Elusive Mr. Perfect

by Murray, Tamela Hancock

  Raven shrugged. “Death. Suicide. How the world’s an evil place, especially for teens like us.”

  “And how there is no God,” Eagle added. Folding his arms, he offered them a daring look. The motion caused his shirt sleeve to move slightly. For the first time, Joelle noticed a tattoo on his forearm. The part she could see appeared to be the flat head and forked tongue of a cobra.

  Joelle was all too aware of the popularity of tattoos. The body art came as no real surprise. Nevertheless, a warning from Leviticus popped into Joelle’s mind: Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

  Zach’s voice interrupted into her musings. “That’s enough, guys.” He looked around the room, briefly making eye contact with each single. “I’m sorry if my cousins offend you. As I said before, these guys like to play the role of agitators. It’s part of their image. They don’t mean most of what they say.”

  “Yes, we do,” Eagle insisted. “The people who don’t get it just aren’t listening. Not to our music, and not to what we have to say.”

  “You’d be surprised by how people might listen if you’d drop the attitude.” Though his words presented a challenge, the expression in Zach’s eyes warned his cousins not to speak further.

  Dean shot Joelle a look of unease. She knew he was wondering how Raven and Eagle would tolerate spending the evening amidst their group. She was about to find out.

  Ten

  Putting on an optimistic expression, Dean turned to the teens. “I hope tonight’s lesson will help change your minds.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Eagle said. “Everybody knows man invented God to explain where we came from, but modern science answered all those questions years ago. We don’t need God anymore. Evolution explains it all.”

  “Is that what you think?” Dean asked without a trace of hostility. “Do you realize the theory of evolution is just that—a theory? It is not a proven fact.”

  “That’s not what they say in biology class,” Raven pointed out.

  “Your teachers are trying their best to instruct you in what they believe to be the truth,” Zach explained. “Unfortunately, some of them have been seriously misled.”

  “He’s right,” Dean agreed. “We were taught the same thing when we went to high school. Our teachers also looked exclusively to science for the answers, but all anyone needs is this.” Holding up his book, Dean tapped his forefinger just under the words Holy Bible, imprinted in gold.

  “That book does not have all the answers,” Eagle argued. “If it did, we’d know why God lets evil happen.”

  “Just because God allows evil to happen doesn’t mean He likes or approves of it,” Joelle answered.

  “True,” Dean agreed. “Evil happens because we live in a fallen world. This is not the Garden of Eden.”

  “For once, something you say makes sense,” said Raven.

  “Eve made the mistake of listening to Satan and giving in to temptation. Today, all of us are just as human. We aren’t perfect, either,” Fiona elaborated.

  Dean gazed unflinching into the teens’ faces. “Some of us make a grave error. The error of not believing in Him.”

  “We have the privilege of not listening to Him.” Eagle returned Dean’s stare with a scowl.

  “You’re right,” Dean conceded. “God gives us the free will to accept or reject Him.”

  “Really? Can you prove that?” Raven’s eyes held a light of interest for the first time that evening.

  “That fact is both written and implied all through the Bible. Let me see.” Dean opened his Bible and turned toward the back. “I think I can find one especially good passage in the book of Revelation.”

  “The book of Revelation?” Raven’s expression became intense, as though he was trying to recall something. Suddenly, his mouth opened into a slight smile of triumph. He snapped his fingers and then lifted his index finger. “Is that the part where some dude has a bunch of weird dreams?”

  “Some might say that.” Chuckles filled the room, along with the sound of pages turning in four other Bibles.

  Raven’s blue eyes lit up for the first time. “Wicked awesome!”

  In contrast, Eagle’s gray eyes narrowed. His arms remained folded. “Mom says that’s the fire and brimstone book.”

  “Fire and brimstone. Cool, Dude.” Relaxing, Raven leaned back into the sofa cushion.

  “Sounds more like it’s hot to me,” Ashlynn joked. A round of good-natured groans and a few giggles followed.

  Joelle glanced at Dean. Apparently oblivious to the conversation around him, he kept his eyes on the page, scrolling down the words as he read. A few moments passed before he tapped his finger on the passage.

  “Here it is,” he said. “I’ll start reading at Revelation 21:6. This is Jesus speaking to John at Patmos. ‘And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.’ ”

  Raven nudged his twin. “Mom was right. There is fire and brimstone in that book!”

  “See, I told you God tries to force you to believe in Him. It’s saying we’ll be burned to death if we don’t,” Eagle said. “Or at least I think that’s what they’re saying. It’s hard to understand. Nobody talks like that anymore. No wonder nobody I know reads the Bible.”

  “Believe it or not, some Christians feel the same way,” Dean said. “There are other versions of the Bible that are easier to understand.”

  “I have the New International Version,” Fiona offered.

  “That might help. Would you read it?” Dean asked.

  Fiona nodded. “ ‘He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.’ ”

  “That’s a lie, man,” Eagle interrupted. “There is a cost. They want you to go to church every Sunday and not have fun anymore.”

  “Church doesn’t have to be boring. Services can be great, when you really want to worship the Lord,” Zach pointed out. “And church isn’t just for Sunday, either.” He swept his hand over the room. “Being here tonight ought to show you that much. Look at how all of us here are friends.”

  Eagle surveyed the room. “I have more friends than this.”

  “Would they still be your friends if you started going to church?” Joelle wondered aloud.

  The teenager’s mouth opened with apparent surprise. He didn’t respond right away. “I dunno,” he said and dropped his gaze to the floor. His unwillingness to meet her eyes was answer enough for Joelle.

  “Not so long ago, most of my friends were outside of the church, too,” she explained. “But soon after I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, a lot of them abandoned me.”

  Eagle looked up. “If that’s true, then your friends aren’t as loyal as mine.”

  His words cut too close. Without warning, an unwelcome tide of ill feeling engulfed Joelle. She remembered each of her old friends. In her mind she revisited the pain of their departures from her life as if each event had happened yesterday. The realization that they could no longer accept her now that she had begun a true relationship with the Lord still caused her to flinch with grief.

  She swallowed. “I don’t know your friends. So maybe you’re right,” Joelle conceded. “But I do know why a few of the people I called my friends broke off with me.”

  “Let me guess,” Eagle scoffed. “You’re going to tell me whether I want to know or not.”

  Joelle ignored his loaded comment. “A year ago, instead of being here tonight, I probably would have been at a club.”

  “I sur
e wish that’s where I was right about now.” Eagle voiced his protest with enough volume for Joelle to hear him, but softly enough to stay out of trouble with Zach.

  Hiding her frustration, Joelle sent up a silent prayer to be infused with the Holy Spirit. After taking in a strengthening breath, she continued. “But now I don’t go to those places anymore.”

  “Just like that, huh?” Raven’s eyes grew wide. “Don’t you miss the clubs?”

  She flinched. “Sometimes, as much as I hate to admit it. You have to realize, I always called myself a Christian, but it was only within the past few months that I really let Christ change my life. I don’t pretend I didn’t have any trouble shedding my old life. I still have to die to it every day.”

  “Die to it?” asked Raven.

  “Yes. I mean, I have to remember I promised to serve Jesus. I can’t let my desire to go back to my old habits get in the way of my walk with the Lord.”

  “How do you do that?” he asked.

  “I pray for strength each morning.”

  “When do you have the most trouble?” asked Ashlynn.

  Joelle was surprised by the source of the inquiry, but she answered. “When I start thinking about my old friends and my old habits, it’s usually because I’m lonely or just feeling down for some reason. Memories come back if I have reason to drive by one of my old haunts.”

  “What keeps you from stopping the car and going in?” she asked.

  “Concentrating on the Lord. Praying to Him.” Joelle paused. “I think about how little I’ve lost and how much I’ve gained. I’ve traded a few small, fleeting pleasures for solid, meaningful relationships in the Christian community and the ultimate reward—eternal life.”

  “What does that have to do with your friends?” Eagle prompted.

  “I did wander off the subject, didn’t I? Sorry,” she apologized. “I found out that the friends who really were interested in me as a person are still in touch. The ones who just looked at me as a buddy to fill out a table at a club and to gossip with are the ones who dumped me, so they weren’t friends at all. Not really.”

  Her own words caused Joelle to remember one friend in particular. Actually, he had been much more than a friend. Dustin was the man Joelle thought she’d marry one day. She had been both surprised and heartbroken when he was the first to drop her after she responded to the life-changing gospel.

  Ever since she’d known him in high school, Dustin had professed to be a Christian. Joelle knew neither she nor Dustin had been living a godly life, but she always assumed they’d get their frivolous ways out of their systems, settle down, and then begin walking the talk. When Joelle accepted Christ, Dustin wasn’t ready for the change. He was happy going on as before, giving religion lip service and attending church once or twice a year. A larger commitment proved too much. When Dustin promptly dumped her for someone else, Joelle unhappily discovered that he’d never intended to live anything remotely resembling a righteous life. At least her acceptance of the Lord showed her Dustin wasn’t right for her.

  A ray of hope surged through her. Surely God will help me find a man through the Christian personals. I’ve got to keep trying!

  Rising from her seat, she spoke again. “Sure, I was sad to lose my old friends; but as I said, I made new friends. And my best friend since childhood stayed with me.” Joelle stopped behind Dean. Smiling, she patted him on the shoulder. She let her hand rest there for a moment, feeling his warmth.

  He brought his hand to hers, touching it for an instant. “I’d say we’re closer than ever. Joelle knows I’ll always be here for her, no matter what.”

  “So it was worth it,” Raven said, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked above Joelle’s head, as though he were looking toward heaven and seeing God for the first time.

  In a flash, she realized the embarrassment of confessing her struggles and imperfections in front of her friends and two strangers happened for a reason. Her confession may have reached the adolescent. “Yes,” she affirmed, her voice strong. “Accepting Christ was worth everything.”

  All eyes shifted to Eagle. Unrepentant, he glowered at them all.

  Fiona finally broke the silence. “Shall I keep reading, Dean?”

  He nodded. “Please do.”

  “ ‘He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.’ ”

  “The second death? Ooooh, I’m so scared.” Lifting his hands, Eagle shook them in feigned fright.

  “You’d better be, Dude!” Raven’s laughter belied his words.

  Dean sighed. Joelle watched his shoulders slump ever so slightly with discouragement. She wished she could think of something helpful to say, but no words fell on her lips. Raven, and especially Eagle, wouldn’t be easy for anyone to reach. Their looks alone showed that much—but at least Dean had tried.

  “If it’s all right with everyone, what if we let Nicole pick up next week’s lesson on the Great Commission?”

  “Commission?” Raven asked. “Isn’t that when you sell something and somebody pays you part of the profit?”

  “In the business world, yes,” Zach answered. “But when we speak of the Great Commission in the context of the New Testament, we mean Jesus’ command that we should share the good news of His saving grace with everyone.”

  “Bo–ring,” Eagle interjected. He let out an exaggerated yawn.

  “Eagle, that’s enough.” Signaling his growing impatience, Zach’s voice was firmer than it had been all night. “I don’t expect you to like what you’re hearing, but you’re a guest here. There’s no reason to be rude.”

  “That’s all right, Zach,” Dean said amidst nods of agreement. “We’ve hit on so many topics, all of us probably have enough to chew on for this week.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s time to move along to the entertainment anyway.” After setting his Bible on the small table right beside the couch, he got up and retrieved the guitar from the corner where he’d left it. Propping it on his knee, he asked, “What song would everyone like to sing?”

  Eagle suggested several offensive titles that Joelle assumed were hard rock or alternative tunes. She could feel Dean’s embarrassment and distress.

  Ashlynn and Fiona named a couple of bland secular songs, only to meet with blank looks from the twins. As titles were shouted out, only to be discarded, the tension became palpable. Everyone discerned that no song the regular group suggested would please, or even placate, the rebellious boys.

  “How about something simple? Maybe ‘Jesus Loves Me,’ ” suggested Dean. “Everyone knows that song, right?” He eyed the teens.

  “That’s it. I’m not singing a song for little kids. I’m outta here!” Eagle rose from his seat. He headed to the door. When he reached it, he pounded it open with the palm of his hand. He stomped down the hall, heavy boots causing his footfalls to echo on the tile floor in the hallway. They heard the door slam behind him as he escaped to the outdoors.

  Zach made no move to follow his cousin. “Sorry, you guys.” Letting out an audible sigh, he set his elbows on his knees and leaned his head in his hands.

  “That’s all right. You’re doing the best you can,” Ashlynn consoled him.

  “Do you think you’d better go after him?” Joelle asked.

  Zach lifted his head. “No need. He’s just gone out to smoke a cigarette.”

  “Or maybe something else.” Raven’s voice was barely audible.

  A fresh wave of unease washed over the group.

  “Raven,” Zach asked, “why don’t you go and see what he’s up to?”

  Clearly relieved by the suggestion, Raven nodded and headed outside.

  As soon as they heard the front door shut, Zach spoke. “I’m sorry I’ve ruined this meeting by bringing them. I thought they’d be on their best
behavior. I should have known better.”

  “You haven’t ruined anything,” Dean assured. “Meeting them has given us a chance to practice what we preach.”

  “We’ve started out with pretty hard cases,” Zach said. “They haven’t had it easy. Their parents divorced a couple of years ago. They aren’t saved, so how can anyone expect their boys to be any better?”

  A collective intake of breath was followed by utterings of compassion and understanding from the group.

  “I feel led to pray.” Dean extended each hand to grasp Joelle’s on one side and Fiona’s on the other. He didn’t have to ask twice. Everyone clasped hands and joined in a circle. “Since the guys might come back any moment, I suggest we keep our petitions silent.”

  The young adults bowed their heads, each immersed in private communication with the Lord. All too soon, they heard the front door creak open, followed by the sound of someone approaching the classroom until Raven finally burst upon the circle. His eyes were wide and wild.

  “I can’t find Eagle. He’s gone!”

  Eleven

  “What do you mean, he’s gone?” Zach asked. “He just left a few minutes ago. He’s got to be out there somewhere.”

  “I don’t know where. I looked all over the place. In the front, in the back, in the parking lot. Everywhere.” Raven’s voice had become high-pitched with obvious fright.

  “Don’t worry,” said Dean. “Zach’s right. He couldn’t have gone far. Unless—” He turned to Zach. “He couldn’t have taken a car, could he?”

  “I didn’t hear a motor start,” Joelle said.

  “Thank goodness. Joelle, I’d like for you, Fiona, and Ashlynn to stay here,” Dean instructed, pointing to each woman as he said her name, “just in case he decides to come back. If he does, one of you can stay with Eagle while the other two find us.”

  Joelle nodded. Secretly she hoped she wouldn’t be the one who had to stay with Eagle. The prospect of handling a rebellious teen wasn’t something she relished.

  Unaware of Joelle’s concerns, Dean turned to the other males. “Raven, you look through the forest in back of the church. Zach, why don’t you and I take our cars and head off in both directions?”