The Gilgal Passage

by Bob Brown

  As the boat slowed to a stop, Jason described the brief ceremony which would follow.

  “In just a moment, I will offer a prayer. Then I would ask that each of you in turn participate in the ceremony by tossing a handful of Kyle’s ashes into the wind astern of ‘Pierre’. I would ask that Sydney go first. I will be last.”

  As all heads bowed, Jason prayed:

  “Heavenly Father, source of all life and in whom we trust our salvation, we humbly ask that You receive our dear friend Kyle into Your heavenly kingdom. Bless him, restore him to fullness of life, and care for him always. In Your most merciful name we pray. Amen.”

  Jason removed the cap to the urn and handed it to Karen. Then he nodded silently to Sydney, who moved slowly to his side at the stern rail.

  “Father, into Your hands we commit the spirit of our dear friend, Kyle,” Jason prayed as he poured a handful of ash into Sydney’s cupped palms.

  Sydney silently mouthed her own brief prayer before raising her palms and releasing the handful of ashes into the gentle twilight breeze. In turn, Karen, Merle and his wife, Tub, Susan, and Mr. and Mrs. Gus silently followed in the solemn ceremony.

  Then, as the orange ball of the sun just touched the distant horizon, Jason stepped to the rail.

  “God bless you always, my friend. May you now truly experience that peace which transcends all understanding.”

  Jason turned the urn upside down.

  As the remaining ashes disappeared into the gathering darkness, a lone seagull swooped low over the yacht, circled once, then winged westward, following in the direction of the setting sun.

  With tears once again in his eyes, Jason spoke to his friends for the final time.

  “You may remember that the last time we met on this boat I presented Kyle with a special gift. It was a gold cross, which Kyle wore around his neck until the day he died. I have that cross with me here tonight.”

  Jason reached into the inside pocket of his suit coat and produced a small box.

  Jason paused and wiped a tear. “In Kyle’s Will, he asked that this cross be passed to Sydney, as a way of forever uniting their souls. This cross represents the everlasting circle of our friendship: From my parents to me, from me to Kyle, from Kyle to Sydney, and through Sydney to all of us. It is through Sydney, and through our shared belief in everlasting life, that we will continue to experience the very real presence of Kyle in our lives.”

  Sydney stepped forward, and Jason removed the cross from the box. Then he tenderly attached the necklace around Sydney’s neck. Sydney turned and embraced Jason, kissing him on the cheek and whispering a soft ‘thank you’ in his ear.

  The ceremonies over, ‘Pierre’ turned toward home and gathered speed, leaning slightly into the breeze. The mourners mingled on deck, sharing the final moments of daylight amid memories of a friend too soon departed.

  *****

  As ‘Pierre’ slipped silently into the channel, Jason turned and stood alone once again at the stern rail, looking toward the orange glow on the horizon where the sun had once been. His gaze followed the imaginary flight of the lone seagull, westward beyond the place where the sky meets the sea, to that faraway space where today ends and eternity begins. Jason knew that’s where Kyle was.

  “God bless you always, my friend,” Jason said once again.

  Chapter 69

  Jason stood before the Board of Directors of the Garrett Charitable Foundation on the Wednesday morning following the burial at sea. The meeting was being held in the executive meeting room at the Mission Bay Hilton Resort and Spa. Paul Sambolo, the Foundation’s Vice President, was General Manager at the Hilton. In addition to Mr. Sambolo, there were eleven other Board members seated around the table.

  “Gentlemen, I appreciate your time and your willingness to reschedule this meeting on such short notice," Jason began.

  Jason passed around the White Paper which he had drafted for the meeting. “I assume you have all had a chance to read the document which is now coming around. What you are receiving is an exact copy of what I previously forwarded to you as an email attachment via Mr. Sambolo.”

  Jason waited until everyone had a hard copy of the document. Then he flipped open his laptop and clicked on the icon for a slightly refined version of the PowerPoint presentation he had briefed to Kyle just a few weeks earlier. For the next thirty minutes, Jason stepped through the details of the plan to liquidate Garrett Motors and establish the Garrett Christian Center.

  When he reached the issue of financing, funding for future operations of the Center, and contributions from the Foundation, Jason passed around copies of the accounting study commissioned by Kyle. He also displayed a summary on the screen at the front of the room.

  “As disclosed in the accounting report, I am confident you will agree that, long term, the combined benefits of liquidation and the association with Jagged Edge far surpass the benefits which might result from the sale of Garrett Motors. In addition, for all years covered by this study, the flow of funds anticipated from Jagged Edge to the Foundation are expected to far exceed the flow previously provided by Garrett Motors.”

  “Your study is comprehensive and impressive, Mr. Matthews,” said Pete Sambolo. “But we’re not really here to discuss what happens to Garrett Motors, are we? Ultimately, our job is to decide where the money from the Foundation is spent.”

  “You are correct, sir. But I thought it important to present the big picture. Without an ongoing cash flow, such as would be provided by Jagged Edge, the Foundation may eventually find itself facing a capital shortage. Kyle understood this. He was very much in favor of this plan.”

  “But what’s to stop Jagged Edge from abandoning this approach?” asked Mr. Sambolo. What guarantee do we have that if we change our Operating Agreement to fund the Garrett Christian Foundation that Jagged Edge won’t simply change its procedures one day and stop contributing to the Foundation?”

  “That’s a valid question, Mr. Sambolo,” replied Jason. “In response, let me assure you that Jagged Edge will continue to fund the Foundation for as long as the Foundation operates in accordance with the purposes for which the Garrett family originally established it. I guarantee it. Because I own Jagged Edge, because it’s the Garrett family legacy, and because it’s God’s plan.”

  Jason paused before continuing, studying the blank faces around the table in front of him. He had seen faces like these all his life. Men and women with business on the brain and the bottom line tugging at their conscience. He didn’t fault them for their disciplined approach. He just wished they had a little more faith. And a lot more personality.

  “The other thing to keep in mind,” Jason continued, “is that this Board can always vote another change to the Operating Agreement. If for some reason you are disappointed by the results at Jagged Edge or become disillusioned with the direction of the Garret Christian Center, you can always vote for a change. I trust that will never be required. But the option is always available to you.”

  Jason went on to describe in detail the vision he and Kyle had for the Garrett Christian Center, expanding on the summary provided in his White Paper. Second in importance only to the one he had made to buy Jagged Edge, the pitch Jason gave the Board was honest, sincere, and compelling. It was more difficult without Kyle, but it was everything Kyle could have asked Jason to do.

  When he was done, Jason asked for questions or comments. There were none, and Jason knew from experience that he had either won them convincingly or lost them completely.

  Jason took his seat and Paul Sambolo rose to address the group.

  “Jason, I think I speak for all of us on the Board. You are a remarkable young man and clearly very passionate about this plan. We all respected Kyle Garrett immensely. It’s obvious why he also trusted and respected you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Mr. Sambolo continued. “As a Board, we need first to fill the vacancy of Board President. Then I pro
mise you prompt action on your request for a change in the Foundation Operating Agreement to fund the Garrett Christian Center. Obviously, should we vote for the change, it would be contingent upon successful construction of the Center and full operational certification. I believe we can provide your answer within three weeks. I’ll phone you personally, and we’ll follow up with an official letter.”

  “Thank you,” Jason said again, as the meeting broke up. He headed to the parking lot, wondering whether his position had been strong enough and his presentation forceful enough. ‘Three weeks,’ he thought. In three weeks he would know whether a Board of corporate bureaucrats approved of God’s plan. The irony made him laugh out loud.

  *****

  Jason’s next stop was Garrett Motors, where he held the long-awaited meeting with the Garrett employees. When he did so, he presented essentially what he had just briefed to the Foundation Board, although he scaled it back to something more suited to those not schooled in corporate bureaucracy .

  The employees were obviously concerned about the potential loss of their jobs and benefits. Jason reminded them of the promise he had made via Gus some weeks earlier. Each employee would have options. Jason personally guaranteed a new job, early retirement, or a generous severance to every employee.

  “You did good, Jason,” Gus said when the meeting ended. “Kyle would have been proud.”

  “Thanks, Gus. There’s no reason why Garrett’s long-time employees should be caught in the middle of this. We’ll work it out so no one gets hurt.”

  Chapter 70

  Just over two weeks later, Jason received a phone call from Paul Sambolo advising him that the Board of Directors for the Garrett Charitable Foundation had voted unanimously to amend the Foundation’s Operating Agreement in support of the Garrett Christian Center. God’s plan was approved.

  The approval kicked off a flurry of activity as Jason began what would be a multi-year process of architectural designs, meetings with county officials, permits, funding applications, demolition, and construction. And although he had time, Jason knew he also had to begin the process of filling key staff positions for the new Center. He suspected already that he had a place for Karen, Sydney, and Gus, if they were interested.

  Over at Jagged Edge, Jason learned from Merle that the company was well on its way to the best quarter in the company’s history, due in large part to the efforts of its new management team. Turns out Jason had been right in recommending Michael and Trisha for their newest positions. Jason also knew that Merle was the type of President whose Christian leadership would continue to generate ripples on the pond.

  And at WADP, Susan was doing quite well as the new Accounts Manager, having been appointed by Bert Tyson without argument from Tub. Apparently, Tub enjoyed the flexibility to read and practice art that his current job allowed, and the thought of answering to Bert on a daily basis did not interest him in the least.

  All seemed right with God’s plan. All of the pieces fit. Except one.

  *****

  “Jason, where exactly are we going?” Karen asked.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “But how do I know I packed the right stuff if I don’t know where we’re going?”

  “Trust me. Whatever you packed will be fine.”

  “You do know that I have to be back on Monday, right?”

  Jason just laughed. “Trust me. This isn’t a kidnapping. It’s a date. You can relax.”

  “You keep saying ‘trust me’. It sounds more like a kidnapping than a date.”

  They both laughed.

  Jason took the freeway north, blending into the Friday afternoon traffic flow and following the now-familiar route into the mountains, to the little A-frame cabin on the lake. They arrived just after sundown on a cool October evening.

  “This is so beautiful, Jason.”

  “Welcome home, Oz.”

  “Home? What do you mean?”

  “Kyle left the cabin to me. It was part of his Will.”

  Jason took Karen’s hand and led her to the back porch. They stood together at the deck rail, hand-in-hand, looking out across the dark waters of the lake, to the shadows on the hillside beyond.

  His mind racing with the memories of his first visit to the cabin, Jason looked into the darkening sky and thanked God for bringing him to this place in his journey. Then he turned and faced Karen.

  “Oz, do you remember me saying that there was one more request Kyle had included in his Will?”

  “I remember.”

  Jason knelt in front of Karen, still holding her hand.

  Karen looked down at Jason, and even in the near darkness Jason could tell that she had tears in her eyes, anticipating what was to come.

  “Karen, Kyle’s final request was that you and I be married. He knew how much I love you, and he wanted more than anything for us to be together. Always.”

  Karen smiled. “So Kyle’s final request was that we get married?”

  “Yep.”

  “And I suppose you always did what Kyle asked?” Karen teased.

  “Well, mostly.”

  In spite of the moment, Karen laughed. “Jason, life with you will certainly be interesting.”

  There was an awkward silence. Jason reached up and took Karen’s other hand. He was now holding both of her hands in his, still kneeling, still looking up into the darkened face framed in the night sky.

  “So ask me already,” Karen said with mock impatience.

  “Karen, will you marry me?” Then, from some unseen place, he produced a ring, which he slipped gently onto the second finger of her left hand.

  “Yes, of course I will. I love you, Jason.”

  Karen tugged on Jason’s hands, pulling him to his feet and into a passionate embrace. They kissed and held each other for long minutes of peaceful silence, amid the beauty of nature and in the presence of the God who had so graciously brought them together.

  When they finally broke, Jason smiled and said, “You know, I just happen to know of a little church in town where we could probably get married tomorrow.”

  Karen pushed him away playfully. “I’m fairly certain my parents expect something a little more formal than that. Which reminds me -- I probably should call them and tell them that I’m engaged.” She kissed Jason again, then disappeared inside to call her family.

  As Karen made her call, Jason found his way in the darkness to the stone steps behind the cabin and descended once again along the path, down the hill to the boat dock below.

  Standing in the same spot where Kyle had once stood, Jason relived the moment when Kyle had tenderly coached him into his Christian faith. His heart was heavy, and he was reminded how much he missed his friend. But Jason knew that with God all things have a time, and through God all things find a place. Kyle’s place was eternity.

  Jason’s place was here, with Karen, with what remained on his ‘to do’ list to complete God’s plan. As he stared into the dark water where once he had stabbed a stick in frustration, Jason recalled Kyle’s words on that special day the two had shared at the cove in La Jolla.

  “It’s time for you to complete your Gilgal passage and see God’s promise for you fulfilled,” Kyle had said. “You can be certain that if you let God lead, then you will be everything that God meant for you to be.”

  Turns out Kyle had been right all along.