The Singer and the Roses

The Singer and the Roses
Word Count = 2,089

         “I have no idea where I am,” Dan thought to himself as Paul pulled into the parking-lot.

         The lot was gravel and cars were parked haphazardly across the unmarked area. The night was a little chilly but felt good to him. It was the Thanksgiving week-end. Yesterday, Dan had gathered with Linda’s family for the Thanksgiving meal. His boys thoroughly enjoyed visiting with all their cousins. Linda came from a family of five children. She was the youngest. Her older sister, who was thirty years older, married at eighteen. Consequently, her husband, Paul, was her parent’s elder son-in-law. Although, Paul was the son-in-law with the most tenure, Dan, who had married the baby of the siblings, was her mom’s favorite. With any other family there may have been some jealousy there, but not in this one. Each son-in-law respected and thoroughly liked the other and had no envy or concern regarding favorites.

         However, Paul was the reason Dan was now sitting in the parking lot of a remote country Baptist church located in Prue, Oklahoma. Paul had been in the ministry for forty-five years. Dan had been in the ministry for two years. The little church had chosen to hold a week-long revival meeting over the Thanksgiving holidays. Paul was the visiting evangelist. Dan had happily accepted Paul’s invitation to attend the evening worship service in which Paul was preaching. He enjoyed hearing his brother-in-law preach. It certainly was not his style, but was enjoyable nevertheless.

         Dan studied the parking-lot. The newest vehicle in the parking lot appeared to be more than ten years old. Pick-up trucks certainly outnumbered automobiles, which was certainly understandable in rural Oklahoma in the year 1978. The socio-economic characteristics of the people gathering inside the little church appeared to be upper-lower income. However, socio-economics didn't matter here, for there were friendly hugs, greetings, and smiles in abundance as people gathered for the meeting.

          “This is my brother-in-law, Dan. He’s here for a visit and thought he’d attend our meeting tonight,” Paul announced to an elderly gentleman at the door of the church.

          “We are certainly happy to have you with us tonight, Brother Dan. Please make yourself at home,” the old deacon greeted Dan with a warm welcome and firm handshake.

          “Dan’s the pastor of First Church over in Carney. He’s here to get a lesson on how a sermon is supposed to be delivered.” Paul grinned as he shared the information with the old deacon.

          “Is that so? How can that be? I thought you were preaching tonight?” the elderly gentleman shot back at Paul with a chuckle and a wink to Dan.

         The group laughed and moved into the sanctuary of the little church. Dan found a vacant spot in a pew down front an claimed his spot. Various members stopped to welcome him to the meeting and moved on to find their own spot. Paul took his place in one of the short pews on the platform. The pulpit stood vacant at the moment. However, when the service began each participant took his turn standing in the center of the platform behind the big wooden pulpit. Eventually, Paul would occupy the pulpit and deliver a thirty minute sermon, which would be followed by an altar call. The effectiveness of his message would be measured by the altar call. On a good evening, the convicted would walk the aisles and meet the pastor at the base of the pulpit to share the convictions of their hearts. On evenings that were not so productive, the aisle at the base of the pulpit would remain vacant, with the convicted remaining unmoved in the congregation, ready to make their convictions known on some future evening. That’s the way it was and still is in rural Southern Baptist Churches all across the heartland.

         Dan watched the people enter into the assembly of the sanctuary. These folks did not appear much different than those who attended his church. Although, he suspected the income and education level of his congregation was a little higher. Being located near two universities and a metropolitan area provided more opportunity for diversity. Nevertheless, these good people and his congregation shared a common bond in Christian fellowship that made them members of the same family. He enjoyed watching the people.

         An increase in activity at the entrance caught his attention. A number of men had carried a wheelchair up the church steps and were entering the little foyer. Sitting in the chair was a young woman. It was apparent she had a debilitating disease. Her body's frame was bent in such a manner that she did not easily fit in her chair. A number of straps held her awkwardly in place. Her legs were misshaped as were her hands and wrists. In spite of her condition, Dan could discern a smile on her slightly contorted face.

         With compassion in his heart he formed a conclusion, as he thought, “My goodness, someone has taken this poor soul from the midst of her nursing home or confines of her room and treated her to an evening at the revival. I wonder if she even realizes what is being said? In any case, just to be in the presence of other people must certainly be a blessing to her.”

         They wheeled her down the front of the aisle to the pew directly across from him. Members of her party took their place in the pews adjacent to her. He looked at her. Their eyes met. He smiled warmly and she returned the smile.

         He thought, “I must do what I can to make her life a blessing. I imagine that she rarely receive smiles from strangers. I hope mine will be a blessing in her life.”

         The order of service progressed. The welcome was followed by brief announcements, which was then followed by a congregational song. Dan sang the familiar song from the Baptist Hymnal. They sang the same song at his church. He mused that churches all over the southland were singing the same song, in the same manner, with the same feeling. The feeling of familiarity was comforting to him.

         After the song was finished and the congregation was seated, the Pastor took his place behind the pulpit and announced, “We have a special treat for you this evening, before Brother Paul delivers his message to us. Many of you know Laura-Lee. She has been a blessing to all of us. She has agreed to sing for us this evening. Those of you who have never heard Laura-Lee sing will be blessed indeed. So at this time, I will ask our men to assist Laura-Lee to the podium and I will ask you to prayerfully receive her as she shares with us in song.”

         To Dan’s surprise, the men who assisted the disabled girl rose and began lifting the wheelchair up the three steps of the podium platform. One of the men adjusted the microphone so that it was inches from her mouth. They retreated from the platform to take their seats in the congregation. He watched in amazement as the smile spread on Laura-Lee’s face and captured his heart. The piano began to play and Laura-Lee sang in a halting and slurred voice. The old gospel hymn surrounded Dan and drove its message home to his heart.

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

         As she sung this verse, Dan looked at the twisted legs and misshapen body that was tied to the wheelchair. To envision this young lady walking thrilled his soul. The words in the song carried with it purpose and meaning that he had taken for granted. She continued to sing:

Though often tempted, tormented, and tested
And like the prophet my pillow's a stone
And though I find here no permanent dwelling
I know He'll give me a mansion my own

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely
I'm not discouraged I'm heaven bound
I'm but a pilgrim in search of the city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

         Tears filled his eyes. He did not hear the message that his brother-in-law preached that evening. All he could hear was that weak and halting voice ring through his soul. Dan walked from the sanctuary that evening. He walked on healthy legs. The men of the church carried the young girl down the steps of the church to the van in which she had arrived. He knew he would never see her again. But he also knew that he would never forget her.

         Paul and Dan drove home in silence. Dan finally broke the silence and asked, “Paul, do you sometimes wonder why it is God permits disease and pain to linger in good people? I have dealt with that question many times. I’m not sure that I have ever had a good answer.”

          “You’re thinking of Laura-Lee, aren’t you?”

          “Yes, I am. Somehow it doesn’t seem fair.”

          “You are right. It doesn’t seem fair. But we have a distorted understanding of what is fair. You see, we feel that God owes us a healthy and full life. We feel that's what we deserve.” Paul smiled as he shared with his younger brother-in-law.

          “Go on.” Dan prompted.

          “Well, like I said, we often feel that we deserve certain things in this life. The truth of the matter is that if we received what we truly deserved, we would all be doomed. We must realize that all of life is a gift. To live a moment of it is a gift that we don’t deserve. However, it is freely given out of love, as a gift to us. It has become common place for us to expect an abundance of that gift.”

         Dan nodded and continued with Paul’s thought, “That is true. Laura-Lee sees her life as a gift. She knows that it has its limitations. But she knows that a part of that gift is the promise of her faith. She can be happy in the midst of her misery, because she sees it as a gift.”

          “It’s true.” Paul agreed. “Laura-Lee has learned to stop in the midst of her condition and see the beauty of God’s garden. She spends time smelling the roses and in turn receives a blessing. We speed by in our pride and miss the entire rose garden.”

         Dan knew this. But his involvement in the complexities of his job, his family, and his interests caused him to forget.

          “I love Linda and my boys,” Dan continued. “Until this moment, if God were to take them from me tonight, I would likely not be grateful for the gift of the years I have had with them; rather, I would have resented what was taken from me. That young lady in the wheelchair has helped me to be thankful for the roses in my garden. And, although I don’t want to ever be separated from my family, I know that whatever time I have spent with them, whether one day or sixty years, is a gift. We have to be thankful for that time and not question the future.”

         The men drove on in silence for a few miles. Paul eventually broke the silence with a question, “You didn’t hear my sermon tonight, did you?”

          “Nope,” Dan grinned. “But I received a message anyway. Thanks, Paul. Thanks for bringing Laura-Lee into my life.”

          “Dan, I’ve a confession to make.” Paul smiled as he confessed. “I didn’t bring you to hear me. Laura-Lee had the same effect on me the first time I heard her sing that song. I brought you to hear her. She was the real message tonight.”

          “You’re not a bad preacher, Paul.” Dan returned, “Not bad at all.”