Читать книгу The Cord - Stephen W. Robbins - Страница 9

Pastor Donovan acknowledged his daughter and the other graduates on Graduation Sunday. He congratulated each one by name and said a little prayer for them. For Anne, he thanked God that “Anne is going to study abroad” and that “she will be expanding her horizon.”

The next day Anne boarded a plane to Israel. Before she checked her bags, Payne looked her in her eyes, and with tears in his, he said, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” With these words from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he let go of his little girl—and then returned home to hold tightly his wife.

He entered the summer as he would any uncharted waters, unprecedented events that would test his faith and patience. He prayed for wisdom and strength. His daughter was far away, out of his control—as was his wife. And there was Doug, missing his mom and sister. Wasting no time to set sail into the unknown, Doug asked after the breakfast prayer, “What if she has a girl?”

Perplexed initially, then annoyed, Payne looked at his son, and then he stared at the cold cereal in the bowl. It’s the first day of summer and I already miss Anne, and I miss Ashley’s world-famous waffles. Bracing for the storms lurking on the horizon, he resolved not to focus on the rough waters. He would not be like Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus in the midst of the storm. But this would not be easy. He felt himself begin to sink when Doug bellowed, “Or, what if she has twins?”

* * * * *

What if? Doubt entered Pastor Donovan. What if the plan did not work? What if this was not God’s plan? What if something happened to Anne? When he was just about to spiral down into the place where Ashley resided, the phone rang.

“Hi, Dad.”

Payne heard tiredness, but more importantly, joy in Anne’s voice as she shared her first report. “The flight went well. I thought that maybe I felt the baby’s first kick, but realized it was only air turbulence.” The conversation was short because she needed to rest. He could use some rest, too.

He cuddled next to Ashley and whispered, “Anne just called. She sounded good.” With this said, he fell asleep with his left arm wrapped around his perfectly still wife, unaware that her eyes remained wide open.

The phone did not ring at the Donovan’s home for the rest of the week. Friends were giving them space. Parishioners were off vacationing or making plans to do so. Telemarketers were honoring the do-not-call list. The deafening silence of no long-distance call from Anne caused Payne to more than once check that the phone still worked. Why hasn’t she called? Is she okay? How long will it be between calls? Can I call her? Questions began to pile up, again. Finally, the phone rang. After a brief pause, a man, obviously reading a script, had an offer that could change his life. So much for honorable salesmen.

Anne called two weeks later. “Dad, so much has happened. I’m sorry that I have not called. We have been so busy, going from one place to the next. But my evening is free. I’m so glad we have a chance to talk.”

For the next hour, Pastor Donovan listened as Anne talked about her trip. He smiled as her innocent smile beamed over the phone. She explained that George arranged for her to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, making various stops along the way. Her time in and around Nazareth proved to be a memorable start to her pilgrimage. She visited various sites that commemorated Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary. Without pausing, Anne transitioned to describing the sense of awe she felt as she walked on the land that Jesus did as a boy growing up. She envisioned Him playing with His friends and working in His father’s workshop. The terrain of His neighborhood aroused nostalgia in Anne. The earthiness of Jesus captivated her.

Anne shared about the team’s day trip to Cana. She reassured her dad that she did not drink any wine. As a teetotaler and expectant mother, Anne was neither tempted nor vexed by the local merchants’ persistent mission to have visitors imbibe history. The excursion caused Anne to reflect on the unique mother-son relationship that Mary and Jesus navigated—and one that they, too, would soon navigate.

She went into detail about how she read and then reflected on the first miracle performed by Jesus. She shared how she had pondered, as she sat outside the church built upon the remains of the house believed to be where Jesus turned the water into wine, Why is Joseph not mentioned? Was he an absent father like so many are today? Was he dead? Anne confessed that she could not help but think about her own situation. Where is the father of my baby? Who is the father? God? George? Is there a father? Am I carrying a mere product of SarkiSystems? Determined not to wallow in this paternal mystery, she redirected her thoughts to something much more uplifting—Mary’s firstborn. “Dad, He was invited to the wedding celebration. It’s ludicrous to think that Jesus was always serious. He was fun to be around. Those having a good time welcomed Him.” Anne paused, as if receiving confirmation. “Dad, Jesus loved to play. You know how I know this? Children loved to be around Him.” Even without a father in the picture, and while tipsy tourists passed by her, she shared how she imagined laughing and playing with her baby Jesus.

Though Pastor Donovan could hear his daughter’s grin as she related her Cana experience, he interrupted her, even as she transitioned to sharing how she envisioned herself echoing Mary’s instructions, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

“So where are you now?” He injected this question, partly because he wanted to know, partly because he wanted to reassure his daughter that he was still listening, and partly because he just wanted to say something.

“I’m in Megiddo,” answered Anne. “But I’m not sure why.”

“Many epic battles, biblical and extra-biblical, have been fought there.” Pastor Donovan carried the conversation now, explaining the historical and future significance of the place. Sounding more like a preacher than a dad, he explained that this is where the great and final battle of Armageddon would be fought. “Anne, you are at the exact location on the map of the future apocalyptic battle mentioned in the book of Revelation. You are sleeping tonight where the final overthrow of Satan and the antichrist will take place.

As he began to unpack the meaning of the great “Day of the Lord,” Pastor Donovan heard commotion over the phone. He heard a man’s voice; then he heard his daughter’s scream. Then he heard a dial tone.

Frantically, he searched through the kitchen junk drawer for the card he had gotten from SarkiSystems. His fingers shook as he punched in the numbers. The phone seemed to ring forever before he heard a sweet cheerful voice on the other end. “SarkiSystems, how may I help you?”

“I was just talking to Anne—she was on the phone and then she screamed. I need the number for George now.”

“ George is out of the country right now, but I can see if I can get in touch with him for you.”

“You don’t understand! She screamed. Something’s not right.”

“Let me see what I can do, sir. What was your name again?”

“Payne, Payne Donovan. Anne is my daughter.”

The line switched to some saccharine love song. Payne clenched and unclenched his hand, willing her to get back to him.

Ten minutes later, the receptionist came back on the line. “Mr. Donovan, I just talked with Mr. Carlson and he said to tell you not to worry. Everything is under control and Anne will call you back as soon as she can. It was just a little misunderstanding.”

“But, I need to talk to her. I need to hear her say she’s alright.”

“I assure you that Anne is fine and will call you as soon as she can. They have quite an itinerary, you know.”

Payne realized he would get no further with the receptionist, but he resolved to call back every day until somebody told him something.

Then, for the next two months, he heard nothing—nothing, that is, except echoes of Anne’s scream and SarkiSystems’ reassurances that all was well.

* * * * *

Pastor Donovan suffered in survival mode, existing as one blinded and trapped by duty and a plan. He preached without care. He shook hands without eye contact. He ate without conversation. He slept without hugging Ashley. Doug summed it up well on the ride to church: “Dad, your sermon title on the marquee at church this week should read, ‘Dead Man Talking.’”

The message Pastor Donovan actually preached was on Psalm 121. It was the final sermon in the summer series entitled “Psalmthings to Think About.” More so than ever, he needed to hear his own sermon. He needed to be reminded that his help comes from the Lord. The One who made heaven and earth by His sheer word, wisdom, and will is the One who is our keeper. He is our shelter both day and night. Only He could keep us from being smitten by the moon, from going loony. Pastor Donovan found great comfort in the thought that “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” He stated in his message, “God is never exhausted, never weary, never inattentive, never growing old.” He ended his sermon by saying, “The Lord keeps Israel, and He keeps the vulnerable that are in Israel. The Lord keeps them from the evil one. He keeps them for His glory. He keeps them in His love. He keeps them ‘until the day of Christ Jesus.’”

Then, as usual, Pastor Donovan concluded his sermon with a prayer. What was unusual, however, was the long pause between heads bowing and him praying—praying, that is, out loud; for in the silence he prayed, Oh, Lord, please keep Anne in Your safe care. Pay attention to her and protect her as she studies abroad and expands her horizon and carries the hope of the world.

The service ended. The series ended. Sunday ended. Summer ended. Belief was about to end. And then the phone rang on Pastor Donovan’s day off, three hours before sunrise. His heart immediately began to race and skip as he leaped out of bed and feared the worse.

“Hello, this is Pastor Donovan.” The many phone calls received at this hour had conditioned him to identify himself as “pastor.”

“This is George. I want you to know that Anne is back safely under our care. Due to the circumstances of her kidnapping, we could not communicate with you. It would have compromised her rescue and put you and your family in jeopardy.”

“Kidnapping? Anne was kidnapped?” Pastor Donovan struggled to understand as he struggled to stand and awaken. As Ashley stirred in bed and returned to sleep, he listened to George give a concise report. George explained that Maxwell, one of the team members, got greedy. “He wanted to serve both God and mammon. He ended up with neither. His ‘Judas kiss’ cost him his place on the team, and his soul.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Maxwell did not share the same level of commitment as the rest of us. His act of extortion was fueled by greed. He wanted personal power, fame, and fortune. He saw our plan—the return of Jesus for all to see—as a means of great gain. He wanted to control access to Jesus. And, we believe, he wanted Anne. He planned to be her Joseph.”

“Maxwell intended to marry Anne?”

“Yesterday, the day we rescued Anne, we found a video file open on Maxwell’s phone as he lay dead on the floor in a house on a kibbutz. It documented his intentions. He planned to take Anne as his wife, take Jesus as his son, and together they would take ‘The Holy Family’ on the road, selling hope from church to church.”

No longer standing, but now fully awake, Pastor Donovan asked if he could speak with Anne.

“Not yet, but soon.”

“How soon?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“Of course. Have I ever let you down?”

For the moment, George’s “Of course” persuaded Pastor Donovan that he would indeed get to speak to his daughter tomorrow. However, George’s “Have I ever let you down?” would need further persuasion. Not ready to say good-bye, and certainly not ready to go back to sleep, he began to rattle off questions. “How did you find Anne? Where is she now? Is the baby all right? What happened to Maxwell? Why . . .”

George interrupted, “I know you have many questions, but we must end our conversation. I will, though, answer your questions. A chip that was inserted into Anne back at SarkiSystems proved to be a great help in locating her. She is resting outside the city of Shechem. The baby is well. Maxwell took his own life after he refused to surrender.” With these terse answers, George said good-bye.

Payne held the phone tightly. With a new set of questions churning inside, he anticipated insomnia—that overstayed, wayward guest in the Donovan home—showing up with even more questions as he sat on the couch awaiting Anne’s call.

He awoke the next morning, still clenching the phone, when Bundt jumped into his lap. Like Anne would do, he found himself seeking comfort in the listening ear of their Labrador. “How much do I ask her? Did she see Maxwell commit suicide? How come I did not know about the chip? How much do I tell Ashley? When do I tell the church?” Payne unleashed his heart. Bundt listened.

* * * * *

Pastor Donovan cleared his schedule. He was not about to miss Anne’s call.

“Hi, Daddy.” These two words, softly and tenderly spoken over the phone, sent tears down his cheeks. It had been too long. Too much had happened. Unable to speak, and desperate to breath, he willed for her to continue.

“I know, Daddy. I love you, too.” Anne was barely able to voice these words before her own tears flowed. For the next few minutes, their shared silence and broken sentences spoke volumes. They understood each other. They needed each other. They were more than father and daughter; they were brother and sister in Christ, sharing the blessed hope.

Payne asked Anne about her day. Neither was ready to delve into the horrors of recent events. She told him about her visit to the site of Jacob’s well. Though aware that the team resumed the documentary of her journey to Bethlehem, she became lost in her thoughts as she imagined Jesus offering “living water” to the Samaritan woman; then she imagined Jesus offering it to her. She shared, “Dad, as I sat still thinking about this encounter, the baby kicked. For the first time—far more than a brief flutter—I felt His movement. Right there, at the well, Jesus living in me became real. He gave me ‘a well of water springing up to eternal life.’”

As she recounted her thoughts, it occurred to Pastor Donovan that her focus was not so much on the woman at the well, as it was on the Man at the well. Jesus’ first words to the woman, “Give Me a drink,” reminded Anne that Jesus was fully man. “Dad, the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. And He will again dwell among us! We will behold His glory!”

Pastor Donovan treasured Anne’s every word. He marveled at her maturity as she continued, “Jesus’ last words to the woman, ‘I who speak to you am He,’ reminds us that He was, and remains, fully God. He is the Messiah, the Lord, the Word that became flesh.”

As much as Pastor Donovan cherished her day’s recollection, he could hear tiredness, even weariness in his daughter. His fatherly advice to “get some rest and eat right” prompted Anne to recount another thought from the day. “Before we hang up, I want to share one more thing that I heard Jesus say there at the well. He said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.’ Dad, I want this to be true of me, too. Every time the baby kicks, as my own spiritual discipline, I intend to quietly worship the Father in spirit and truth. With heart and head, I will be still and know that He is God.”

Payne blessed Anne as they said their good-byes. Then he blessed God. Then he went into the bedroom, scooted Bundt off the bed, and hugged Ashley.

* * * * *