Micah frowned. “You’re mocking me.”
“No, I love it. With a program like that, who needs their heart? For that matter, who needs a relationship with God?” Rick picked up a piece of driftwood and hurled it into the churning surf.
“I’m not saying do away with God. I’m just saying why not use the wisdom in the Bible and modern technology to systematically point people in the right direction?”
“What about deeper relationship with God? Intimacy with Him? His heart knowing ours. Ours knowing His. Hearing His voice and following it?”
Micah watched two kite surfers launch themselves high enough into the air to become silhouettes against the late-afternoon sun. “God gives us a moral code we must follow. To live by the heart is a dangerous thing. We were given the Word so we will not be taken in by the deceptions of the heart.”
“Who’s been telling you that?” Rick’s voice took on a sharp edge.
A wave of heat passed over Micah’s face. “No one. Just talking to myself about it.”
“Really.” Rick stepped in front of Micah and looked him in the eye. “Just yourself?”
“Yeah.”
Rick nodded, turned, and trudged down the beach. “So we live only by the Word?”
“Man can be deceived. The Word can’t,” Micah said as he caught up to Rick. “We need to follow its guidelines.”
“So what do the Christians all across the world today do who don’t have Bibles? Are they living in less truth than you and I?”
Micah was silent.
“The Word is our foundation. It’s what we test everything against. But during the first fifteen hundred years of the church, there were no Bibles in the homes of the people. Not until Gutenberg invented the printing press. Who led them? How did they know truth?”
“You’re saying we don’t set up principles to live by?” Micah asked.
“I’m saying Jesus is our example and He was never led by rules or set formulas. He was led by the Holy Spirit. Period. And the Spirit rarely did things the same way twice. You can’t plug things into some formula and get the answer. Man would like to reduce walking with God to some rule book of pat answers. But that’s not Christianity. Man has turned Christianity back into Mosaic Law. Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t swear, and don’t go to R-rated movies. Bingo. You’re a Christian. Most churches use those four unwritten rules to judge whether someone is saved or not. But I don’t think any of those things have a lick to do with true relationship with God. Do you?”
“I’d think more than twice about a guy who smokes, swears like a trucker, drinks like a whale, watches NC-17 movies, and then tells me he’s a follower of Jesus.”
“Me, too.” Rick leaned down to pick up half a sand dollar and slipped it into his pocket.
“You’re just going to let that little contradiction hang in the air?” Micah asked.
“The Pharisees were the ultimate followers of principles and rules. Jesus called them whitewashed tombs. Look the right way. Say the right things. Do this; don’t do that! Jesus blew their minds. He said the wrong things, hung out with the wrong kind of people: prostitutes and tax collectors. Ate the wrong kind of food, healed on the wrong day, sat down to dine too many times with the wrong kind of people.” Rick grabbed another half sand dollar off the beach.
“So they branded Him a drunkard and a glutton. A friend of sinners. But He only cared about one thing—setting something free that you abandoned and buried a long time ago.” Rick stared into Micah’s eyes. “The treasure of the Kingdom.”
“And this treasure is?”
Rick leaned in and smiled. “Your heart.”
“Jeremiah says the heart is deceitful beyond all wickedness.”
“Really?”
“You know this, Rick! God forgives us and washes us from sin. But our heart is good? Sorry. Why would David say, ‘Create in me a clean heart’ unless it’s unclean? To describe our hearts as good and pure and holy? It’s just not biblical.”
A wave of anger and concern passed over Rick’s face so quickly Micah wasn’t sure he’d actually seen it.
“You can’t change a man from the outside in. And to transform a son of Adam from the inside out, Jesus must go deep into the core and change the heart. Then the outside will change. It’s called the new covenant. All things, even your heart, become new.”
Micah’s head felt like it was full of molasses. Rick was as convincing as the voice had been the night before. “Let’s say you’re right. How do I change my heart?”
“Allow it to surface. Then invite Him in to do some fixing.” Rick turned to Micah, grabbed him by both shoulders, and smiled. “And guard it with everything in you.” Then he strode back the direction they’d come.
Micah stood watching the kite surfers free themselves from gravity for an hour before he headed back to town.
Pulling into his driveway, he thanked God that Wednesday—Archie day—was only three days away. Rick. The voice. Confusion. Maybe Micah would get some clear direction from Archie’s next letter. He needed it.
CHAPTER 21
Archie time would come early on Wednesday. Micah would make sure of it.
Tuesday night, before crashing into bed and crawling under his navy blue comforter, Micah set his cell phone alarm to go off at 12:01 a.m. Archie wanted him to wait a week before opening each letter? No problem. 12:01 Wednesday morning would qualify as a week. And Micah needed answers.
He’d avoided the voice room the past few days and Rick as well. Too much conflicting advice. He hoped Archie’s next letter could slice through some of the fog filling his brain.
July 13, 1991
Dear Micah,
As children we were told of the Big Bad Wolf and were introduced to the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. In The Lord of the Rings Frodo faces the evil Lord Sauron. Luke Skywalker must face his father Darth Vader in Star Wars.
In every comic book there is a deadly foe the hero must vanquish.
Why does every story contain a villain? Because within yours one will most certainly be present as well.
Satan and his emissaries war against God and His angels, and if we are followers of the Savior, this war is directed toward us as well. While on Earth, villains are set in our path to distract us from the destiny that God has written for us from before the foundation of the world.
Unfortunately I cannot tell you who your villain is. But I can say his goal will be to kill, steal, and destroy.
The target of the assault will always be our heart. And clarity on where the truth lies will be elusive.
Wonderful. Micah tightened the blanket wrapped around him as he sat downstairs in his overstuffed chair in the great room. The low hum of the ocean sneaked through the walls of the house, but it still felt silent in the room. The view out the picture windows was black, the clouds not letting the moon or stars make even the hint of an appearance over the sea.
He put down the letter and let out a sigh. When he talked to the voice, it seemed to be truth. When he talked to Rick, his words rang true. When he read Archie’s letters, they seemed full of truth. So where was the sliver of a lie coming from?
Then again, maybe he was Luke Skywalker and his villain was the obvious choice: his dad. Micah continued reading.
At this point, five weeks have transpired in our journey together so my guess is you’ve already met this foe.
Wait. The letter seemed to imply he’d meet his villain during his time in Cannon Beach, not before. Did that rule out his dad?
Micah set the letter down again and stared at the dark-paneled ceiling. It was a strange thought. He’d jumped ahead of Archie already and assumed that this foe would of course look like an angel of light and not like a villain at all. It would be one of the people he least expected. Sarah? Hardly. Archie? Yeah, right. Rick? I
mpossible.
But then Micah’s talk with Rick on the beach returned to him and he wondered. He toyed with the idea for an instant, then pushed it to the back of his mind. No way. He knew Rick too well. Didn’t he? But if not Archie or Rick or Sarah or his dad, then who? He read on.
I am speculating, but I surmise you will be predisposed to trust this villain almost automatically, that he will find a way into your heart that you would not expect and therefore have not built a guard against.
And of course this person will not look evil, instead appearing as an ally. But, Micah, no matter how he appears or how smooth his tongue, if his counsel does not line up with the Word of God and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, you must not let him into your heart.
Be wary, be cautious. Test the spirits.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus.
Archie
Micah glanced at the clock on his coffee table. 12:20 a.m. He was wide awake now. Getting back to sleep would be a jousting match with his mind acting as the lance. A cold shiver raced down his spine. The letter pushed the idea of talking to Rick or the voice further down the list of options. Next step?
Sarah. She never confused him. That’s who he should talk to.
What would she be doing when the sun rose in five hours?
CHAPTER 22
Sarah strode across the sand at a brisk clip. It was her alone time, her God time. She wore two T-shirts and a hooded sweatshirt. Being hungry she could tolerate. Tired? Doable. But cold? No.
The tide chart said a sliver of gold light would peek over the eastern foothills at 5:48. Sarah looked at her watch. Four more minutes.
Her eyes opened and closed every four or five seconds in rhythm to the light melody sneaking out of her mouth. It was a time to sing, to think, to pray, to listen. It startled her when a voice slightly louder than the waves called out from behind her.
“I don’t see many people out here this early.”
She turned to see Rick twenty yards behind her. Sarah smiled. “That’s why I come this time of the day. No one to disturb the quiet. It’s a good time to connect with God. And you?”
“For the same reason.” He took half-a-dozen long, loping strides to join her.
The slightest hint of wind swirled, as if it couldn’t decide which direction to blow. Sarah turned her face to where in seconds the sun would crest the horizon and cast gold on the beach. She glanced at Rick. They went to the same church and talked, often at length, when she filled up her Subaru or when they bumped into each other in town. Yet the way Micah talked about Rick gave her a deeper, richer perspective on the mechanic, and she had enjoyed their little conversations more and more over the summer.
As they strolled down the beach, a wave broke free from the others and sprinted toward their shoes. They stepped back in unison, then watched the water recede into the sea.
“Can I ask you something a bit personal?” Rick said.
“Sure.”
“I was hoping we might have a conversation about our mutual friend.” Rick pulled off his Rams hat and rubbed his graying head.
“Micah?” Sarah’s face warmed, and she replied without looking at Rick.
“You thought I might be talking about someone else?” Rick laughed.
“No.”
“I care for him, Sarah. I’ve seen a lot like him over the years. But not a lot like him.”
“Care to explain?”
“Not really. You probably know what I mean.”
She knew exactly what he meant.
They walked out among three lone rocks the outgoing tide had left naked. Sarah bent down and touched the back of a burgundy-toned starfish that hid under an outcrop of rock.
“I see amazing gifts in him.” Sarah watched the sun sparkle on the waves. “I also see a man in chains of his own making, and he doesn’t even know he’s bound by them. Someone who deep down wants freedom. Who doesn’t know who he is. I see the man he could be. Most of all I see”—she looked up at Rick before finishing—“myself.”
“Before your injury.”
“Yes.”
The wind picked up and Rick zipped up his bottle green Windbreaker in protest.
“What do you see in him?” Sarah said.
“The same. So I’m praying for him. Being a friend. Jesus invited me into his life so I answered.”
They eased farther down the sand alone, only spotting an occasional early morning jogger.
“Can you trust me?” Rick asked softly.
She said nothing.
“You can trust me.”
“And if I do?”
“You’re asking yourself, ‘Could I fall in love with Micah?’ And you’re scared of getting hurt because of things you know.”
She turned away and begged the wind to dry her tears quickly. Love? How could he know that? Was it that obvious?
“You have to be strong, Sarah. Be true to what God has spoken to you about Micah. Don’t push it, but don’t hold back, either.”
Rick stopped walking. Sarah didn’t. How could Rick know what God told her? He probably wanted an indication that she’d heard him. She swallowed and put her head into the wind. She had heard. She had definitely heard.
||||||||
As she flipped through a mystery in the Cannon Beach Book Company late that afternoon, a muted voice behind her said, “While we don’t mind a small amount of browsing, we have a strictly enforced time limit on how long someone can look at the books without actually buying one.”
Sarah didn’t turn and said in mock whisper, “Then arrest me, and throw away the key.”
She turned to face Micah and tried to keep her heart from leaping ahead of her mind. It had been almost two weeks since they’d seen each other, and she admitted it—she missed him. Badly. She hadn’t returned his phone calls about the “praying for you for years” comment. What would she say? She couldn’t tell him. But she’d hoped to run into him every day since.
Sarah gazed into his baby-blue eyes and admitted Rick was right. Her feelings went deeper than missing. She was falling in love. A shopper next to them dropped her book, and Micah stooped to pick it up. It was a welcome distraction, giving Sarah a few more seconds to collect her thoughts.
God was drawing Micah, leading him. But he still had to make the choice to follow or not, and it frightened her, because she could tell he was resisting God’s pull. Micah had even told her he was. So much of his heart was still wrapped up in Seattle. What if his final choice was not her and Cannon Beach?
“Hey, you, how’s life?” Micah stood and brushed a strand of her brown hair back from her face.
“Always fascinating. And you?”
“Same.” His warm eyes invited her, drew her in.
“Beach walk?”
“Sure.”
After reaching the beach, they headed north toward Ecola Creek. A mild wind tickled their faces as the sand squeaked under their feet, but the breeze had only a hint of coolness. The coastline was nearly empty. Three kites struggled to rise in the soft wind, and in the distance two young families poked in the tide pools at the base of Haystack Rock.
They ambled down the beach and talked about nothing. The waves lulled them into silence until Micah brought up the subject she didn’t know how to respond to.
“I need to ask you something. It’s not a big deal.” Micah kicked the sand. “Actually it is, but it’s a weird question, and I don’t know where to start.”
Here it comes. Sarah clenched her hands. She’d suspected he wouldn’t drop the question till he got an answer. “The beginning always lends clarity,” she finally answered, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
“When you came over for dinner, I said you were beautiful. Your answer flew by me at first, but the next
day it smacked me like a wave in the face.”
She stared at the gray sand, her heart pounding. It wasn’t the question she expected. It was worse. Sarah knew exactly what he was about to ask. That night at dinner she’d let it slip. She thought she’d gotten away with it. Obviously not.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“It was your response to me saying ‘you’re beautiful.’ You remember?” Micah stopped walking.
She stopped as well, dropped her head, and pushed up a little mound of sand between her feet and Micah’s. “Let’s say I don’t.”
“You asked about Julie and me.”
Sarah nodded, watching the sand at her feet.
“I hadn’t told you her name.”
Sarah started walking again.
“How did you know her name was Julie?”
A tinge of warmth blossomed in her face. She felt Micah following her. A flock of gulls soared overhead and squawked at her—as if on cue—demanding she speak. But Micah broke the silence first.
“And the day we rode up to Indian Beach together? The ‘praying for me for years’ comment still has me curious, too.”
Great. A double shot of as-awkward-as-they-come questions. Sarah kept walking as she looked out over the gray waves toward Tillamook Rock Lighthouse sitting a mile offshore. To be that isolated right now would be heaven. She stopped but didn’t turn when she spoke. If there was any hope of a future with Micah, she had to tell him, but she didn’t have to watch his reaction to her outlandish reasons.
“Five years ago, right after I came to Cannon Beach, I stood alone at Hug Point and watched the sun drop into the ocean. This indescribable peace settled around me, and in that moment I felt like God told me something. Something I’ve believed at times with everything in me and other times thought I made up inside my own head.”
She hesitated. Should she drop it or plunge in all the way? She plunged. “He said one day I would fall in love with a man I barely knew down here in Cannon Beach. He’d be on a journey back to God and I’d be part of it. Then, clear as a flash of lightning against a black sky, I saw the name Julie in my mind. It didn’t take much to realize there would be a Julie somehow connected to this guy. So I’ve prayed for years . . .” She trailed off. What more could she say? Silence surrounded her as she steeled for Micah’s reaction. Had she said too much?
Jim Rubart Trilogy Page 14