by Caryl McAdoo
“Oh, get off your high horse, Sis, and never mind all that.”
“Take back saying I’m a gossip then. I mean it.”
“All right, fine..” He looked at Asa and winked. “You’re not a loose-lipped gossip, little sister. Now tell them what we decided.”
A smile spread across her face from ear to ear, and she got that little mischievous twinkle in her eye that always meant she and Faith were about to have a little thrill. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot.” She stuck her hand into her skirt pocket and pulled out an old jewelry box. “We want you and Asa to have these.”
Faith couldn’t believe it. She opened the little box, and the tears returned. “But I thought you –”
“No, your daddy changed his mind. Well, I helped him decide.” She looped her arm through her brother’s. “We think you two should have them.” Auntie looked to Asa. “These were Myrrh’s and Dee’s wedding rings, Faith’s grandparents. We’d always planned on burying them with us, but that’s just stupid. They’re a family heirloom, and we decided it would be best for you two to put them to good use.”
Asa loved it, loved Faith, her family, their history. Knowing who your people were, where they’d come from, was such an awesome blessing. Living on the same land your father and grandfather and great-grandfathers worked—amazing. Now these tokens, an heirloom for Faith’s wedding ring—and his.
What an honor.
But all of a sudden, his heart held questions, serious doubts. If only it hadn’t worked, but it had. And even Faith… She’d grilled him, too.
Praise God though, it definitely worked. Bless His Holy name.
SIXTEEN
Asa tried not to think about Carter hitting him, did his best to keep his hands away from his face, touching the swelling. Neither did he care to dwell on the man’s reaction to the words whispered in his ear. To some extent—that being as much as he could muster—he kept his mind on Wednesday next, but Sunday loomed.
What should he do?
It helped that Aunt Iris insisted he take her credit card and her niece to Paris and shop for an engagement ring to match the gold bands that had belonged to Faith’s grandparents. Of course, his levelheaded fiancé directed him away from the jewelry stores to the pawn shops in town. She and old Ben, a penny saved and all.
“What possible difference could it make that someone else owned it before us? It isn’t as though a jeweler somewhere didn’t own it before them.”
She was right, and he hated it that Auntie was paying for it when it should be his responsibility. She was already spending so much, but then all blessings came from the Lord. Wasn’t all of it His provision? Auntie would get her reward, too, for being such a blessing. There’d never been a time in Asa’s life where the Lord had forsaken him or failed him in any way.
No, his God was fully trustworthy.
He tried to stay in the moment, and a big part of him did. He so enjoyed being with Faith, doing whatever, working, playing, or just hanging. As long as she was with him, it didn’t matter. He never wanted it to end. The same as Christ wanted with His betrothed, a bond that never ended, one that grew deeper and more intense.
Only his desire for a closer relationship with God topped his longing for being one with Faith.
He yearned to know her more, inside and out, in a Biblical way.
But would he lose her?
With each drip of time’s water wheel, the knot in his gut tightened. How could he want two good and wonderful things so much that they threatened to tear him apart? But he saw no way to have them both. After more time praying than sleeping, Sunday rolled around, exactly seven days after the last.
He taught the mature Adult Sunday School class in the sanctuary. If forced to grade, he’d give himself an E for effort, definitely not inspired. But folks didn’t seem to mind. Too many bigger fish afloat that fine morning. Apparently, the emergency business meeting along with his non-fight with Carter preoccupied everyone’s conversations.
It surprised him no one asked about his face, but like Aunt Iris said, it wasn’t gossip at all so long as the church members spread facts, and that’s all the folks had done. Except the whole story wasn’t known. Well, Faith and Carter knew, but…
His love sauntered in with her dad and aunt, and for a few minutes, all thoughts of impending doom vanished. Iris stayed in the back with Carl, but Faith joined him up front and surprised him with a sweet, short hug in front of the congregation and God and everyone. Other than hand holding, her first public display of affection.
How could he live without her?
Again the what-ifs surfaced.
Singing the old hymns helped sooth his troubled soul as they always did, but not enough on this Sunday morn. Then Brother James himself stood up for the announcements. He passed on the normal, regular info then smiled.
“Now if any of you are not aware, the deacon board has called a special business meeting for this evening, and we want to invite everyone back. There’s only one item on the agenda so we won’t keep you long. We’ll be voting on whether we call Asa Davidson as our new pastor.”
Nods aplenty and a soft murmur of approval swept through God’s house. It pleased Asa but then... They didn’t know. Did he have to say something? Let them all in on his secret? If he didn’t, how long could he keep it?
Lord, show me what to do.
“The deacon board wholeheartedly agrees that Asa is God’s man for New Hope, and we need him. We unanimously support him and stand undivided in favor of a call.”
Music to his ears, the unprecedented show of acceptance swelled his heart. Finally, unabated approval. He loved it and bowed his head to thank God for it, but would his Father have him turn away from this first body of believers who seemed to love him, from the woman he knew loved him? His breath caught in his throat. He raised his gaze.
A guy in the back—Asa couldn’t remember his name—jumped up. “James, I can’t make it tonight. Let’s vote on him now.”
Brother James held out his hand. “Now you know, Ed, we don’t do it like that.”
“Well, why not? What’s the difference? You got more here now than you’ll have tonight.”
James shrugged, looked around, then at Asa. “What do you say, pastor?”
He stood. “Let me say a few words.” The head deacon surrendered the pulpit and hurried to his seat, like he’d been in front too long and needed to get back into his place.
Before he got to the podium, a voice from the back called out. “Tell us about Carter, preacher.”
Asa scanned the crowd, seemed they all wanted to hear that story. “Okay, but first, let me tell you another story.” The congregation nodded an agreement. “As most of you know, I was raised in an orphanage. Sometime around my sixth birthday, I realized what was happening.” He smiled even though what he was about to tell them always made his heart bleed a bit.
“This little girl from the next house had latched on to me. She was maybe two-and-a-half or so. She’d always get me to swing her when we got to play outside together and wanted to hang out with me like I was her big brother or something. I really loved that little doll, then one day, she wasn’t there. Vanished. Can’t tell you how much I missed her; found out later she’d been adopted.”
Asa blinked back the tears. “Before that day, I never realized that the people we’d see from time to time were there picking out someone to adopt. Had to be glad for her. She got her family.” He bowed and quickly swiped at his cheeks. “Now it wasn’t like the orphanage trains where at each stop the kids would be lined up at the depot for the town’s folks to choose, but still, something similar happened right there every weekend at Buckner’s.”
He made his mouth smile. “But, it never happened for me.” Sympathy oozed from the folks, but who wouldn’t feel for a little kid getting passed over?
“Then the artful dodger got moved to my house. Artie was about as tough as I was, and of course, we ended up in a big fight.” He laughed. “Worst and best brawl I ever had. The two biggest, b
addest guys in fifth grade duking it out. I asked him later if he could remember what we were fighting about. Neither of us could.
“Anyway, we became best buds.
“Spending a week in silent lunch, passing notes, had something to do with it, but looking back, I figure it was more the fact that our fight was a draw. We both stood there taking and giving all we had. Artie was the kind of guy you wanted to have your back.” He chuckled. “Best friends forever.”
Laughter joined nods of agreement, especially from the men and bigger boys.
“We even cut our thumbs and made a blood oath, promised we’d stick together through it all and no way ever agree to be adopted. No one our age ever was anyway, but then one day Artie turned up gone. He’d been picked. Lightning had struck, and worst of all, I don’t know his new name. Never got to say goodbye.”
More than a few of the ladies daubed at their eyes. Asa blinked back tears of his own and cleared his throat.
“Probably was for the best. I found God the next year, and well, that night was the first night I didn’t go to sleep feeling sorry for myself. But I have to admit, I’ve never been good with rejection. The last three churches I preached at all had openings for senior pastor while I was there. At the first one, I really didn’t expect to get called, but at both the other two, the man leaving recommended me.
“Guess I was too young, not married, not Baptist enough. Who knows what they were thinking? I figured the not-being-married part was their biggest reason, and maybe they were right.”
He looked at Faith who smiled at him, but her eyes showed concern. He scanned the congregation. “Anyway, when Aunt Iris told me about her niece, I was very interested. Maybe for all the wrong reasons at first, but I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Faith Johnson and cannot imagine life without her.”
He moved to the side of the podium and leaned on it. “Before the other day, our impending marriage was predicated on you folks hiring me full time. But I squirreled a promise out of her, got her to say she’d marry me no matter what.” He stepped toward her. “Faith, I release you from that promise.”
Her eyes filled with shock, then questions. She shook her head, but didn’t say anything.
He looked at the folks, or rather a bit over their heads as he’d been taught to do. “You asked about DeWayne Carter.” He rubbed his chin. Truth was Truth. “Seeing as how no one asked me about my black eye and swollen jaw, I figured most of you have heard the story.”
Nods.
A teen boy in the back hollered out. “Sure did, preacher! You got the tar beat out of you. Never landed one punch back.”
Asa smiled. Boys would always be boys. He shook his head a little and let a long sigh out that reverberated through the sound system. “So then may I rest assured that you’ve heard why I let him hit me twice?”
More nods. And no smart remarks accompanied them that time.
“Never had anything like that happen to me before. I mean hearing the Word of the Lord like that. It was loud, but not really in my ears. But way more strange, what happened next proved even more amazing.” He waited a few heartbeats. Silence reigned. Seemed like he had them, but how would they feel in a few minutes?
“I want to tell y’all I did something I’d never done before. I bound Satan off of DeWayne and asked the Lord to give him a season of free will. Then I let him go, totally prepared for him to hit me again. Instead, he just looked at me for a few seconds then bolted. He lit out to his truck, jumped in, and sped off like he was scared to death or something.” He glanced at Faith. “Didn’t you think so? That the way he left was weird?”
“I did.” She stood. “But Asa, I don’t want to be released from my promise.”
A deafening silence filled the sanctuary as though those wagging Red River tongues had been struck dumb all at the same time.
“But you may, my darling.” He looked away from her as she sat again looking as numb as he wished his heart could be. He hated doing it, hated giving up all that he’d dreamed for, but to be obedient to the Lord, he’d give up his very life. Nothing was more important. “So anyway, that’s why I’m withdrawing my name for consideration as your pastor.”
Faith jumped to her feet with no trepidation that time. “No. You can’t. Why?”
“I have to, baby. I don’t know exactly what I am, but it isn’t traditional Baptist, I know that much, and I can’t let these folks hire me under the wrong impression that I am.”
“What about us?” She spoke as though there wasn’t a room full of folks totally focused on her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart, you know I do, but God’s doing something with me. I will not be disobedient to what I believe He’s calling me to. I’ve got to preach the gospel, and you can’t leave your dad, I understand. We’ll just have to wait. And see.”
One hand went to her hip, and the other pointed its finger, stabbing at him. “No, Asa Davidson. I’ve waited all my life for you. I don’t want to wait any more.”
The Ed guy in back stood. “Hey folks, I say we hire him anyway. Anyone willing to give up all that to do what he thinks God wants him to –”
“Now hold on, Ed.” James jumped to his feet. “Asa, exactly what are you talking about? Not being Baptist?”
Where could he start? “Well, drinking, dancing, and miracles to start with. I’m not saying I’m a Pentecostal or Charismatic, but I believe the Bible. Take it for what it says.”
A woman stood up. “Are you saying you think drinking alcohol is okay?”
Asa shrugged. “Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake; Proverbs says give wine to a troubled man; it also says strong drink is raging and wine a mocker, unwise is the man that trusts in them. Sounds like moderation’s the key to me. There’s Jesus’ first miracle, the water to wine, and scientists even say red wine is good for your heart.
“So yes, ma’am, not a teetotaler. I believe alcohol in moderation does not dishonor God.”
A teenage girl jumped to her feet, obviously looking for some ammunition. “What was that about dancing again, Pastor?”
“David danced in front of all his people, and God called him a man after his own heart.”
The woman, still standing, knitted her brows and glared. “That was different.”
“Not really. I can’t believe God wants us to have a lot of don’ts. Jesus said I give to you a new commandment. Love one another as you love yourselves. The word also says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. That doesn’t sound like there needs to be a lot of rules.”
The lady shook her head then sat down, apparently not wanting to debate.
“Anyway. So, it’s been great, but there’s no need to vote. I’ll be packed and gone tonight.” He headed toward the side door.
Faith ran in front of him. “No, you can’t leave. Not now.”
He took her hand. “Baby, don’t you see that I have to? I’ve got to find a job, figure all this out. I’ll be back soon as I can.”
“No! We’re getting married this Wednesday. Period. You asked. You promised.”
“But I don’t have a job. I can’t support you.”
“We’ll figure it out. I’ll sell Doc if I have to. Hire you to help me. I need you.”
“You can stay with me until the wedding.” Asa looked toward the back of the church. Aunt Iris smiled. “I don’t care what anyone says, if we let this man walk away, we’re fools. We need a man to teach us who’s so dedicated to God.”
James jumped to his feet. “But we can’t hire him now, Iris. You heard him. He’s not even Baptist. We’ll be the laughing stock of the valley.”
Carl pulled himself to his feet. “James, I for one would like to have a miracle. To me, adhering to some doctrine sounds more like being a Pharisees than being like Christ.”
The deacon sat down with a perplexed expression.
The teenage girl shouted out. “I’m with Brother Johnson and Aunt Iris. I say we hire him right now. Come o
n, Daddy. Take a vote!”
James stood back up, looked to each of those who served on the Board of Deacons, and not one of them indicated a no. “So then, if there are no objections –”
DeWayne Carter burst through the doors, and all heads turned to the back. A collective gasp reverberated. He scanned the front and locked eyes with Asa. He made his way straight to him. “Can you baptize me, preacher? I done asked Jesus to come into my heart, and I want to get dunked.”
He turned toward the congregation. “I want to confess to all y’all that Jesus is my Lord now. He’s done forgave me my sins, and you all know how rotten I’ve been.” He placed a hand on Asa’s shoulder. “Your preacher here, he did it.” Big tears rolled down Carter’s cheeks. “I ain’t never felt so clean, like on the inside. I know He’s saved my sorry old –”
“How about it, folks? Brother James, can you fill the baptistery for us?”
“You know I can!”
Asa pulled Carter into a bear hug. Tears wet his own cheeks though joy swelled his heart. This was what it was all about, bringing souls into the Kingdom. He patted the big man’s back. “It’ll be my pleasure.” He turned to the congregation. “Guess we’re having a baptism this morning.”
The deacon hurried to the side door. “I’ll turn the water on and be right back.”
Faith stepped toward DeWayne and put a hand on his broad chest. “I’m so happy for you.”
He didn’t wipe his tears. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you, gal. Can you forgive me?”
She hugged him. “Of course, I can. I do. I’m so happy for you.”
The Lord was so good, full of salvation and restoration.
Carter turned toward the congregation. “Y’all sure got yourself a good one here. Hope you won’t mind me coming every Sunday from here on out. I gotta hear what he has to say.”
His little brother came to the front and hugged him. Others left their pews to join in the growing hug until it looked like a football huddle gone wild.
That’s when James came back and headed straight for the pulpit. He got up close to the microphone. “Folks. Hello. If y’all will take your seats now.” His amplified voice overcame the chatter and congratulations and words of encouragement and support. “I figure we’ve got a decision to make here this morning. If you’ll take your seats, please. Deacons, if you’d come to the front.”