The Test of Love

by Irene Brand

  The evening proceeded as usual until the testimonial time when Laura Filkins, a woman who’d been in the group only a few months, said, “People, I hate to burst your bubble, but I’ve broken my pledge.”

  Connie gasped. They’d never had a defector before. Everyone must have been too stunned to answer for silence greeted Laura’s remark.

  Laura lived in Littleton and came to work out in the gym several times each week. Other than that, Connie knew nothing about her. “And I haven’t been completely honest with you. I infiltrated your little group to see what you were doing, and it’s been interesting, but you people are certainly naive. Loosen up and live a little! Why suffer for an ideal that’s impossible to achieve?”

  Having dropped her bombshell, Laura rose languidly and strolled from the room, but Connie followed her, catching up with her outside the building.

  “Why, Laura? Why did you do it? No one pressured you to join us—you came of your own free will. I’m sorry you don’t share our beliefs, but why try to belittle what we’re doing?”

  “Curiosity, I suppose. Ray and I have been friendly for years, and I find him quite captivating. I was curious as to why you’d reject him, although personally, I’m glad you did.”

  Anger consumed Connie for a moment. “Do you mean that Ray continued to see you even when we were engaged?”

  “Well, yes, you could say that.”

  Connie was stunned, but she didn’t doubt the truth of her words. Too heavyhearted to comment, Connie watched Laura stroll to her car, unconcerned that she’d left behind a group of people to doubt their own strength to overcome temptation. But when Connie returned to the lounge, Eric had drawn the group together, and they were praying—some on their knees—asking for strength to persevere in spite of criticism, scorn and temptation. Was it possible that Laura’s words would strengthen the convictions of the rest of them? During times of persecution, the Church had always grown. Perhaps what she now considered a catastrophe might strengthen the support group. This thought bolstered Connie’s low spirits, but her morale was shattered because a man she’d once loved had deliberately plotted to wound her.

  Kim and Eric stayed behind with Connie when the others left, and she told them what Laura had said about Ray.

  “I’m sorry, Connie,” Eric said.

  “I can’t imagine how I could have been so blind in my choice of the man, not only as a fiancé, but also as manager of the gym. This situation forces my hand. I’ll have to ask for his resignation. I can’t have someone on the staff who’s undermining the work we’re trying to do.”

  “Is he under contract?”

  “Yes, the same as everyone—a year at a time—but I think his present contract expires in a couple of months. Perhaps if I tell him I’m not renewing his contract, he’ll leave before then.”

  “I’ll sit in with you when you talk to him, if you’d like,” Eric said.

  “Yes, please,” Connie accepted his offer. “I want a witness to our discussion. I’m a little afraid of him.”

  “And with reason, I think,” Kim said. “I’d hate for him to be my enemy.” Eric flashed a warning look at Kim.

  “I’ll plan to meet with him next week. I can’t tomorrow, for that’s when Joseph is scheduled to climb Faith Mountain. It will be an all-day trip, and one I’ve anticipated with pleasure, but tonight’s incident has been so upsetting, it’ll keep me from rejoicing in his accomplishments.”

  Mulling Laura’s revelation over and over in her mind, Connie couldn’t sleep until after one o’clock, and she felt sluggish when she met Joseph in the lobby of the apartment house. They both wore cleated hiking boots and denim shorts, but Connie had put on a white sweat top, and Joseph wore a plaid cotton shirt. She carried a wide-brimmed hat, and he had a blue baseball cap perched on his head.

  They went to the cafeteria for a light breakfast and to pick up the lunch Rose had prepared for them.

  “If you make it to the top and back,” Rose said to Joseph, “I’ll bake the chocolate-pecan pie you like. I still need to search through that box of recipes.”

  “If I graduate,” Joseph said, “I won’t be back next week, so you’d better find it today.”

  “I hope you can reach your goal,” Rose said, “but we’ll miss having you around here.”

  They divided the lunch and placed the food and a supply of water in each of their backpacks.

  “Rose always prepares too much food, and it becomes burdensome before we reach our destination,” Connie said, “but it does taste good when we settle down for our picnic on top of the mountain.”

  The atmosphere was nippy, but bright sunlight, promising a pleasant day, generated steam from the dew-covered grass. Connie breathed the fresh air deeply and took the lead when they came to the trail head.

  “Call out if you want to rest,” she said and started off at a rapid gait, but after warming up for a mile, she slowed down.

  The trail wound around the mountain through a forest of juniper, fir, and pine. Logs, lying across the trail, provided hurdles to test the dexterity of the hiker. Once out of the forest, the trail crossed a rock slide area leading to a steep climb that dropped into a drainage area, followed by a two-mile ascent that leveled off when it entered a grassy meadow. After that, a half-mile slope that was almost perpendicular had to be scaled before hikers reached the summit with views west to higher mountains and east to the plains.

  On Monday, Joseph had climbed to the rock slide; the next day he’d continued and scaled the first steep incline; Wednesday, he’d made it to the grassy meadow. The perpendicular climb was the final test, which he would attempt today. When they came to the rock slide, the sun beamed down on their backs, and the warmth was welcome after the deep shade of the evergreen forest.

  “I’m climbing up the mountain where the sun shines all day long; my heart is full of happiness, and I praise God with a song.” Joseph sang loudly, surprising Connie with his mellow baritone. “Do you know that little chorus? I learned it years ago when I attended Bible school.”

  “Yes, I know it, but I’m saving my breath for climbing,” Connie answered shortly.

  Joseph laughed. “Are you hinting that I’m going to need a lot of breath before we reach our destination?”

  Connie grinned at him over her shoulder. “You’ll see.”

  “I thought of the Bible verse, ‘The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.’ The sighing of the evergreens, and birds singing in the forest sounded like music to me. I just had to lift my voice in praise, too.” He clapped his hands vigorously.

  Connie didn’t answer.

  “You’re awfully quiet today,” he said, and when she still didn’t answer him, he said in mock penitence, “Since singing isn’t acceptable, is it all right if I talk?”

  She nodded, and he continued, “It’s strange how our priorities change through the years. When I was a kid, I resented the time I spent in church and reading the Bible, but since I’ve been at NLC, my whole attitude has altered. I’ve recalled scores of Bible verses Dad forced me to learn.”

  “I’m happy to hear that. Everybody needs a well-rounded life to be physically and spiritually whole.”

  They had made only two rest stops, and Connie was exhausted and hot by the time they reached the grassy meadow. Breathing was always more difficult at this altitude, and she glanced over her shoulder to monitor Joseph’s progress. He was several yards behind her, walking more slowly than he had at first, but he wasn’t limping. He lifted a hand, indicating he was all right.

  A small stream flowed lazily through the grass, and Connie knelt beside it in a patch of yellow arnicas and red monkey flowers, dipped her hands in the icy water and washed her face. A few yellowbells still bloomed—their golden flowers mingling with vast patches of blue gentians. A meadowlark perched on a swaying reed, filling the air with its musical song, and a female mountain chickadee protected her nest with snakelike hissing
s, while her mate attempted to distract the visitors with its cheerful chatter. Bleached trunks of fir trees dotted the area, and a herd of deer stopped grazing to twitch their ears and stomp their front hooves at the intruders. Usually this area brought peace of mind to Connie, but not today, for her thoughts were on the pending interview with Ray.

  Joseph’s face flamed when he reached her side, and he gasped for breath. She hurriedly got to her feet and removed the pack from his shoulders.

  “We’ll stay here at least an hour,” she assured him. “And we’ll have a snack to give you enough strength to make it to the top.”

  Joseph sprawled in the grass without answering, and she sat beside him and lazily sprinkled some of the cold creek water over his face. He licked the cool water from his lips.

  “What if I can’t make it up the last incline?” he gasped.

  “You’ll be all right after we’ve rested. I’m about bushed, too.”

  While Joseph rested his body, his mind remained active. He was climbing Faith Mountain! Wondering if he had the stamina to reach the top, he compared this experience to his spiritual climb, which hadn’t been without problems, either. Under the guidance of his parents, as a teenager, he’d accepted Christ as his Savior and he had grown in the faith. Even when he left home for college, he still trusted God to guide him. When had he stopped forging upward in his Christian climb? He easily traced the decline of his spiritual journey to the time he became involved with the Perrys. His parents had warned him that he would sacrifice his spiritual priorities if he married into their family, but he’d loved Virginia and hadn’t heeded the warning.

  How different would his life have been if he’d chosen another mate? He looked at Connie, as she stretched out on the ground, and wondered.

  Connie willed her throbbing muscles to relax, but her riotous thoughts gave her no rest. Try as she would, she couldn’t get last night’s meeting out of her mind. She lay, eyes open, staring at an occasional thunderhead that blocked the sun’s rays. Quick showers were common at this height, but these clouds didn’t seem ominous. She lay quietly because she thought Joseph slept, and she didn’t want to disturb him.

  When she heard him stirring, she glanced his way. Joseph, leaning on his elbow, looked toward her.

  “Are you mad at me, Connie?”

  Startled, she sat up quickly. “Of course not! What gave you that idea?”

  “Something’s wrong. You’re different today than I’ve ever seen you. I thought I might have offended you.”

  She shook her head. “No—it’s a personal matter. There’s no need to bother you about it.”

  “Tell me,” he insisted. “Anything that concerns you concerns me.”

  She opened her backpack and took out a container of trail mix and two bottles of pink grapefruit drink. “Here, take a little refreshment. We’ll need it before we reach the top.”

  “Will you tell me what’s bothering you then?”

  “Have you had experiences that you don’t want to talk about?”

  “Lots of them, but, if they weighed on my mind, I believe I could share them with you.”

  He didn’t push for an answer, and they ate in silence. After the snack, Joseph went through a series of stretching exercises to limber his joints. “We might as well go, Doc. I dread what’s ahead of me, and I want to get it over with.” He flashed a frown in her direction. “After today, I don’t ever intend to climb again.”

  “That will be up to you. Once you’ve reached the top of Faith Mountain, my supervision ends. I will have done all I can for you.”

  “Ah, my dear, you know better than that,” Joseph said.

  Connie flushed, but wouldn’t meet his eyes as she fastened her backpack. Another black cloud hid the sun.

  “We should have brought ponchos,” she said. “I’ve been watching these clouds—we may have a shower.”

  She started walking, and Joseph fell in behind her. She prayed silently, Lord, give him the strength to climb the mountain. He’s worked so hard, and I don’t want him to fail this last test.

  At a small wooden shelter near the foot of the steep incline, Connie picked up two walking sticks, and handed one to Joseph. “These help,” she said. He looked upward, a helpless expression in his eyes. He took the stick, but didn’t comment.

  Joseph kept doggedly at her heels, and she stopped often to catch her breath. He breathed deeply when they stopped, but he didn’t speak, and she knew the light air at this altitude was overworking his lungs. Once he slipped, and she looked back quickly. He didn’t fall, but a look of pain crossed his face, and she hoped he hadn’t hurt his hip.

  At the end of a quarter-hour, they were still climbing. When Connie topped the summit, Joseph wasn’t far behind, although she sensed he had about reached the breaking point. She removed his pack, took his arm and eased him to the ground. He lay with his eyes closed while she massaged his leg and thigh, and his body slowly relaxed under her hands. He opened his gray eyes, and he took her hand.

  “I made it!” he said. “I passed the test. You’re a good trainer, Doc.”

  “Joseph, I’m so happy for you. You’ve made a remarkable recovery.” Impulsively, Connie leaned forward and kissed his lips. His surprised gray eyes held hers captive, and he drew her close for a few minutes.

  Irritated at her action, she pulled away from him, and he said teasingly, “There wasn’t anything in our agreement that said you couldn’t kiss me.”

  Connie flushed and wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I didn’t intend to do that—it just happened,” she apologized.

  “Hey! I wasn’t complaining. Now it’s my turn.”

  Joseph’s legs might have been weak, but there was nothing wrong with his arms, and he pulled Connie against his chest, close enough that she felt the rapid thumping of his heart.

  “You have to ask me.”

  Aggravated at herself for initiating the situation, Connie said grumpily, “Okay, kiss me!”

  Their eyes locked for a few moments before he put a hand behind Connie’s head and pulled her lips to meet his. Joseph’s weariness disappeared like magic, and when Connie responded to his touch, he felt as if he could have climbed Mount Everest.

  Connie quickly put some distance between her and Joseph. She’d never experienced anything like that. How could one kiss make her feel as light as one of the clouds above her? To get her mind off of her reaction, Connie stood and glanced at the sky. “I promised you some food when we got up here, but I don’t like the looks of these clouds. There may be a storm. Can you make it back to the shelter before we eat?”

  “I’m not hungry,” he said, struggling to his feet, “but, rain or not, since I’ve finally reached the top of this mountain, I’m going to enjoy the view before we start down. I’ll probably never come up here again.”

  They slowly circled the narrow point. Below them, the buildings of NLC resembled a miniature town. Denver, to the east, was easily recognizable, and an airplane flew over them on its descent into the international airport. Westward and northwest, the rugged mountains straddling the Continental Divide glowed in the midday sun. A pair of eagles, taking advantage of the air currents, hovered over their heads.

  “Let’s picnic here,” he said. “That storm is passing north of us.”

  Connie agreed, and they emptied their packs of the items Rose had sent along. Slick slices of roast beef on rye bread, peaches, small tins of baked beans and a sack of chocolate chip cookies.

  “A meal in the finest restaurant couldn’t beat this,” Joseph said, and he took the last bite of his peach and reached for a bottle of water. “A climb like that is enough to give a man an appetite.”

  “How much weight have you gained since you came to NLC?”

  “Ten pounds—and it’s all muscle, thanks to you. I’ll have to watch my diet when I get home. I’ll need a cook. Could I steal Rose away from you?”

  “I hope not. She’s the best cook we’ve had.”

  “So, do I leave in the morning?�
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  “We’ll have your goodbye party at noon in the cafeteria, but you can be on your way soon after that. We like to recognize achievement, for it helps the other patients to see that healing is possible.”

  “I have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow afternoon. I’m anxious for his report.”

  “The staff at NLC will want a report from him, too.”

  She started to pack their lunch, and he stopped her by taking her hand. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”

  Taking a deep breath, she said, “I have to ask for Ray Blazer’s resignation, and I dread the confrontation.” Briefly, she told him about the disastrous Marriage First meeting the night before. “I only hope that Laura’s attitude won’t discourage our other members. We meet for support and it was a close-knit group until Laura came along.”

  “I’m sorry, Connie. I really am. Is there any way I can help you with Ray?”

  “No. It’s something I have to do, but Eric is going with me when I talk to him.” She shook her head in frustration. “I can’t believe I was such a poor judge of character and I failed to recognize the kind of guy Ray really is. I actually considered marrying him!”

  “It’s easy to misjudge people. When we rested in the meadow, I wondered what my life would have been like if I’d chosen a different wife. Virginia left me for several months, and she would have divorced me then, but I’d taken her for ‘better or worse,’ and she was insecure, so when she wanted to come home, I agreed. I still blame myself for not trying to help her work out her problems. But that’s in the past, and I’m moving on in spite of that mistake. You can do the same with Ray.”

  “I know, but it isn’t easy to admit you’ve had faulty judgment.” She stood up. “Your hard climbing is over,” she said, “but the trip down the mountain is the most treacherous. That’s where your walking stick comes in handy. It provides another leg for you, and you’ll need it.”