“Mark, Kathy, I want to tell you what I think the Lord is telling me. It may or may not be from him, and you will have to be the judge if it is or isn’t.” He looked at Kathy. “The future will not always be easy with Mark. But keep your eyes on Jesus and you will not fail in what God is calling you to do. Stand by him and support him. God is going to send Mark on a perilous journey. A lot of people are going to hate him. You will have to go with him. Be ready.”
Tim then looked at Mark. “God has given you a great gift, and he is calling you to serve him. You have been allowed to see what you have seen for a reason. But, know that the battle is not yet over. Keep your eyes on your Savior. Do not count on visions. Do not put your trust in dreams or angels. Don’t trust your feelings. Always depend on the Word of God and prayer, for they alone will guide you.” He paused and smiled. “And tell Sotare I said hi.”
It took a moment to absorb the words before Mark returned the smile. “I will.”
The pastor disappeared out the door.
Kathy looked at Mark and then at John.
“Does he do that often?”
John just shrugged his shoulders.
She turned to Mark and asked, “Who is Sotare?”
“Well,” he said with a smile, “are you two ready to hear everything?”
“Of course,” said Kathy.
“Yes,” said John.
“Good, because I’ve been dying to tell you what’s been going on.”
Chapter 15
MARK AND KATHY WERE in her car on their way to Shotsky’s Car Repair. Someone had called and told them the car had been repaired and was ready to be picked up. She was driving.
“There it is,” she said.
Mark fingered the seatbelt release mechanism as Kathy pulled into the driveway. There were cars unevenly strewn about the place. It was rather messy.
She pulled to a stop. “This should be interesting,” He opened the door and swung his legs out with a wince and a grunt.
“You okay?”
Mark nodded. He was healing well and had been out of the hospital for two days, but he wasn’t a hundred percent.
“You sure you feel up to driving the car back to Dad’s?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. I’ll just drive slowly.”
They looked around. “There it is,” he said as he began to walk towards it. “Good as new.”
“May I help you?” asked someone from behind. They turned around. It was Frank, the tow truck driver. He was wearing tattered, grease-stained overalls that seemed a bit tight around his not-so-small belly.
Mark remembered him well. “What are you doing here?”
He smiled. “I work here. I’m part owner of the place.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” said Mark after a pause. “We’re here to pick up my car.”
“Why don’t you follow me into the office?” Frank started walking. “I was wondering when you were going to come and get it.”
“Well, to be honest,” said Mark, “we were a little preoccupied.”
“I know,” he said glancing back, “Someone named John, if I remember right, called in and told me you were in the hospital, that you had been shot. It weren’t no big deal to just keep it here till you were ready.”
“John is my father,” offered Kathy. “And we appreciate your kindness.”
“No problem,” said Frank as he walked, but stopped abruptly and faced Mark. “Mind if I ask a personal question?”
“Sure.”
“What does it feel like to get shot?”
Mark rubbed his stomach. “It burns.”
“Ah, of course.” Frank nodded contemplatively and started walking toward the office again.
“How much do we owe you?” Kathy asked.
“Nothing.”
Mark looked at Frank quizzically and stopped in his tracks. “Excuse me?”
Frank stopped walking again and faced them. “We all know that the Lord works in mysterious ways. Let’s just say that someone offered to fix your vehicle and wanted to remain anonymous.”
Mark was puzzled. He let the words trickle out. “That’s it? Someone fixes my car and I don’t pay anything?”
“Look, just as the good Lord takes care of our sins and we don’t have to pay anything, someone paid the price of your car repair. Okay?”
Frank turned around and started towards his office. Mark and Kathy stared at each other for a moment and then started to follow.
“Was it you?” asked Mark.
“Nope.”
“But who was it? I mean, who offered to pay for our car to be fixed?”
“Can’t tell ya,” said Frank, still walking.
“Why not?”
“The person said not to.”
“It had to be your dad.” said Mark to Kathy.
“I can’t tell you who it was,” said Frank, “but it wasn’t him.”
“That’s it?”
“Yep.”
Mark and Kathy gave up.
The office was typical. There were car calendars on the wall, two old rusty filing cabinets under a window, a water cooler, and two beat-up wooden desks. Each had stacks of paper held down by metal gears. Frank went to one of them and pulled out a piece of paper. Mark and Kathy were at the counter. Frank walked over to them and put the paper down on the counter. “If you’ll sign right here, the car is all yours.” He reached into a jar full of pens and handed one to Mark.
Mark fingered it, looked at Kathy, then at Frank. “Remember that day when you came to the airport rental office?”
“Yes.”
“Well, this may sound weird, but was there anyone in the passenger seat with you that day?”
“No, sir.”
Mark looked at Kathy. She knew the whole story and chimed in. “Do you remember that woman on the freeway a few days ago, the one you gave a Bible to? That was me. You said the Lord told you to do that.”
“Oh…yes, I thought you looked familiar. Sorry for not recognizing you. I’m getting forgetful in my old age.” Frank seemed rather casual about the whole thing. He smiled as he looked at them.
Kathy shifted her weight to one leg. “Do you mind if I ask you how the Lord told you to go out there? I mean, I just trusted Jesus as my Savior and then out of nowhere, you show up with a Bible telling me that the Lord told you to give it to me.”
“Yep.” He smiled big and a gap from missing a tooth prominently showed itself.
She looked at him expectantly.
“When the Lord calls you and you answer, it don’t mean that everything will work out like you think. But the more you hear his voice in your heart, the easier it gets to do his will. Now, I’ve driven under that bridge where you were at a million times and every time I do I think of Psalm 36 where it says that people take refuge in the Shadow of God’s Wings. It is an expression of protection and safety.”
“Why do you think about that Psalm?” she asked.
“Because the name of the street you were under was Wings. You were under the shadow of Wings Street. Get it?”
Kathy cocked her head back a bit and smiled. “Yes. Yes, I get it. That is where I got saved. That is where I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins. What a beautiful coincidence.”
“Well, ma’am, I wouldn’t exactly call it a coincidence. God has a way of working things out. Anyway, I also had a dream the night before about giving a Bible to a woman on the freeway. So when I saw your car there under that overpass, I figured it was you. But, hey, it ain’t no big deal. God does that stuff all the time.”
Frank fingered the paper and nudged it towards Mark.
Kathy looked at him, smiling. “I would just like to tell you that what you did was perfect timing. In fact, I have that Bible out in the car. I want to thank you for it.”
“My pleasure,” said Frank. “The Lord is good. He even uses a hick like me sometimes.” He grinned like the Cheshire Cat, revealing that gap again. “As you can see, I ain’t a sophisticated man. I’m not that smart, either. I’
m just a simple, hard workin’ guy. But, every day I ask God to use me, however and whenever it might be. And sometimes he does.”
Frank straightened up just a bit and stared at Mark without saying anything. He reached under the counter and pulled out a Bible. “Here, you need this.”
Mark looked at him and the Bible. “Did God just tell you to give it to me?”
Frank smiled. “Naw, it just occurred to me that you probably need one. Am I right?”
“I guess so, but I have one at home.”
“Well, then have another. It’s brand new.”
He slid it on the counter towards Mark. “How long have you two been Christians?”
“Just under a week,” said Kathy.
“Aw, you’re new in the faith. You have an exciting journey ahead of you.”
Mark nodded. “If the future is anything like the recent past, then you don’t know how right you are.” He fanned through the pages of the Bible, then laid it on the counter. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
“My pleasure.”
Mark retrieved the pen and quickly signed the paper. Frank handed him the key.
“I filled up the gas tank for you, too,” said Frank. “She’s ready to go.”
Mark didn’t want to say thank you too many times, but he didn’t care. He knew not to ask why or how, but to just say thank you. “Thanks for that, too.”
Frank leaned onto the counter with one elbow and with that big smile said, “She’s right out there and may the Lord bless you.”
Chapter 16
A COMFORTABLE MORNING BREEZE gently swept through the garden, causing the leaves on the two trees to rustle, almost as if they were applauding. Light from the sun mingled slowly with shadows on the ground and a bird, perched in a nest nearby, filled the air with its song. There were two white butterflies, one resting on a flower and the other dancing in the air nearby. The stream bathed the gazebo in a calm but constant trickle of sound as water flowed across the rocks.
Mark and Kathy sat together, holding hands. They were enjoying God’s creation. Mark had his Bible. It was opened to Genesis.
“Funny. My journey began here in a garden and that’s also how it started in the Bible, in a garden.”
“Ours is wonderful, but I’m sure the Garden of Eden was far more beautiful.”
“No doubt. And just like the Garden of Eden, ours has two trees.” Mark looked at the one from which he had hung the rope a few weeks ago. He sighed quietly, eternally grateful that he was still alive and had not succeeded in his selfish and foolish act. He watched the butterflies. One was still on the flower.
“Do you think you’ll ever see Sotare again?” she asked.
“Pastor Tim seemed to think so.”
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know,” he responded. “At first I thought I would, but it’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve been home and I haven’t heard a thing.” Mark watched a leaf fall from one of the trees as it floated back and forth before it finally landed in the stream. The water carried it a few feet until it lodged against a small rock.
He turned his attention to the butterfly. “Well, even if I never see him again, everything will be fine. Besides, the questions don’t matter anymore.”
“I’m glad. As long as you don’t worry about Sotare, we’ll be fine.” She was teasing him.
He smiled appropriately. “You’re not implying that I’m a little obsessive, are you?”
“Me? I wasn’t implying anything. It’s a fact.”
“If I’m so obsessive, then why do you love me so much?”
She changed her tone and with the back of her hand, caressed his cheek. “I love you because you’re a good man. I’ve always loved you. It was love at first sight.”
Mark melted. He felt the pleasure of her hand on his skin and the warmth of her love. She was smiling and her eyes had that look that emanated straight from her heart. He leaned over and kissed her but his stomach muscles reminded him that he had not yet fully healed.
He sat back and stared into the garden. There was a movement. Something was there. Mark stared.
“What is it?” asked Kathy.
“I’m not sure.”
“Hello,” said Sotare as he appeared out of thin air.
“Sotare!” exclaimed Mark as he tried to stand up. Pain quickly eroded his intentions and he grimaced as he fell back into his seat.
Kathy looked to where Mark was staring but couldn’t see or hear Sotare.
“Please, don’t get up.” He walked into the gazebo and sat down opposite Mark and crossed his leg. “How have you been?”
Rubbing his stomach a little, he said with a smile, “I’ve been fine. Where have you been?”
“Busy. My work is never done.” He looked at Kathy. “Have you told her everything?”
Mark looked at her. “Yes. She knows everything.”
Kathy wasn’t sure what to do. Her eyes were wide and her eyebrows were raised a bit. She was trying to follow half a conversation.
“It’s Sotare,” said Mark as he looked at Kathy. He was smiling. “He’s sitting right there.” Mark waved his index finger towards an empty seat.
She looked to the empty seat and awkwardly said, “Hi, Sotare.”
The angel smiled. “Hello, Kathy.”
“He said hello.”
Kathy nodded and darted her eyes between Mark and the empty seat. “Okay.”
“Have you been helping someone else like me?” asked Mark.
“Of course, the world is full of people who need help.” Sotare looked around the garden.
“Did you appear to him or her or whoever it was?”
“It sure is beautiful here.”
Mark picked up on Sotare’s change of topic. “Yes, it is.”
“I see you’re healing fine,” he said as he glanced at Mark’s stomach.
Mark put a hand to his abdomen again. “They took out my spleen. But the doctor said I won’t have anything to worry about. I’ll be as good as new in no time. He did a good job.”
“I know. I was there.”
“You were?”
“Of course. Did you think I left you?”
“Well, to be honest, I wasn’t sure.”
“I was in the hospital room with you during surgery.” Sotare looked into the garden and held out his hand. One of the white butterflies Mark had seen earlier flew into the gazebo, fluttered around for a few seconds, and then landed on his open palm. It was delicate and lovely and it opened and closed its wings slowly. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Mark, intrigued.
Kathy was quietly amazed. A butterfly was resting in mid air, wings still. She raised her eyebrows again and stared.
“All creatures are precious to God.” Sotare stared at Mark. Then without warning, it flew away. Sotare lowered his hand. “Well?”
After a moment, “Well, what?” asked Mark a little bewildered.
“Don’t we have some unfinished business to take care of?”
Mark wasn’t sure what he meant. “Do you mean finish answering the questions?”
“Yes.”
Mark stilled himself and looked to Kathy again. She was obviously delighted by what was happening, but also a little bewildered at only hearing one side of a conversation.
“I’m sorry, honey. I hope you don’t mind me talking to him.”
She pressed her lips together then said, “Of course not. I’ll just listen.”
He put his hand on hers. “Thanks.”
Did he have any questions? Not really. Most everything had been answered through his experiences. But, there was one question he wanted addressed. He adjusted himself in his seat and stared into Sotare’s eyes.
“Why did Jacob have to die?”
“It was his time.”
The quick and direct answer caught Mark off guard. “I don’t understand. What do you mean, it was his time?”
“Why does one person live to be a hundred and a
nother dies during birth? Why does one live here and another there? Why are you born to one set of parents and not another? It’s the way it is.”
Mark thought about Sotare’s words for a moment and asked, “Are you saying that things just happen just because they happen, that it’s all random?”
“No,” said Sotare compassionately. “I don’t know how to explain it all and I don’t fully understand it myself. But, I know that the answer lies in the complexity of God’s infinite mind where events in the world happen for reasons that only he knows. Nothing is random, but at the same time, things just happen.”
Mark listened then looked at Kathy who was patiently waiting. She smiled slightly.
Sotare continued. “It wasn’t a malicious act of God that your son died. It pains him to see you suffer. But it isn’t that God is helpless, either. The world is complex. Yet God comprehends all of it. He knows everything. And for reasons that are beyond us, reasons that only God can possibly know, he works all things after the counsel of his will. You can trust that things are the way they are for a reason, even if you can’t understand it all.”
Mark thought about it for a moment and signaled his resignation with a small exhale. “Okay, so, I guess at one level, our level, some things just happen. But, according to God, there are reasons that these things happen that only he knows.” Mark nodded. “It may not be easy to accept, but I can.”
“Good,” said Sotare as he relaxed in his seat. “But let me add this. God uses trials and tribulations to teach you many things. These trials often show you who God is. And, they show you who you are. But the funny thing is you cannot really see how great God is until you have seen your real self, and that often doesn’t happen until you go through difficulties.”
Mark nodded slowly, acknowledging the truth of Sotare’s words. “I can see that, but I wish I had a more definitive answer about Jacob’s death, though.”
“I know. And believe me, Mark, when I say that I hurt for your loss—and God does, too. But, as I said, it was just his time to die. You have yours, as does Kathy, her father, and Pastor Tim.”
Mark thought about it for a few seconds before finally nodding agreement. “Okay, you’re right. I don’t have to have every question answered perfectly. God knows it all and that’s good enough.”
The Influence (Supernatural Thriller) Page 36