God and Girl–Chapter 23

God and Girl is my first novel, written in 2015. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.

After Poetry class, Ellen walked me to my locker.  Normally, she just heads out to the parking lot to wait on me in her car, or she will walk upstairs to her Mom’s Biology class.  

“I want to go with you tonight to youth group. Okay?”  Ellen said.

“Sure, as always, you are welcome.”

“I’m curious what you all do.”  Ellen said.

“Do you want to come by my house and pick me up and then us go together?”

“No, I have some reading to do so if it is okay with you I’ll just meet you there.”  Ellen said.

“No problem, see you at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall.  Just park out back and come in the side door.”

We made our way outside to her car and I drove us to the Dairy Queen.  Just about the time we were about to park, she said she needed to go.

“I want to get on home.  I have that reading and I also feel like a nap.  You’re okay with that?”  Ellen said.

“Sure, you know I’m always available to talk if you need to.” “I know that my love.”  Ellen said.

I drove to my house and got out, watching Ellen drive off, wondering why Ellen was acting a little strange. I took a nap myself since no one was at home.  Mom came in just in time to take me to church. I needed to get there earlier to meet with Ryan to discuss tonight’s visit to Golden Living Nursing Home.  He was in charge.  We usually talk on the phone either Monday or Tuesday nights about our plans.  For two years we have alternated who is in charge.

“Hello Ruthie Kaye Brown. You turn 16 and start ignoring me.” Ryan said.

“I’m sorry I haven’t returned your calls.  It’s like I’ve been in another world since this past weekend.  I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted but I have a favor to ask.  I need to leave here just as soon as possible. I have that challenge exam in Calculus tomorrow morning.  I need to pull an all-nighter to cram.  I think I will be okay, but I will feel better if I review the prep guide.”  Ryan said.

“No problem.  What did you have planned for tonight?”

“We obviously are going to the nursing home, since this is the third Wednesday of the month.  The girls are teaming up.  I have the list here.  It includes the room assignments.  If all the girls show up, we will have 10 teams.  Each team is assigned three rooms.  The teams are to do some evangelizing.  They are to present the plan of salvation if they are given a chance.  I have written out the introductory script that I feel is a good way to direct the conversation.  The girls have been studying the FAITH tract for several weeks.  I believe they are ready.”  Ryan said.

“I feel you would do a lot better job at this than me. Maybe we need to wait till next month when you will be here.”  I said.

“Why are you so skittish about this?  You know this stuff backwards and forwards.  And, I emailed or texted everyone last night to be ready to do this.”  Ryan said.

“Here are the scripts.  I must go.  See you tomorrow.”  Ryan said as he dashed out the side-door just as Ellen walked in.

“Hey Ruth.” Ellen said as she walked towards me across the Fellowship Hall.

“Wow, where did the ‘Ruth’ come from?  You are totally serious about something when you do that.”

“I am serious.  I am serious about spending more time with you and learning more and more about what makes you a Bible thumper.  Ha.

Ha.” Ellen said half-silly but half-serious.

“Well my love, you will learn a lot tonight.  Here come the girls.

One or two will probably wind up the wife of a pastor, a Southern

Baptist pastor at that.  Oh, the horror.  Just kidding, I think.”  I said.

“Okay girls, take a seat and spend five minutes or so reading over the script I’ve placed on the tables.  I’m leading tonight since Ryan had to cram for a test.  I think you all should know we are visiting the nursing home and you will present the plan of salvation to residents.  The green sheet in the middle of each table is the team and room assignments. 

Study till I let you know when Mr. Gilbert is here with the bus.”

Mr. Gilbert was pulling up with the church bus by the time I had walked to the side-door and looked out.  “Okay girls, study time is over. 

Let’s go.”

The twenty young ladies are all responsible.  They’re six, seventh, and eighth graders.  Overall, they are serious about Christ, church, and our group.  Of course, there are a few who are getting pulled away, tempted away, by the world, its glitz and glamour, and the opposite sex of course.

After we arrive, and the ten teams head off to their assigned rooms, Ellen and I stand and talk with Mrs. Jordan, the night administrator.

“Thank you, Ruthie, for coming.  Be sure and let your Dad know how much we appreciate all your efforts on our behalf.  So many of our residents thrive on your visits.  Many of them do not have strong family ties, making for few visitors.  It seems like every Wednesday evening when I start my shift, I have two or three ladies ask if this is the night you all come.”  Mrs. Jordan said.

“You are so welcome.  Many of our girls are developing a relationship with one or more of your residents.  We certainly encourage them to.  We are working on an ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ program that we will tell you more about soon, hopefully before Thanksgiving.”  I said.

“Thanks again. Oh, sorry, but I’m late for a meeting with Mr.

Carlton’s son in 86B.  See you later.”  Mrs. Jordan said.

Just a minute or so later Leah and Rachel (yes, that is their real names) came rushing to Ellen and me and said that Ms. Townsend in 46A wants to talk with us but needed our supervisor present.

“Is that what she actually said?”  I said, totally confused.

“Yes. And we think it is a good idea too.  She is rather weird.” Rachel said.

All four of us walked down the main hall and to the right down another hallway to room 46A.

“Hello Ms. Townsend, how are you.  I am Ruthie.  And here is Ellen, and you’ve met Rachel and Leah.”  I said.

“Are you their supervisor?  They came in here a few minutes ago and told me their names and asked me if I wanted to be saved. I asked them, ‘saved from what?’ and they just looked at each other and that one (pointing to Rachel) said ‘from Hell.’ I thought these two dear ones were adorable.  I really liked their direct approach, but I thought they might need a little more training to satisfy the higher ups.”  Mrs. Townsend said.

“Thanks for allowing us to come.”  I said.

“Honey, what do you actually believe?” Mrs. Townsend said to Leah.

“Uh, uh, that Jesus was God’s son and He came to the earth and died on a cross for our sins and that He has saved me from eternal hell because I have believed him?”  Leah said.

“Oh honey, how old are you?”  Mrs. Townsend asked Leah.

“Thirteen.”

“Sorry my little one, but you are too young to know what you believe.”  Mrs. Townsend said.

“And what do you believe?” Mrs. Townsend said turning to me.

It was like I froze.  What a question.  And what a question right now.  Does she not know that I am a curious and creative one who has got herself caught out in the middle of the ocean, caught up in the perfect storm?  The high and turbulent waves of religion from the south, and the low and violent waves of science from all over the world?  I stood there for hours, it seemed.  I couldn’t think of what to say.  I was just about to say, ‘I don’t really know,’ when I thought that might not help Mrs. Townsend become a true believer.

“Ruthie has not been feeling well lately.  Let me tell you what she believes.”  Ellen said, saving my hide from an interrogation that was certain to take place at some point.  Dad knows everything that goes on when it comes to church.

Ellen had been standing kind of beside and behind me since we arrived.  She now walked out and right up besides Mrs. Townsend. “Have you ever heard of Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady?”  Ellen asked.

“No.”

“Have you ever heard of the song ‘Rock of Ages’?

“Well of course, do you think I’ve been living under a rock myself over the past ninety years?”

“Back in the year 1763 Reverend Toplady was walking along the side of a gorge, when suddenly a strong and powerful storm came out of nowhere.  He could fight the wind and the rain and make his way to a little gap in the rock wall.  Huddled up tightly in that little gap in the rocks he was struck by a song’s title.  It was as though God had inspired him.  So, he scribbled down some lyrics.”  Ellen said.

“Let me read a few of them to you.”  Ellen said pulling a foldedup sheet of paper from the back pocket of her jeans.  I could tell it was the same sheet I had given her in Mentone.

‘Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite knows,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When my eyes shall close in death,

When I rise to worlds unknown,

And behold Thee on Thy throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.’”

Mrs. Townsend, Ruthie here, my friend, believes that it is easy to believe in rocks, water, blood, fleshly wounds, hands, and tree-made crosses.  These things are visible.  She can touch them.  But, Ruthie also believes there are things all around her that she can’t see and touch. She believes strongly that she is blood, bone, and flesh, and she also believes that she has a spirit.  Like the wind moves a rocking chair outside on the porch, back and forth, her spirit is unseen but rocks her outward and upward. She believes in a Rock of Ages, one she can see and touch and cleave to and hide herself in.  She also believes in a Rock of Ages that cannot be seen, but she knows that out there somewhere, maybe everywhere, even right here in this room, there is a savior that takes care of little baby humans, maybe even those not even quite human. She believes this savior rocks her outward and upward ‘to worlds unknown.’ And that someday, that day soon or far, far away, she will cling to that ‘Rock of Ages,’ and let Him hide her, safely and sweetly, always and forever.”  Ellen said.

“Thank you dear.  May I have a copy of that?” Mrs. Townsend asked.

Ellen looked at me and then turned and handed her copy of ‘Rock of Ages’ to Mrs. Townsend. “Here is my gift to you.  You can have my copy.  Please read it over and over.  It has many secrets to reveal.”  Ellen said.

Our time was up.  Rachel and Leah and Ellen thanked Mrs. Townsend for allowing us to come.  I just smiled at her and walked out into the hall.  As embarrassed as I was I was thankful for this experience.  And, I was thankful that Ellen had asked to come along tonight.  She was so needed.  As we walked out and got on the bus I couldn’t help but be proud of Ellen.  She is truly curious and creative.  And, she is searching mightily for truth without varnish.