by Todie West
“You are starting to sound like a preacher.”
“No, not a preacher. A teacher. I just don’t know where or what or how I am going to teach, but I’m beginning to think that returning to school, a secular college, to receive more secular education, is not going to do me any good.”
“I have an application at the Drake Valley Christian School. Did you put in one? I heard there are three or four teachers retiring this year.”
“Really. Pastor Dan mentioned a while back there was an opening there. Maybe I will, if it’s not too late.”
“If it’s not meant to be, it won’t happen.”
“True. Mom always said if God shuts a door …”
“He’ll open a window.”
“She told you that, too?”
“Yeah, her and everybody else at Orchard Christian Church. But I found it’s true. In your case, the door was shut. Now you just have to find the open window.”
“Right. What about you? Are you applying anywhere outside the area?”
“Just a couple of Christian Schools in the surrounding communities. I don’t want to go too far, because my brother and his kids are still here and they’re all the family I have in California.”
“And your folks are still in South American?”
“With my four sisters, five other brothers, all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.”
“How did you end up here?”
“I went to Sacramento to college because my brother had moved here with his American wife and they started their family. So I stayed with them on the weekends and helped out with the kids because they both work, all the time it seems.”
“Do you have to go back to South America?”
“Am I legal, is that what you’re wondering?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I’m definitely legal. Got the citizenship papers to prove it.”
“Wow! That happened fast.”
“My folks are still getting used to the idea. I miss the rest of my family, but I really do love it here. I love my church family. And I am really glad I got to know you, or am getting to know you.”
“Me, too. Did you grow up in the church?”
“I was born and raised Catholic, until I was about 16 when I attended a Billy Graham Crusade with my youth group.”
“You got saved at a Billy Graham Crusade?”
“Sure did.”
“I’ve never been to one. What did your parents think about that?”
“I didn’t tell them.”
“Really?”
“I kept going to the Catholic Church because I didn’t want to upset them. I read the Bible every night and when I came here, I checked out Orchard because it was non-denominational. I thought I’d get the whole truth there, and it’s been great.”
“Do your folks know you aren’t going to the Catholic Church?”
“Enrique, my brother, told them. They were upset but he calmed them down and convinced them I was an adult now, that I was doing just fine, that it wasn’t corrupting my mind or anything like that.”
“Did you tell them about your mission trip?”
“They were thrilled about that. I think, because of that, they’re warming up to the fact that I’m not attending the Catholic Church any longer. I think in their mind I’ll always be a ‘Catholic,’ but I guess they figure it’s not worth arguing about, especially since we’re so far apart geographically.”
“Would you want to come over sometime this week? I can show you these videos before I have to return them to Roy.”
“I am anxious to see them.”
“My address is …”
“I remember where you live. I was on the church van when it stopped to pick up your mom on the way to the airport, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right.”
“Say, I also heard something you did in your classroom, a mock city or something?”
“Wow, word travels fast around here. I read about it in a scholastic magazine. It was working really well, but then I got fired. I’ll explain it all to you next time we meet. What grade were you hoping to teach? This is something that I think would work, to some degree, with third grade and up. I was doing it with sixth graders and they loved it.”
“I’m not particular at this point. I’ll take any grade, just to get my foot in the door. My savings is running low. I don’t have the luxury of being picky.”
“Me neither.”
Michael was amazed to learn how much he and Araceli had in common, especially that they were both unemployed teachers with a heart for teaching the truth. They agreed to meet the next evening.
Chapter 20
This is a Christian nation. (United States Supreme Court Decision in Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 1892)
Michael’s mind was going in every direction as he flipped burgers all day at Bill’s. The applications for the Master’s program had to be in the mail by the end of the week. What would be the point? He thought. It wasn’t so much the application fee, or the fact that he could possibly be rejected. There was something else he couldn’t get past. He could jump through all the hoops to obtain the Master’s, but it would all be for naught the minute he was confronted with another similar situation regarding his teaching about the truth of the founding fathers, which he intended to pursue, whether or not it was politically correct.
Then there was the question of whether or not he was equipped to work at the Christian School. After all, he had only just been baptized. Wouldn’t they want someone a little more seasoned in their faith? Someone like Araceli. There was no doubt in his mind that they would hire her in a heartbeat. And where was their relationship going? Michael began to realize his own inadequacies and doubts. Why would she want to be with someone who is so unsure of his own future? She knew what she wanted, and she was grounded in her faith in a way he thought he never could be. Had he really forgiven God? Where were these doubts coming from? Michael began to pray silently that God would forgive him for his doubts and that He would remove them and replace them with a full assurance and direction for his life.
On his lunch break at Bill’s, Michael called Brad at work.
“Hi Michael, how’s it going?”
“Going good.” He got right to the point. “What do you think of Araceli?”
“I told you when I saw her on that video tape at your mom’s funeral, I think she’s cute. You two sure looked like you were hitting it off yesterday.”
“She’s coming over tonight.”
“Really. You didn’t waste any time.”
“It’s not like that. We’re going to watch a video.”
“Ah.”
“No, no, they’re educational videos.”
“Sure.”
“You clown, there’s no talking to you.” Michael laughed and gave up trying to explain. “Hey, congratulations again. Are you excited about the baby?”
“We’re both real excited. We’ll find out next month if it’s a boy or girl.”
“A hunting buddy.”
“Hey, whether it’s a boy or girl, if either one of them want to go hunting, I’ll take them.”
“Marnie’s going to let you take Katy hunting?”
“Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’d never force Katy to do anything she didn’t want to do, but if she’s interested.”
“Did Jason mention when he’s finished with the academy?”
“I think it’s in June or July. He said he’d let us know so we can go see him graduate. Hey, Michael, I have a customer. Got to run.”
“Yeah. Me, too. Got to go flip some burgers.”
“Talk to you later.”
“Later.”
* * *
Michael arrived home from work before dark, having just enough time to take Sam for a walk before Araceli arrived. He had grabbed a late lunch at Bill’s and was not at all hungry.
Michael returned from h
is walk and sat down with his Bible, the only place he knew to go for concrete answers to how he was feeling at that moment. Pastor Dan had always told him, “When you start feeling down, having doubts, turn to the Psalms.” So he opened up the Psalms and began reading. Blessed is the man who … Michael was re-energized. He flipped the pages and landed at Psalm 119. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. He read the commentary at the bottom of the page.
I’m not supposed to know the future! One step at a time! Michael realized the importance of faith. I just have to trust Him. After all, He is God!
A light tapping at his front door jolted Michael back to the present. He had totally lost track of time and it had even slipped his mind for a moment that Araceli was coming.
“Hi, Araceli, come on in.”
“How was your day?” Her bright, cheery demeanor was just what he needed after the long wrestling match he encountered in his mind all day long.
“Great! Oh, this is Sam. Down, Sam.”
“He’s so cute.”
Michael thought about Jason’s remark, “Chick magnet.”
“Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”
“What do you have?”
Michael opened the refrigerator door and took inventory. He didn’t mention the beer. “I have Coke, orange juice or water.”
“I’ll split a Coke with you?”
“Ice?”
“Sure.” Araceli picked up one of the videos off the coffee table. “These look really interesting. I can’t wait to see them.”
“Well, let’s get right to it, because they are quite long. We might not get through them all tonight. Also, there’s something I want to talk to you about after.”
“Oh, okay.”
Michael popped the first video into the player. There was so much information, really eye-opening information, that neither one spoke until they were finished.
“Wow.”
“That’s what I said. I even picked up on some more things the second time around.”
“Everyone needs to see these.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“I was reading the Bible this evening just before you came, in Psalm 1.”
“I know that one well.”
Michael knew he was out of her league in all areas of Bible study, but he continued. “Anyway, it just came to me that I need to be around godly people. My faith is still very new, and it is vulnerable. I have decided not to send my applications for school, because I feel that, until things change, it would be a waste of my time, and money.”
“Are you going to apply at the Christian School?” Araceli’s voice displayed excitement over the possibility.
“I was thinking about that. But then I was also thinking about the children in public school, people like Roy’s daughter. And all the other kids who attend church, but also go to public school.”
“I know it’s difficult. I’ve been there myself.”
“You turned out alright, but what do they do when they start to doubt? What do they do when they don’t hear the whole truth and start believing everything they’re taught? Like we did. Look at what our teachers never taught us.” Michael pointed to the television.
“So what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking a couple of things. We can’t save every child, right?”
“Right.”
“But we can at least reach the ones who attend church.”
“I’m listening.”
“What if we developed a program where we, you, me and maybe even Roy, could go to all the churches and show these videos.”
Araceli smiled. “That is a great idea! I bet Pastor Dan would help, too.”
“I know he would. So would you want to help me put it all together?”
“Absolutely.”
“It will be a lot of leg work, talking with the churches and maybe we could order a couple more sets of the videos, too.”
“I’m sure Orchard Christian would pitch in. We could ask for a special offering after we show it to them.”
“They definitely will be the first.”
“We have to do what we can. The Bible says we are responsible for what we know.”
“It does?” Michael was now thinking about their relationship, hoping his ignorance of the Bible would not turn her away. Perhaps working on this project together would draw them closer. They definitely would get to know each other better, and see each other in a different light, and sharing a common passion.
“Don’t ask me where. I’m good at remembering what it says, but the scripture numbers always give me trouble. Maybe it’s my language barrier. English is a second language for me, remember.”
“Well, you wouldn’t know it.”
“Thanks. It’s getting kind of late. I really better get going. What’s our next step?”
“Well, I guess we should first make an appointment with Pastor Dan, and maybe I can get Roy to come, too. When could you meet?”
“I’m flexible right now, until I get a job.”
“Then I’ll call him and get back to you about the time.”
“Sounds good.”
Michael walked Araceli to the front door. He hesitated for a moment and then reached down and kissed her on the cheek. His face turned beet red and she put her arm around him and said “Thanks, Michael. This is going to be great! And I hope you will really consider applying at the Christian school. Oh, and I still want to hear about your mock city.”
“Sure.” Michael was head over heels for this beautiful, passionate, articulate, godly woman, and hoped she interpreted the kiss as it was intended.
Chapter 21
This nation under God. (Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address and inscribed on Lincoln Memorial)
Michael did most of his thinking and planning while flipping burgers, doing yard work for the neighbors, and walking Sam. The first phone call he would make regarding the video program was, of course, Roy Garrett, the one person who started it all.
“Roy, this is Michael Webster.”
“Hey Michael. How are you?”
“I’m doing just great. Sorry I took so long but I just finished watching the videos you loaned me. Actually I’ve watched them three times.”
“What do you think? Pretty powerful, huh?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Can you come by today?”
“Sure, about 4:30? I have to work later.”
“I’ll be here.”
Michael thought it best to meet with Roy alone first and feel him out, see how involved he would like to be in the plan. It was only that he felt obligated to ask because the tapes did belong to him, but also because of his passion on the subject. Michael had already made up his mind, even if Roy did not want to work with him, he and Araceli would go ahead. They had no doubt that Pastor Dan would give his wholehearted approval.
“Roy, come on in and have a seat. Let me put Sam out in the backyard so we can talk.”
Roy contemplated what Michael might be thinking. He surely couldn’t have figured out which of his students was my daughter. Or maybe the reason he watched the videos three times was to point out things he didn’t agree with.
“Hey Roy. How’s it going?”
“Great. So what did you think of the videos?”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I think every person should see them.”
“Well, we know that’s not going to happen. We saw how the School District operates, by the book, separation of church and state and all.”
“Which you and I both know is nowhere in the Constitution of the United States.”
“That’s right. But they still get away with propagandizing it.”
“That’s why we need to get these videos shown to as many people as possible.”
“Okay. So how do you propose we do that without
getting into trouble?”
“Here’s what I’m thinking. We are not allowed to show them on school grounds, but our schools are full of Christian children.”
“Right.”
“And as far as the School Board is concerned, Christian kids have no voice.”
“And.”
“We could put together a program, you and me, and I have one other Christian lady who wants to be involved, and possibly my pastor, where we talk a little about the tapes. We could tell them how we came to realize how important it was to get the message out to the churches. I would bet that most of the churches in this town would be willing to allow us to come and present them to their congregation, especially to the parents and the children. Then, once we’ve shown them at every church in Drake Valley, we can move outside to other towns.”
“What could I do?”
“Well, for one, you could talk to your pastor, show him the videos and see if he would be willing to host a showing for his congregation and perhaps. And if he has a relationship with any of the other pastors in town, he could share with them what we are trying to do.”
“I’ll do what I can. I don’t have a lot of money, but I think we need to have more than one set of videos.”
“I agree. We should have at least two sets to get started. One for my church and one for yours. Then maybe we can take up an offering after we show it to our churches. I know if we, including you, could share our passion for all of the children, people would be willing to donate to the cause.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll go ahead and order another set. I have the ordering information here in the booklet. We can maybe order some booklets, too. In the meantime, if it’s okay with you, I can meet with my pastor first and see if he has any other suggestions. Then when the second copy comes, I can give it to you to share with your pastor.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for doing this. I knew in my gut when I first saw them that somehow they should be shown, but I had no idea how to go about it. If I had thought of doing something like this instead of writing that stuff on your blackboard, I could have saved you from the firing squad.”