Whispered To!

The day was a hot one. He had just mowed the lawn. His Mrs. Brought him out some iced tea. The weeds had been pulled. The sidewalk washed down. The bushes trimmed. The garage all straightened out and the day was halfway through and he was worn out, but glowing with pride with his day’s work.

The extra phone was out in the garage and midway through this stand of price in what he had accomplished – even though he did this every Saturday – he got a phone call. On the other end of the line a voice said, "What would it take to compromise your faith in God?" Wow!! A joke, a crank call, he almost hung up, but the voice on the other end said, "Don’t hang up. This is not a joke nor a prank call. I have been asked to call to make you an offer for a special project we are conducting. We obtained your name through a computer check of all those who attend churches throughout your community. The computer asked several questions and each question was given a number. Those with a certain number were chosen to be called and receive this offer. Our offer is simple, What would it take, cash in hand, pay off al your debts, early retirement, kid’s schooling, long needed vacation, no longer having to work, mortgage paid off – what would it take to say you would compromise your faith in God for one of the above?" He yells out to his Mrs., "Come here for a moment Honey." She shows up from the warm kitchen where she’s preparing for a late afternoon dinner. He tells her what this person on the other end of the phone line is saying. She thinks it’s a joke, crank call, so he says to her, "Here, you ask him to repeat it to you." So she takes the receiver in hand and says, "My husband just told me what you want, can you give us some credentials as to who you are and who you represent so we can check you and your company out?" "Absolutely, do you have access to a computer or fax machine?" "Yes, we have a computer with a fax modem on it." "Fine, turn it on fax mode. I will fax you a phone number to call and verify – but I must warn you, you only have until the sun sets today to make your decision. That is, your husband must make his decision."

The phone is hung up, the fax mode is put on and they look at one another, and ask almost as if they knew what the other was going to, "Can you believe this man calling with such a stupid offer. I am going to compromise my faith in God for money. It’s a crank call. No way are we going to hear from that jerk again." But, they don’t leave the "fax" part of the computer. Both with sweaty hands, he being drenched from the work in the hot sun, her working over a stove trying to prepare a nice meal for this evening – and all of a sudden, the phone rings. The fax mode goes into position and the message starts out as they both watch with anticipation what this calls means. "Hi, my name is -- and you have been carefully chosen by a computer check of local churches to be one of the few to receive this extra ordinary offer. What would it take to compromise your faith in the God you worship? All you have to do is write the amount down in this fax and re-fax it back to us and we will comply with your written amount. To verify our offer, you can call this number, but please remember, this offer is only good until the sun sets today! Thank you and best of luck on whatever you decide. Good bye.

He tears off the fax from the machine. They both stand in awe. They both can’t speak. They both go over and sit down on the couch. He gets back up, nothing has been said between then. He then gets the cordless phone, sits back down on the couch and dials the number on the fax paper. A recording comes on that tells him that the fax and phone call he has received is truthful and that it can be verified with a bank at a number the recording gives him to call. He hangs up. He dials the bank’s number. A person answers and again, with a human voice verifies that the offer is a solid one and that funds are on hand to fulfill the offer. He hangs up. It’s almost 4 p.m. He looks at her, she looks at him. They are both dumbfounded. "What do we do?" They both ask each other, "I wonder who else got a call like this? they both ask. The sun will set in two hours – not much time to make such a monumental decision. Then he asks, "Why can’t we/I make the decision to say yes. But, not mean it. I mean we surely could use what ever money we could get. What do you think?" She is speechless. She can’t even talk. She has a ton of weight on her tongue and heart. She is in a whirlwind as to what they could do with all the money they could ask for!

It’s 4:30, neither has gotten up from the chair. The fax machine is quiet. The computer is on. Phones are quiet. Cars can be heard driving up and down the neighborhood street. The kitchen is smelling a sweet fragrance of what she is preparing for dinner. But, they both know they only have an hour and half at best, that the biggest decision in their financial and spiritual world has to be made! They are in an absolute stupor as to what to do. He says, "Let’s call our pastor and ask him?" Then says, "You know what he will say, forget it, don’t even think of it. It’s not worth it!!" So they both continue to sit. He gets up and goes to get a cold towel to wash down the sweat on his face and arms. No words are said. The food on the stove is simmering. It’s not going on 5 p.m. The sun is on its way down to end another day on planet Earth. Words are tough to come by – fear starts to move in as it starts to ask questions. "What if you did this?" Could you live with the guilt?" "Could you go to church knowing you sold your soul?" "Could you look anyone in the face?" "How much money is enough to equal compromising God?" "Could I saw it and not mean it and get away with it?" He says to her, "I am going to call that number back and see if I can get these guys to answer some more questions." He dials the number, it’s busy. He dials the bank’s number and a recording comes on saying they are closed after 5 p.m. until Monday at 10 a.m. He redials the first number, but still busy. He calls the operator to ask to cut in. She comes back on the line and says she is unable to cut in as it’s a private line and she can’t get through. Sorry she says. He redials, it is busy, it is almost 5:30 p.m. They both look at each other in fear.

He says, "I could do this. You keep your faith and I will compromise mine, and we can be set financially for life. What do you think of that?" She turns her head and begins to weep. He comes over and holds her as they embrace, both bawling over this major decision. How does one compromise their faith in God for an exchange to have everything they ever wanted? They embrace, both go to the sink and wash their faces with cold water as if to wake up and find this all a hoax. He walks outside back into the garage. The door is still open to the neighborhood, kids are playing football on the street. A few houses down a neighbor is mowing their lawn, some are out watering. The neighbor across the street sees him and yells out, "How are you doing on this gorgeous day?" He waves as almost to say hi, but doesn’t speak as he is in a daze as to what to do over this. How do I compromise my faith in God for money – all I could want, ever. He mutters to himself as he stands alone in the garage.