Church Burner

CHAPTER 2 The Church … and More Important Things John Davidson was inside the general store standing in front of the open cooler door enjoying the cool rush of air flowing over his face when he heard a couple of elders talking about the Reverend, not knowing they were being overheard. “He seems to be empty, without spirit at times! Don’t you think, Sister Rebecca?” John instantly recognized the voice of the head matron, Ms. Darleen Frances, talking to her friend, Sister Rebecca. “Oh, did you see how he was flirting with them twins? From what I’ve heard he has spirit all right, coming right out of the bottle. Rumor has it he likes to drink and he’s been seen sinning around town with women, both young and old.” “He is a handsome young man. You know he went to that college on the west coast for a year? He is a single man you know?” Sister Rebecca replied with a sly giggle. “Watch it Sister you’re sinning yourself, but one thing for sure, he ain’t nothing like his grandfather or his father,” Sister Darleen responded bitterly, not liking the joke her friend had made about the Reverend. “Forgive me, Lord,” Sister Rebecca apologized. She then stated, “His Father would have never allowed that new style music he lets the choir sing either.” Changing her voice to a serious tone, putting a soured look upon her face. As he listened to them leave, John knew for a fact Aunt Rosemary the church elder wouldn’t have stood for that kind of talk behind the Reverend’s back. She would have put them in their places right fast with a quick quotation from the bible. He thought about telling Aunt Rosemary that morning in church, but now he was glad he didn’t because he didn’t need be in the middle of no mess with the elders. She first would have checked him for telling. She called it “being messy.” Aunt Rosemary would have had to have been there and heard it herself. Reverend Bishop was the youngest of the Bishop clan to become pastor of the Church of God. He was only twenty-two years old when he became Pastor by succession after the unexpected death of his father, the Reverend Benjamin Bishop. James was in his first year of seminary when called home to his ailing father’s bedside. He never returned to school on the west coast. His intentions were always to return and finish his religious and academic studies; however, his father left with many things either unfinished or unattended. There would always be something for James to complete or take care of to prevent or delay the young man’s departure. He stopped counting how many flight reservations he canceled long ago, putting his education on hold after the missing most of his first year. Finally he gave up on ever returning, feeling this was his true calling. Born with a gift for preaching the Word, he gave his first sermon at the church at the age of seven. He was thought to be a child prodigy, the way he knew and spoke the word. Some of the elders now questioned if the young Reverend really enjoyed doing God’s work. He had no shame, flaunting a sort of free, rambunctious, worldly spirited side of himself. John had lived in the town all his 19 years never having left Mariah. He stood about 5’8, medium build with a dark complexion. His strong handsome facial features made him quite an attractive catch to the young ladies of Mariah. His true feelings however, were only for the twins. His problem was that he could not decide which one. Not able to decide which one to commit to was his own curse. Not only was he attractive, he was one of the most eligible young bachelors in town. This, due to the tragedy of losing both his parents killed in a strange automobile accident when he was 17 years old. This occurred two months before his 18th birthday Being the only child, this tragedy left him with an inheritance of a home, a couple of acres of land, and a considerably large amount of money from their life insurance policies. It had also left him quite alone and mad at the world and more importantly God. The sermon today made him think of his mother. “You never know when or where the battle will come. The time will come when Our Lord will give you a sign and make his calling,” she would always say. “It’s best being ready and prepared both spiritually and financially.” He remembered how his mother would always be sure to have the money ready for the insurance agent when he would stop by every second Tuesday of each month. He was thinking about that time he and his mother talked about something special one Tuesday afternoon. She was sitting in the kitchen snapping green beans she had just cleaned, getting dinner ready. Momma I feel “something big” is in store that is going to take me away from this town. His mother just smiled at him, telling him, “Every young man gets a feeling of adventure at your age. A feeling that you could change the world all by yourself,” he remembered her saying. “Your Father joined the Navy when he got that feeling. You’re not thinking of joining the military, are you, John?” she asked. He assured her “No way ma that is the furthest thing from my mind. I just feel that my destiny is not here in Mariah. It’s like I getting ready for a big adventure fated for me!” he told her with a big grin just like his father’s. “We call it, the calling son.” she smiles proudly at her young man. “Yeah and it’s coming soon, Momma I know it!” he smiles back at her. She finished snapping the beans and walked over to the sink to wash them off. “Will you get the top on that kettle for me please son?” Moving over to the stove, she dumps the beans in the big boiling pot a tantalizing mixture of a smoked turkey leg for her, two wings for the guys, onion, butter, and her special seasonings. The delicious aroma made his stomach grumble. She sat down. “Sit down son, let us get back to our discussion. You know being righteous and walking the right path, making the right choices are all part of growing up, in this life John. What you itch to go on, some type of adventure, is just a natural feeling for a young man to have. These thing helps prepare you to answer the call when it comes. It is time I tell you a story about Mariah and everyone here while I’m cooking. It is about the battle between the Lord and all that is Evil. A war that has been waged since the beginning of everything. We are all soldiers in the Lord’s army called to this special place Mariah. We all have our duties and purpose to fulfill, John. Some duties more important than others. Some purposes greater. We all get called upon to make a choice. To do our part and stand up for what is right. Your father and I have done our best to prepare you by teaching you the Word and showing you the path of the Lord. He will bless you and answer your prayers. But you have to be true at heart, son. Just how you will be blessed and how your prayers will be answered depends on how true your belief and trust in the Lord’s word are. So be careful of what you pray for, son.” She grabbed John’s hand and looked deeply into his eyes. “Now, don’t think for a minute that the Evil One ain’t got his army of soldiers and followers out there working for him, too! Their belief in him can be just as deep, just as strong AND just as powerful!” She hesitated. “…So they think! But we know better, don’t we, Lord!” she added, laughing, looking up to the ceiling. “Thank you, Jesus,” she praised, throwing her hands high towards the ceiling, as if receiving confirmation from above. “Some battles are big and come with great sacrifices. Some can be as simple as a yes or a no, yet may be the most difficult and painful of all to utter. Everyone here in Mariah gets the call and we all get tested, son. Just be ready to stand fast to your decisions and beliefs, because those will be the strongest weapons a soldier in the Lord’s army can arm himself with. Do you understand what I’m saying, John? Be careful of what you do and put out there in the world because remember, what goes around