did."
Patricia furrowed her brow. "What did I accomplish?"
"You made two thousand people rise to their feet in applause. You had that audience in the palm of your hand. So the judges didn't pick you as the winner. The audience felt different though. They loved your performance. And how many people can say that?"
As Patricia heard David's encouraging words, she realized just how much she loved him. Not to mention just how right he was. Patricia had brought joy to the audience. And that was a form of reward in itself. So although there were still many questions about her future to be answered, in the present there was still something to celebrate. "Thanks."
"That's what I'm here for."
There was a question that David did not have an answer to though. And it was right on the tip of Patricia's tongue. "What do I do now though?"
***
"Keep your chin up Patricia," Eve said.
The transition back to everyday life was not easy for Patricia. She'd fallen into a sizable funk, like a rudderless boat adrift at sea. Patricia caught herself sleep walking through the better part of a week, realizing she had to get her life back on track, but not quite sure how.
"I don't know that I've ever felt this lost," Patricia admitted.
Eve was not about to join Patricia's pity party though.
"I know it seems like losing the competition is a sign that you aren't meant to be a singer. But have you considered that it just means you have to wait a little longer to fulfill your dream?"
"I've waited my whole life. Isn't that long enough?"
"Just keep believing," Eve insisted. Keep doing the Lords work. As long as you keep your faith, blessings will come."
"How can you be so sure?"
"You aren't the only one who's had their dream stuck in neutral. You know, Adam and I have been trying to have a child for some time. But for whatever reason, we haven't been able to conceive."
"How terrible."
"I started to worry that maybe my body wasn't able to have kids. That maybe something was wrong with Adam. I got lost, just like you are now. I wondered what I was supposed to do. And do you know what I did?"
"What?"
"I turned to the Lord. I prayed to him for guidance. For strength. For salvation. And through it all I did not give up my faith."
"I'm so so sorry."
Eve cracked a smile. "Don't be. I just found out that I'm pregnant."
"Congratulations," Patricia said, overcome with joy.
But Patricia was happy about more than just her dear friends pregnancy. She couldn't believe the news. It was a little unexpected present. A priceless example of God's glory. Just the wake up call Patricia needed. Sometimes Patricia just needed to be reminded of what was important, and what she already knew. That God wanted everyone to succeed. That he had a plan for all of his children. That faith would guide her through.
***
Patience did not come naturally to Patricia, but she knew it was necessary. So she returned to the life of a singing waitress and mixed hard work with a heavy dose of prayer. The church choir became her refuge, allowing her to sing God's praises every Sunday. David was her rock through it all, never wavering in his insistence that success would one day find Patricia.
Even though Patricia no longer lived in Amish country, she took refuge in their teachings. Those of humility, love, and simple living. But most of all, the act of unyielding fa
ith. Patricia knew the Lord worked in mysterious ways. Still, she had no idea how unconventional the path to her success would take.
Patricia was waiting tables the day her life changed forever. It had been months since Patricia had lost the competition. She was trying to find new ways to get a record contract. Success had proven to be quite elusive. The only regular singing engagement she had was belting out 1950's do wop classics every half hour between serving burgers. Then she met JC.
"How was your burger Sir?" Patricia asked.
JC looked like an average customer. Just a guy out for a burger and shake. He was completely unassuming. "I like your singing," he said.
"I know it's really cheesy, but the little kids love it," Patricia replied, assuming JC was joking.
"No really. You have a great voice."
Being a waitress at a novelty diner brought almost as much sarcasm as it did good tips. Patricia learned to shrug off the childish jokes and just go about her business. But as Patricia looked into JC's eyes, she saw no sign of sarcasm.
"Oh my God, you're serious," Patricia said.
"Of course."
"Well in that case, thank you. If you'd like to hear me sing something a little more traditional, I'm in the church choir at St. Margaret's."
"Actually, I was thinking about bringing you into the studio."
Patricia was confused.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself." JC pulled a business card out of his wallet and handed it to Patricia. "My name is John Collins, and I work at--"
"JC Eden Records," Patricia yelled, reading the business card.
Patricia couldn't believe it. One of the defining moments of her life was happening in the middle of a retro diner while she was wearing a poodle skirt. It was clear more than ever just how mysterious the Lord's ways truly were. JC Eden was one of the most well respected Christian record labels in the business. Patricia had dreamed of moments like this happening to her. And yet suddenly it was actually happening. Patricia almost couldn't believe it if it wasn't happening right in front of her eyes. She tried not to outright burst from excitement. Not to trip over her own words. Not to ruin the opportunity of a lifetime.