The Truth Is the Light

by Vanessa Davie Griggs

  That Arletha was now her sister!

  Chapter 66

  But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.

  —Psalm 103:17

  Ransom Perdue was celebrating his one hundredth birthday with almost as much fanfare as he’d had the previous year. The year when a few newspapers and media outlets interviewed him as he stood in a long line to cast his vote for the first African-American president of the United States of America back on November 4, 2008—a day he never thought he would live to see. But he did, and he had.

  There was a small write-up about his birthday in the major newspaper as well as a major spread in The Birmingham Times—the largest black newspaper in the Southeast. Zenobia had shown the clippings to him and told him of her plans to have them matted and framed. Gramps just laughed at all the hoopla they were going through over him.

  “All I’ve done is lived. It hasn’t always been easy, but I woke up every day not knowing what that day held, but open to whatever God allowed to happen. Some of it was good; some was not so good. But through it all, God has been faithful, and He’s brought me from a mighty long way,” Gramps said. “I know, no doubt, how I got over.”

  Melissa Peeples had done a spectacular job. She and her husband were there with their three children, which included her husband’s oldest daughter, Aaliyah. Marcus Peeples just beamed when he saw how his wife had pulled everything together, transforming, yet again, the church’s banquet hall into a place of dreams. There was sheer white chiffon material decorating the ceiling with shimmers of silver and the most calming sea of blue. How Melissa could envision things like this and bring them into a manifested state always left Marcus in sheer awe. He walked around with his chest stuck out as he watched every person who came in the door gaze upward and then spin around joyfully, trying, with fail, to take in every beautiful thing.

  There was a long table up front for the immediate family. Memory had yet to speak to Arletha. It hadn’t been from a lack of trying. Memory had gotten Arletha’s phone number from Zenobia when she’d called and put her father on the phone as he broke the news of Arletha’s new family line.

  Memory couldn’t bring herself to call Arletha during those first few days. She was still trying to process it. And when she did finally decide to call, the phone merely rang. She then thought she’d do the right thing and leave a message on Arletha’s answering machine. When she lived with Arletha, she didn’t have an answering machine, but she thought surely after all this time Arletha would have gotten one by now. She knew Arletha didn’t like talking on the phone. In fact, Arletha seemed to like people even less than Memory did. When Memory first met Arletha and decided to rent a room from her, Arletha being antisocial and antifriendly had worked to be a perfect cover for her.

  But Memory had changed. She was hoping now that she and Arletha were more than just two people whose paths happened to have crossed (unpleasantly at several points in their time together), that Arletha was no longer the same person she’d known previously. Memory just couldn’t see anything that would ever cause Arletha to change.

  And there was her dilemma in trying to connect with Arletha in earnest. Still, she was determined to try . . . for her father’s sake, she would try. She would put aside her own feelings and differences with Arletha, smile, and make it work for whatever encounter they might have, especially during their father’s birthday celebration.

  So when Memory and Arletha came face-to-face in the banquet hall, Memory braced herself for some type of backhanded insult. Words that would prove how much holier and better Arletha was than anyone else, especially a wretched soul like Memory.

  “Memory,” Arletha said, walking toward her former house tenant.

  “Arletha,” Memory said with a smile.

  Arletha walked right up to Memory and hugged her. Memory was taken back. “God is so good,” Arletha said. She looked Memory up and down. “You look wonderful.” She hugged Memory again. “I’m so happy to see you again.”

  The hug felt genuine. Memory was a little off balanced now. She hadn’t expected what appeared to be a sincere greeting.

  “Listen,” Arletha said. “There’s something I need to say to you. Something I should have said to you a long time ago. Something past time should have been done.”

  Memory dropped her smile. She knew what likely was next. Judgment. Correction. Rebuke. “Okay.” She steadied herself for Arletha’s verbal attack.

  “I’m sorry,” Arletha said. “I was wrong. I have asked God to forgive me for the way I was toward you and so many. I thought I was so saved because I thought I lived so right and that I did everything so right. But I was lacking what I really needed: a true relationship with God, and love for others. What I did to you was wrong, and there’s no excuse or explaining it away. And I’m not just saying this to you. I’ve learned even more, how life can change just overnight. One minute, we just happen to know each other from a brief moment in time. The next minute, we learn that we’re real sisters. I’m saying this because I truly mean it. I only pray that you’ll accept my apology. Please forgive me.”

  Memory looked at her, and before she knew anything or could stop herself, she found herself crying and tightly embracing Arletha. “Of course I forgive you. And I love you. I don’t know what has happened, but it appears God has touched both of our hearts. Neither of us are the same as when we first met. It’s never too late with God. He’s God!”

  “Ooh, Sister. Now, don’t be starting nothing up in here!” Arletha said. “You’re going to make me come out of these cute little J.Reneé shoes my granddaughter bought me. That child just fusses over me, I tell you what. She took me on vacation last week. Said she wanted to do something special for me. We had the nicest time on a seven-day cruise. I was a little concerned about the weather and all that water, but it was great.”

  “That must have been where you were when I tried to call you,” Memory said.

  “You called me? My granddaughter’s been trying to get me to get voice mail. She even gave me an answering machine. I told her if I ain’t there, whoever wants me can call back until they get me. I don’t have time for all these newfangled contraptions. They’re just a burden with unnecessary stress. If you call me and I’m on the phone, you’ll get a busy signal. If you want to talk to me, then call me until I answer. Getting me is on you.”

  “You keep talking about a granddaughter.”

  “I have a granddaughter. And that girl is just like me: stubborn to a fault, although I like to call what we do persevering. She was determined to make me admit that I was actually her grandmother. Well, I was, but I was still trying to run away from my life.”

  “Like me,” Memory said.

  “You know, you’re right. Just like you. I guess that proves we really are sisters.” Arletha laughed.

  “So what’s your granddaughter’s name?”

  “Angela Gabriel Underwood,” Arletha said. “In fact, it was she who figured out that Ransom Perdue was my father. It’s certainly been a toll on my heart these last few years. First a granddaughter finds me, now my father. A lot of changes going on. A lot.”

  “Well, you know what they say: the only thing we can count on is change.”

  “That’s for sure,” Arletha said. “And I’m learning that all change ain’t bad.”

  Gramps strutted up in his black tux, white shirt with matching cane and top hat. “Ain’t this here a beautiful sight for these eyes. I’m glad to see you two getting along so wonderfully. Will y’all look at this place? Ooh-wee, this sure does look good! Make an old man feel like a million bucks. Feel like maybe my living really ain’t been in vain.”

  “Hey, Gramps,” Clarence said, weaving his way to give his grandfather a hug.

  “That’s one of those bear hugs there,” Gramps said, patting him on the back.

  “Yeah. It’s about to get started. I have to get ready. But I wanted to come and give you a
hug before everything really gets crazy around here and I really can’t get to you.”

  “I haven’t seen your daddy. Is he still gonna be here?” Gramps asked Clarence. “Your mama said she invited him. I told her it didn’t bother me, but I ain’t seen him yet. Of course, we know how he loves to make an entrance whenever he comes into a place. Always the showman. But you know how I like being, and for things to start, on time.”

  “I know how you are about time,” Clarence said. He touched the pocket watch his grandfather had given him a few months ago. “And no, my father’s not going to be here after all. You know . . . not after everything that happened yesterday.”

  “What happened yesterday?”

  “Maybe I should tell you later,” Clarence said. “I don’t want to ruin your party.”

  “Whatever you got to tell me about your daddy, I promise you, it ain’t gonna affect my celebratory mood in the least. So, what happened with your daddy?”

  Clarence wanted to kick himself for having brought it up. He just thought his grandfather had heard. “He’s been arrested. Something to do with an elected official and some bribery scheme they were cooking up. He’s in some hot water, for sure. One of the men involved tried to implicate Pastor Landris, but Pastor Landris came right out and told the truth about what he knew. The church secretary backed up Pastor Landris’s story. Daddy then stepped it up and confessed that Pastor Landris really had nothing to do with it. I don’t know what’s going to happen now. But you know Isis is a lawyer, and she’s good. If anybody can get him out of the mess he’s apparently in, my brother’s wife can.”

  “Well, he’d better be talking to the Lord and asking for His help. ’Cause folks is going to prison left and right these days. I keep telling folks they need to do right. They get in these positions and get greedy. God has a way of bringing you down to earth in a hurry. You know if God kicked Satan out of Heaven, these mortal folks here better stop trying to play God like He don’t mean what He say about wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

  “Okay, Gramps.” Clarence smiled. “I’m leaving. Got something special for you.”

  “Just having my family all here is special enough. God has truly blessed me.”

  The celebration began fifteen minutes later. There were more than two hundred fifty people there. Various folks spoke, no more than two minutes each, about Gramps and how he’d impacted their lives. Several times Gramps blurted out, “That’s right, y’all, give me my flowers while I can smell ’em. Whatever you got to say to me, say it while I can hear you.” Gramps had everyone laughing.

  Pastor Landris was asked to speak words of inspiration for about ten minutes. He stood, promising not to be long but desiring to carry out the family’s desires.

  “Briefly, I’d like to speak to you from John the first chapter beginning at the third through the fifth verse. ‘All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’ Tonight, we have assembled here to celebrate Mister Ransom Perdue’s one hundredth birthday. And I’m sure if you were to ask Mister Perdue, he would be the first to tell you that every day has not been easy. He would likely tell you that there were days when he wanted to throw in the towel and just walk away. But he didn’t. And tonight, he’s surrounded by a family that loves and appreciates him greatly.” Pastor Landris stood behind the lectern at the family table.

  “In the scripture I just read, it talks about how all things were made by God. In the scriptures that precede this, it talks on how in the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God. The word Word is capitalized in that first scripture because this Word is what we call a proper noun. You see this Word, which is logos, became flesh. And most of us know Him as Jesus. I say most, because I realize not everybody knows Jesus. Oh, some know about Jesus. Some of you may have heard others speak of Jesus or on Jesus. But you see, there is a difference in your life when you have met Jesus . . . had an encounter with Him. I’m talking about when you really know Jesus.

  “If you don’t believe what I’m saying, then ask Saul who, after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, later became a truly changed man named Paul. You see, there is a difference in knowing of someone, about someone, and in knowing them, which can only come from a one-on-one relationship with them. I’m talking about spending time getting to know them.”

  “Amen,” people were saying at various intervals.

  “I want to encourage you not to just say you know Jesus as you still walk around in darkness,” Pastor Landris continued. “I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again tonight. Light and darkness cannot occupy the same place at the same time. If there is light, then there can be no darkness. Jesus is the true Light. You’ve heard people say, ‘The truth is the light.’ But let me tell you that in the fourteenth chapter of John in the sixth verse, Jesus declared, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ From this scripture, we can see that Jesus, Who is the truth, exhibits the ultimate characterization of the Truth is the Light. If you have ever had a conversation with Mister Perdue, he will boldly tell you that he never could or would have made it if it had not been for the Lord on His side.

  “When men wanted to take him out, the Lord sent angels to make a way of escape for him. That’s what God will do for you. It’s a great accomplishment to reach the age Mister Perdue has reached. And I just want to go on record, Brother Perdue, by saying that according to the scriptures we’re looking for another twenty more years out of you.”

  The audience laughed as folks looked from one to the other, nodding.

  “Don’t laugh. The scriptures tell us we can have between seventy and one hundred twenty years. I’d like to conclude with Psalm 103, verses one through five. ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ Thy youth is renewed. Thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Pastor Landris smiled and shook his head.

  “We all need to bless the Lord. We all need to stand on His Word. And when you gaze upon this blessed man of God”—Pastor Landris pointed his hand toward Gramps—“I want you to see for yourself that when God says something and you believe it, and you act on it, then it will come to pass. It may not come when or how you wanted it, but it will come. Mister Perdue told me he has stood on these words in Psalm 103. And just look how far God has brought him. We have not, because we ask not.” Pastor Landris nodded.

  “It’s like ABCDEFG,” Pastor Landris said. “Ask, Believe, Confess, Do, Expect, and have Faith. Then after it has manifested, you can go to G: Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. And I suppose that now brings me to the letter H. Happy birthday, Ransom Perdue. And may you have many, many more. Thank you.” Pastor Landris took his seat to a generous applause.

  Clarence stepped onto the stage that had been prepared so everyone would be able to see no matter where they were sitting. Gabrielle stood there frozen—like a statue, in a position with her hands raised toward Heaven. She was wearing a blue chiffon dance outfit that matched the décor of the room. The music began to play. Most there knew the song from the first few beats of hearing it. Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It.”

  Clarence sang his heart out, and Gabrielle danced (despite knowing now that she wasn’t a perfect bone marrow match for the eight-year-old little girl) as though she’d grown wings. The two, whom most would have written off as the chief sinners among them all, brought that whole hall of more than two hundred fifty people to their feet in a thunderous, glorious praise to the Lord. They truly blessed God and blessed the people with the gift God had blessed them with.

  Af
ter they finished, Pastor Landris was asked by Gramps to extend an invitation for anyone who was there who might desire to be saved or rededicate their lives to God.

  “Come if you’d like to make Jesus the Lord of your life,” Pastor Landris said. “All you have to do is come forward, confess your sins by saying, ‘Lord, I’m a sinner.’ That’s it. You don’t have to run down every sin you’ve ever committed. Just say, ‘I’m a sinner.’ Tell God that you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead. Ask Jesus to come into your heart. And according to the Bible, you shall be saved. Anyone who desires to come, please come now. Won’t you come?”

  Gramps stood to his feet and began to sing, “Never would’ve made it.” One person got up and came forward, then another, and another. And by the time he finished singing, eighteen people from his family, including a son, Andrew, and Arletha had come forth.

  Gramps wiped tears from his eyes as he said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better gift than knowing some of you who came forward today are going to meet me on the other side. When this is all over with on this side, I want all of you here tonight to meet me in Heaven, where we’ll see Jesus . . . face-to-face. I thank You, Lord. For You have been good to me. You’ve brought me from a mighty long way, a mighty long way. And I never could have made it had it not been for You. You.” He pointed upward. “You, Lord. I thank You. Come on, everybody. I’ve got my ticket.” He waved his hand.

  People came and hugged Gramps. He continued to praise God as he wept. “God is good. Ain’t He good?” he said as he hugged each person. He then hugged each of his children, which now included Memory and Arletha. “Oh, yes! God is good! ” he said.

  A READING GROUP GUIDE

  THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT

  Vanessa Davis Griggs

  The following questions are intended to enhance your group’s discussion of this book.