Life of Joy

by Amy Clipston

  The verse echoed through her mind while the reader finished the lessons, and it continued to float through her thoughts during Pastor Lane’s sermon. She had always enjoyed listening to the pastor for as long as she could remember. He was a friendly man, whom she guessed was in his mid-forties, and he had a kind face and warm brown eyes. He and his wife had a son, Taylor, who was the same age as Lindsay. Taylor had always been friendly to Lindsay, going out of his way to talk to her during Sunday school and youth events.

  Lindsay went through the motions for the remainder of the service, singing the hymns, partaking in Communion, and reciting the prayers.

  When the service ended, Lindsay found herself blocked in the pew by a crowd of people who were hugging her and talking with Trisha and Frank.

  Lindsay smiled and shook the hands that were extended to her, doing her best to remember the familiar faces. When she heard someone call her name, she searched the sea of faces surrounding her until she spotted Taylor, waving and grinning.

  She waved back and then excused herself and moved through the knot of people until she reached him. Taylor looked just as she remembered. He resembled his father with his kind face and big brown eyes, but he had grown, towering over her mere five-foot-five height by at least six inches.

  “Lindsay Bedford,” Taylor said. “It’s been like a million years.”

  She held out her hand. “It’s so good to see you.”

  He shook his head and opened his arms. “Don’t I get a hug from my old friend?”

  She gave him a quick hug, feeling a little uncomfortable with the embrace since it wasn’t customary for men and women who weren’t married to touch in the Amish culture, except to shake hands.

  “How’ve you been?” he asked.

  “Good,” she said. “How about you?”

  “Good.” He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his Dockers. “Are you back for good?”

  “No. Just visiting for part of the summer.” She pointed toward Trisha. “My aunt Trisha is injured as you can see, so I came down to help her out until she’s back on her feet.”

  “You live in Pennsylvania now, right?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she said. “You remembered.”

  “Of course I did,” he said. “I paid attention.” He gestured toward the doors leading to the hallway. “Are you going to youth group?”

  “Oh.” She hesitated. “I don’t know if they want to stay.”

  “With the crowd they have gathered around them, I think they may be stuck here for a while.” Taylor started toward the door and motioned for her to follow. “I think there are some folks who would be happy to see you.”

  “Okay.” Lindsay followed him toward the door, stopping to tell Frank that she would be in the young adult class.

  “How’s Pennsylvania?” Taylor asked as they headed down the hallway toward the classrooms.

  “It’s good,” she said. “I’m living with my aunt, uncle, and cousins, and I work in a bakery owned by my uncle’s mother. I really enjoy it.”

  “Cool,” Taylor said.

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “I just graduated from Kellam High and I’m working at Best Buy right now,” he said.

  “Are you going to college?” she asked as they approached a classroom at the end of the hallway.

  He seemed to hesitate. “Yeah, but I decided not to go away to school. I’m going to go to Tidewater Community College for a couple of years until I figure out what I want to do.”

  “That sounds like a good plan to me,” she said as they stood by the doorway. Glancing in the room, she spotted a half dozen young people sitting in chairs set up in a semicircle and talking.

  “And you?” he asked. “Going to college?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Oh.” He smiled and made a sweeping gesture toward the room. “Ladies first.”

  “But I don’t know anyone,” Lindsay began.

  He nudged her arm. “Just go.”

  Lindsay stepped into the room. The young men and women smiled, and a few said hello. A couple of the faces were familiar, but she couldn’t remember the names. She took a seat next to a pleasant-looking blonde girl while Taylor stood near the front of the room.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Taylor said. “We have a new friend with us today.” He gestured toward Lindsay. “This is Lindsay Bedford, who grew up in our church and then moved to Pennsylvania four years ago. Let’s go around the room and introduce ourselves.”

  The members of the class told Lindsay their names, and she recognized a few of them. She smiled and thanked them for welcoming her.

  Taylor turned a chair around and straddled it backward. “I’ll bring Lindsay up to speed on what we’ve been discussing. We started talking about how much things have changed now that some of us are considered adults and about to embark on a new journey in our lives. Most of us are graduating from high school and some are leaving for college. That led to a discussion of how we can stay focused on our Christian values while we make our way in the world.”

  He gestured toward the pretty blonde next to Lindsay. “Bonnie had a great idea about how we can still put God before ourselves instead of getting caught up in the mundane and stressful parts of being on our own. Why don’t you explain it, Bonnie?”

  “Sure,” Bonnie said, turning toward Lindsay. “I’m leaving for college in western Virginia at the end of the summer, and I wanted to make an impact on my community before I go. I was trying to think of ways that I could give back since so many people helped me throughout my childhood, and I thought of volunteering at the children’s hospital. It’s been really rewarding. I shared my story with the class, and now everyone is volunteering and giving back in their own way.”

  “Wow,” Lindsay said. “That’s wonderful.”

  They took turns around the room sharing their volunteering stories. One young man shared that he helped out at a food bank weekly, and another young man talked about providing dialysis patients rides to their appointments.

  Lindsay listened with her hands clasped in her lap. While she felt like an outsider returning to this church, hearing her peers share their stories of volunteerism gave her a link to them. Much like her Amish family and friends, these young people wanted to give back to the community and help others. This was her connection to her former church.

  “I’m helping out at a nursing home,” a pretty brunette named Andrea said. “I’ve been visiting the patients, reading to them, and helping them write letters to family members.”

  Lindsay’s eyes widened. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  The other members of the class turned to her.

  “Really?” Taylor asked. “What makes you want to volunteer at a nursing home?”

  Lindsay thought back to her childhood. “My Grandfather Bedford lived in one located in Williamsburg before he passed away when I was small. Once or twice a month, I used to go with my father to visit him, and I felt sorry for the people who didn’t have anyone come to visit them. It really made an impression on me, even though I was only about seven or so.”

  “Would you like to participate in our volunteering project?” Taylor asked.

  Lindsay looked at Andrea, who nodded. “Maybe I can volunteer on Saturday when Uncle Frank is home to take care of Aunt Trisha.”

  “I think you could,” Andrea said. “I help out on Tuesdays. I can give you information about the nursing home where I’m working. It’s not far from here.”

  Lindsay smiled while excitement surged through her. “That would be great.”

  “How was Sunday school?” Trisha asked from her recliner as they sat in the den and ate subs for lunch.

  Lindsay nodded while chewing her turkey and cheese. “It was good. Taylor leads the class, which sort of surprised me. I didn’t know he was the leader type.”

  “He seems like a nice young man,” Frank said while sitting on the sofa. “His father is very friendly.”

  “What did you
talk about in class?” Trisha asked.

  “We talked about volunteer projects,” Lindsay said. “The local kids plan to start their volunteer projects and continue in the fall. The kids who are leaving for college will find an organization to help after they get to school.”

  Trisha looked impressed. “That’s really generous and admirable.”

  “One guy volunteers at a food bank and another drives dialysis patients to their appointments,” Lindsay explained, placing her sandwich on a wooden snack tray in front of her. “There’s a girl who helps out at the children’s hospital and another one who volunteers at a nursing home.”

  “Oh?” Trisha asked. “That’s very nice. I bet they can use a lot of volunteers at nursing homes.”

  “I remember when my grandpa was in one,” Lindsay said. “I always felt so sorry for the people who didn’t have any visitors.”

  “I can understand that.” Trisha looked at Frank. “Remember that nursing home your aunt was in? It was such a sad place. All of those people sitting in the hallways in their wheelchairs.”

  “I remember,” Frank said, swiping a napkin over his chin. “I hated going there.”

  Lindsay turned to him. “I never minded going to see my grandpa. In fact, I actually looked forward to going with my dad after church on Sundays.”

  “Really?” Frank looked surprised. “You were a little thing. I remember your dad telling me that Jessica never wanted to go.”

  “Jessica was afraid, I think,” Lindsay said. “I enjoyed talking to the nurses and some of them knew me by name. I remember one nurse who always gave me a lollipop. I can’t remember her name. She called me Raggedy Ann because of my red braids.”

  “That’s sweet,” Trisha said, leaning back in the chair. “I would imagine you brought some life into the place.”

  Lindsay wondered if she could bring life into a nursing home again as a young adult. “Aunt Trisha, do you think it would be okay if I volunteered at a nursing home while I’m here? I could go on Saturdays so Uncle Frank is here for you.” She glanced at Frank. “What do you think? There’s one close by so you could run me out there in the morning, if it doesn’t interfere with what you have planned for the day.”

  Frank shrugged. “I don’t see why not. What do you think, Trish?”

  “If that’s what you want to do, Lindsay,” Trisha began, “then I think you should do it.”

  “Great,” Lindsay said. “Thank you!” The phone rang and she jumped up from the sofa. “I’ll get it.” She rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the phone from the cradle on the wall. “Hello?”

  “Linds!” Jessica’s voice nearly yelled into the phone. “How are you?”

  “Fine.” Lindsay leaned against the counter. “How are you?”

  “Great. I tried to call you this morning.”

  “We were at church.”

  “Really?” Jessica sounded surprised. “Aunt Trisha and Uncle Frank made you go to church?”

  “No, I wanted to go,” Lindsay said. “What’s the big deal?”

  “Oh wow,” Jessica said. “I’m surprised you’d go to a service that wasn’t Amish. Was that pastor’s son there? What was his name?”

  “Taylor,” Lindsay said. “Yes, he was there.”

  “He’s cute,” Jessica said. “Did you talk to him?”

  “Yes. I went to his Sunday school class.”

  “Cool,” Jessica said. “Maybe you can have yourself a little summer romance.”

  Lindsay rolled her eyes. “Please.”

  “What else have you been doing besides going to church?”

  “Not much. I’ve been taking care of things here at the house and I went to a party at Vicki’s house last weekend.” Lindsay glanced out the window at the waves crashing against the golden sand. A young couple walked hand in hand along the water, and she absently thought of Matthew.

  “Oh?” Jessica’s voice was full of curiosity. “How was that?”

  “Good. I saw Vicki, Heather, and a few other people from school. Everyone is doing well.”

  “What are their plans? College?”

  “Yes.” Lindsay braced herself for the lecture.

  “Did you sign up to get your GED?”

  “Not yet.” Lindsay sank into a kitchen chair. “I looked up the information and I know where to register.”

  “Well?” Jessica was impatient. “What are you waiting for?”

  I’m waiting for you to stop nagging me. She scowled with frustration. “I don’t know.” She had to change the subject fast. “How are things going for you?”

  “Great!” Jessica launched into a long discussion of her work, her coworkers, and her nightlife. She spent a good amount of time talking about her friend Kim’s new boyfriend, Eddie, a graduate student who worked at a nearby law firm.

  “Sounds like you’re having a good time,” Lindsay said. “But I hope you’re not having too good of a time.”

  “What does that mean?” Jessica snapped, sounding offended.

  “You’re not considering staying there, are you?”

  “Are you kidding me?” Jessica exclaimed. “I have to finish college, you know. I mean, New York City is great, but I would never consider moving here until after I graduate with my degree, Lindsay.”

  “Good.” Lindsay was glad that Rebecca had been right about Jessica planning to finish college before considering a move to New York City. “Have you talked to Jake?”

  Jessica was quiet for a moment. “No.”

  “Are you going to call him?”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about you just call him up and say that you’ve been thinking of him and you hate how things were left between you?” Lindsay shook her head in disbelief. While her older sister was overly confident and driven when it came to school and her career, she was timid and hesitant when it came to relationships.

  “Maybe I will,” Jessica said. “Is Aunt Trisha around? Can I talk to her?”

  Lindsay nearly laughed out loud at her sister’s obvious change of subject. “Sure. She’s awake and resting in her recliner. Hang on one sec.” Lindsay stepped into the den, where Frank and Trisha were watching a movie. She held out the phone to Trisha. “It’s your other favorite niece.”

  Trisha’s expression brightened as she took the phone. “Jessie! How are you?”

  Lindsay gathered up the dirty paper plates from lunch and took them into the kitchen. She glanced out the door leading to the deck and felt an invisible magnet pulling her toward the beach. She needed to go walk and try to sort through all of the emotions swirling inside her.

  Standing in the doorway leading to the family room, she caught Frank’s eye as he sat on the sofa, and she motioned toward the beach to alert him that she was going for a walk. He smiled and waved, telling her to go and enjoy herself. Lindsay kicked off her shoes and then stepped out onto the deck.

  While she made her way down to the sand, she wondered if Jessica’s goals and aspirations were ones she should have. The sand provided comfort and solace as she pondered all of the questions echoing in her mind and made her way down the beach. Was Lindsay wrong to not want to pursue a college education and degree like her friends at church and her old friends who were at Vicki’s party?

  Was Lindsay destined to float through life without a purpose, or was she headed for greater things? She stopped and let the water roll over her toes while she wondered when she would figure out what God’s plan was for her. How would she know when He presented it to her?

  She didn’t know what God had in store for her, but she knew one thing—she wanted to volunteer in the nursing home in memory of her grandfather. Lindsay smiled as another wave crashed in front of her. She was so thankful for the clarity that the smell of the salty ocean, the warmth of the sand, and the cleansing of the water brought to her.

  15

  Tuesday morning, Lindsay looked up just as Frank stepped into the kitchen. Clad in shorts and a T-shirt, he smiled at Trisha.

  “
Today is doctor’s appointment day,” he announced with enthusiasm. “Are you ready, Trish?”

  Trisha looked at Lindsay across the breakfast table and rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait.”

  “Maybe you’ll get good news,” Lindsay said, touching Trisha’s hand. “You said you can’t wait to start physical therapy so you can walk again.”

  Trisha sighed. “I’m just so tired. Why is it that I sleep all the time, but I’m still tired?”

  “Because you need to get up and go. You said you wanted to try crutches, so let’s do it.” Frank grabbed the crutches leaning against the wall by the doorway and brought them over to Trisha. “Your chariot, my lady.”

  Trisha rolled her eyes again, and Lindsay swallowed a snort. While Frank helped Trisha up from her chair, Lindsay took the dirty dishes to the counter and began to fill the dishwasher.

  “Okay,” Trisha said, thumping her way to the doorway. “Let’s go.”

  “Have fun,” Lindsay said with a smile. “I’ll run the vacuum and clean the bathrooms while you’re gone.”

  Trisha gave Lindsay a confused expression. “You’re not coming with us?”

  “Oh.” Lindsay looked between them. “You want me to come?”

  “You’re not Cinderella or Rapunzel,” Trisha quipped. “You’re allowed to leave the house occasionally and visit civilization.”

  Lindsay bit her bottom lip. She’d been up late last night surfing the internet on Frank’s laptop and considering whether or not she wanted to register to get her GED. She longed to go to a bookstore to buy a study guide before she signed up to take the test.

  “Would it be possible for me to run a couple of errands while we’re out?” Lindsay asked.

  “Sure,” Frank said with a shrug. “I may even buy you two ladies lunch while we’re out too.”

  Lindsay placed the last glass into the dishwasher and closed the door. “Let me just get my purse. I want to get a study guide book for the GED test.”

  Frank smiled. “Good for you.”

  “That’s wonderful, Lindsay. I’m glad that you’re going to do it,” Trisha said. “All right. I’m ready to do this. Let’s go get in the truck.”