by Gail Sattler
Garrett glanced down at Ken’s cast, then back up again. He shrugged, then extended his right hand to greet him. “You must be Ken. We’ve heard so much about you. We’ve been praying for you.” Garrett leaned forward and lowered his voice so only Ken could hear his next comment. “I think you’re going to need it.”
Ken didn’t think he wanted to know the details. “Thank you,” he said, averting his gaze to Molly, who wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Never mind them. Let’s go sit down.” Molly pulled him into the sanctuary. Instead of pews, the seating consisted of rows of padded stacking chairs. Except for a single cross at the front, the room was void of any decoration. The starkness of the room indicated it was used more as a multipurpose room than a specific sanctuary.
As in the lobby, people milled everywhere, and the room was filled with the buzz of voices. The only difference was that in the quasi-sanctuary the voices were slightly softer. A group of teens hovered in the back, laughing and cajoling each other before they shuffled to their seats, not with their parents, but with other teens, the sole occupants of the back three rows of that side of the room.
On a slightly elevated stage, just as he had suspected, was a whole band. There was a drummer, an older gentleman who was wearing a suit jacket with jeans and no tie playing a bass guitar, and a younger man wearing faded jeans who was playing a bright red electric guitar. In profile, a very pregnant woman played the glossy black grand piano. Ken couldn’t believe his eyes at the odd combination.
Not long after they sat, more people filed in to take their seats. Ken found the place a little overwhelming, but at the same time, it had a certain appeal, despite the lack of order.
The lights dimmed, the room quieted, and a man in a matching shirt and slacks, with a tie and no suit jacket, stepped to the podium. As he welcomed everyone present, a screen lowered from the ceiling, which signaled the congregation to stand. Everyone sang a rousing chorus Ken recognized from a CD he had in his car, complete with hands clapping to the rhythm. Ken couldn’t believe his eyes, or his ears.
At the close of the song, the man, who was evidently the pastor, encouraged everyone to greet those around them. After the clamor died down, he read a few highlights from the bulletin, then called one of the teenagers from the back corner to the microphone.
The youth shuffled his feet as he nervously looked around at the congregation, then down to the floor. He tapped the microphone with one finger, blew into it, then backed up a step.
“Uh, yeah,” he stammered, as he finally raised his eyes. “I wanted to tell you all about how we’re doing for our raising money thing for the youth group going to Bible Quest this year. Uh, like, we’re still a few hundred bucks short ‘cause we need to rent a bus. Like, lots of the kids in the youth group don’t come to church, you know, and their parents aren’t gonna be paying anything. So we’re going to have like a banquet or something next weekend after church. It’s going to be lunch. Tickets are five bucks and come see me or Ryan and I’ll sell you some. Someone will phone you during the week to tell you what to bring, because it’s a potluck. That’s all I was gonna say.”
The boy shuffled back to his seat, where a couple of his friends patted him on the back for a job well-done.
Ken remembered his days of attending youth group. Most of his memories of his youth were happy, except for being called Kenny. But what stuck in his mind was the youth’s comment that many of the group wanting to attend a youth-oriented Christian function came from non-Christian homes. He wanted to do everything he could to see that no one who wanted to attend would be left out.
The pastor called the ushers to the front for the offering and led the congregation in a short prayer.
He couldn’t provide transportation himself, but he could help pay for the bus. His biggest problem would be his inability to write. He leaned to whisper to Molly. “Can you pull the offering envelope out of your bulletin?”
Her raised eyebrows registered her surprise, but she scrambled to pull it out, then studied it as if she’d never seen an offering envelope before.
“Quickly, Molly. Just write youth group on it and leave the rest blank.”
She dug a pen out of her purse, scribbled in the middle of the envelope, then froze, the pen hovering above the total line. “How much?”
Since he still couldn’t write out a check or legibly sign a credit card receipt, he had to pay for everything he purchased in cash. Therefore, he had a sizable amount of money in his wallet. He hoped it was enough to pay for the bus. “I don’t know exactly how much I’ve got on me. I don’t have time to count it. Leave it blank.”
Molly handed him the envelope as the basket drew closer. Ken emptied all the bills from his wallet into the envelope, licked it, and tossed it into the basket in the nick of time.
A different man stepped forward to lead everyone to worship in song. It included one hymn, played with bass guitar and drums in a way Ken had never heard and couldn’t quite decide if he liked. The rest of the worship songs were contemporary choruses, none lacking in commitment or sincerity, just not what he was accustomed to in church. Yet, he found the simple words and easy-to-follow melodies moved his heart in a way he hadn’t expected. Halfway through the worship time, the children were called to the front for a short prayer before they were dismissed to their classrooms, when they ran out of the room hooting and screaming. A few parents laughed and groaned in frustration from their own children’s antics, and the worship time continued.
When the pastor returned to the podium for the sermon, everyone settled in with their Bibles and followed the sermon notes on the back of the bulletin. Ken peeked over Molly’s shoulder, as he wasn’t sure of his ability to hold his Bible steady and turn pages with one hand. He expected that in one more week, he would, but not yet.
Every once in awhile, the pastor paused to ask a question. To Ken’s surprise, many people called out the answer. When a key point was made, people freely called out a resounding “Amen,” and once someone from the back row called out a friendly heckling joke in response to one of the pastor’s questions, at which the congregation laughed.
Ken had never been to a service like this in his life.
Right on time, the pastor drew his sermon to a close, and everyone bowed their heads in prayer. At the pastor’s “Amen,” the worship team, who had returned to the stage, began to play, and the words for “Jesus Loves Me” appeared on the screen.
Ken smiled. He hadn’t sung “Jesus Loves Me” for years, in fact, probably not since he was ten years old. He sang wholeheartedly with the rest of the congregation. After the third verse, the accompaniment cut out and the congregation repeated the first verse without instruments, creating a unique resonance in the large room.
The sincerity and beauty of the unaccompanied voices filled his heart like he’d never experienced. An attitude of sincere worship flowed through the building, touching his soul.
Ken closed his eyes as he sang, letting the simple words really sink in. Jesus loved everyone in that room, and Jesus loved him too. Even though he’d known it for years, something moved deep inside his heart.
When the song ended, a silence filled the room. In a soft and gentle voice, the pastor asked that if anyone wanted to ask Jesus into their hearts they should step forward, and everyone else was invited to have coffee and visit.
A few people rose and stepped forward, and many others began gathering their belongings to join their friends for coffee.
Ken turned to Molly to ask if she wanted to stay, but his voice caught. Molly’s eyes were still closed, and tears streamed down her cheeks. All he could do was stare.
Her eyes drifted open, she brushed her sleeve across her eyes rather indelicately, smearing black smudges across her cheeks. She sniffled, then smiled at him, her eyes wide and still glassy with tears. She’d never looked more beautiful.
Her voice cracked as she spoke. “Jesus loves me, Ken.”
Ken couldn’t breathe. At that moment,
he knew that not only did Jesus love Molly, but Ken loved her too.
Chapter 10
Naturally Molly didn’t have a tissue in her purse, so she quickly introduced Ken to some of the people who had attended the Bible study at Robbie’s house and dashed off to the ladies’ room to blow her nose and do a temporary repair to her face.
When she returned, Ken was still with her friends. He joined very little in the various conversations going on around the circle of people, and every time a child screamed, he flinched. His eyes darted back and forth through the crowd continuously, but he didn’t seem to be looking at anything in particular.
She rejoined the group as one of the youths approached, asking who was going to buy tickets for their fundraiser lunch the following Sunday. Garrett reached for his wallet, as did Ken, but as soon as his hand touched his pocket, his hand froze.
Molly knew he’d suddenly remembered he didn’t have any money left on him, but she didn’t think he wanted to tell everyone he’d already given it all to the youth group. Instead, she put her hand on his arm. “No, Ken, this is my church, so it’s my treat,” she said loudly enough for everyone in the group to hear. She pulled out enough money for two tickets, then realized that by buying him a ticket, she was again inviting him to attend church with her next week.
After she tucked the tickets into her wallet, she glanced over her shoulder. “Want a cookie? It looks like if we don’t get one now, the kids will get them all.”
His eyes widened as he turned to face the refreshment table. A little boy busily helped himself to three cookies and a few sugar cubes and then ran off to join his friends.
“Uh, no, thank you. I think I’ll pass.”
Garrett stepped closer to Ken. “I hear this might be a little different than what you’re used to.”
Again, Ken’s eyes darted from side to side, this time focusing on a few people sharing some outrageously funny joke. Everyone in the small group roared with laughter, then the men smacked each other firmly on the backs while one of them reenacted a golf swing.
Ken’s hand went up to where the knot of his tie should have been, his fingers grasped thin air, and he quickly dropped his hand to his side. “I have to admit I’m used to a more conservative setting.”
Molly laid one hand on his arm. “Would you like a coffee? I’ll pour it for you.”
He shook his head. “No, thank you.”
She couldn’t blame him. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to be limited to using only one hand, and the wrong one at that.
“If you don’t mind, I need one. I’ll be right back.”
Before he could protest, she hurried away. Since there were only a couple of people at the coffee urn, she wouldn’t have a long wait.
From a distance, she saw Garrett and Ken talking in her absence. At something Garrett said, Ken nodded, and both men broke out into wide grins. Molly stared at the two of them. Ken was such a handsome man.
As they continued talking, Garrett broke out into a full laugh, making Molly wonder what it was that Ken said, and hoped it wasn’t about her, even though she suspected it might be.
She hurried to pour herself only half a cup of coffee and didn’t bother to take a cookie. Instead, she returned to Ken’s side. “Are you guys talking about me?”
Ken’s ears turned red.
Garrett gave her a cocky grin that spoke for itself. “Would we do that?”
“Never answer a question with a question,” Molly mumbled.
Neither of them said anything to give her a hint, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
Garrett cleared his throat. “Are you two coming for lunch? Everyone’s going to the same place as usual.”
All she could do was glance at Ken, who was being unusually quiet. Without meaning to, she looked down at his fingers sticking out of the cast. Only having been to what she knew was the local lunch hangout pancake restaurant twice, she wasn’t quite sure of the menu and didn’t know if they served anything a person wouldn’t have to cut. While Ken would never give any indication of being ill at ease, she didn’t want to put him on the spot. Above all, she didn’t want to embarrass him amongst strangers. As it was, he’d taken his chances at the Chamber dinner. He was lucky the menu was stir-fried steak with rice, but afterwards she remembered his comments that he was prepared to go through the drive-thru hamburger joint on the way home if he couldn’t eat the dinner.
She couldn’t do that to him.
“Ken and I have other plans. Maybe another time, okay?”
Robbie looked at her funny, but she wasn’t about to explain herself. Not that she wanted to give her friend the impression that anything was going on between her and Ken, but she didn’t have time to explain.
Ken’s eyebrows raised momentarily, and he turned back to Garrett and extended his hand. Garrett grasped it and they exchanged a handshake. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Garrett, and your charming wife. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
Garrett nodded. “Yeah. Bible study at our house, Wednesday night. I hope you don’t have to work late every Wednesday.”
“No, something unusual came up last week. I’ll be there. Thanks.”
Molly could barely contain her excitement. Not only would Ken be a great addition to the group, but since he didn’t know anyone in town, she hoped he and Garrett could get to know each other better. After learning of Ken’s long bicycle trips, she was sure they would have a lot to share about various adventures in the great outdoors.
They took their leave quietly, but once in the car, Ken turned to her without starting it. “So what are these other plans we’re supposed to have?”
She felt her face flush, so she winked to try to bluff away her nervousness. “The plan is to go somewhere where you don’t go hungry.”
“Yeah. After all, I’m a growing boy.”
Molly’s mouth gaped open, unable to figure out his uncharacteristic comment. “Something like that.”
He inserted the key and turned it, starting the engine. “You show me where you want to go. I just have to make a short stop first.”
It didn’t take a lot of guessing when he made a stop at the bank machine. She was going to offer to treat him, but if he was going to all this trouble to get some money, she suspected he was determined to pay. Rather than bruise his ego, she said nothing. Besides, it gave her some extra time to decide on a small family restaurant she knew well.
Once they were seated, Ken saw that Molly’s choice of restaurants was, once again, a good one. They didn’t have to wait long, and the food was excellent. After a pleasant meal and enjoyable conversation over their lunch, Molly rested her elbows on the table and cradled her coffee cup in her hands. “Well? What did you think?”
He blinked and stared at her. “The food’s good here.”
“Not that. I meant this morning.”
Briefly he looked into his coffee cup, glanced around the restaurant, then back at her. “I like your friends.”
“You’ll meet most of them again on Wednesday. I heard Garrett invite you to their house for their Bible study meeting.”
She smiled bright and wide and Ken smiled back. He still didn’t know what to make of the service, but he didn’t want to think about that. He couldn’t take his eyes off Molly. Her eyes sparkled as all her attention focused on him. If she kept looking at him like that, he didn’t know how he could carry on an intelligent conversation. “Garrett seems nice, and he’s quite fond of you.”
“Yes, I’ve known both him and his sister, Gwen, for years. I’ll have to introduce you to Gwen, you’d like her too. We went to high school together. Gwen and Garrett are twins, and they’ve been Christians ever since I’ve known them. In fact, they both made their decision to follow Christ when they were kids, just like you. And Gwen is single.”
“That’s nice.” While it was great that her friends were established Christians, Ken didn’t especially want to meet another woman. It unexpectedly bothered him that Molly
was so anxious to introduce him to her single friend. He’d met the woman of his dreams. Now all he had to do was convince Molly that he was the man of her dreams.
She smiled at him, for no reason in particular, which did strange things to his insides. He never wanted it to stop. If this was what it was like to be in love, he liked it.
“I know you probably have a lot of stuff to go through on the quarterly reports, but it would be a real shame for you to have to miss Bible study two weeks in a row. Actually more, because when you were going to take me to your uncle’s church’s study, it was canceled. You must be catching up to some degree. You don’t think you’ll have to work overtime again, do you?”
“No, that was a special project.”
“That’s good. I’ll bet you haven’t had a chance to go out and do much besides work since you got here. Have you gone out to see the sights and get familiar with the city or meet anyone?”
“No, not really.”
“That’s too bad. It’s really a beautiful place to live. With the mountains to the north and the flatness of the Fraser River valley, I think Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But of course I can say that, I’ve lived here all my life and haven’t had the chance to see much else except for pictures in magazines and stuff.”
“I generally travel only as far as I can go on my bike. Of course, that’s often a round trip of eight hundred miles and takes us about a month.”
Molly laughed and scrunched her nose, which was even more adorable than her usual shining smile. Ken wished he had a camera to keep the moment with him until the end of time. As it was, he thought he could sit and listen to her musical voice forever.
“That’s still more than me. I haven’t done any traveling. The farthest I’ve been from here is Kamloops. But it’s a beautiful drive. Not that I was driving. It was when I was a teenager and my parents were driving. I suppose you have to travel light when everything you need has to be on your bike or in your backpack. Did you at least take a camera?”
