Sam (3)
Editor's Note: Past editions (1 and 2) have taken us to visit mythical Sam and Len who were strong Christians as teenagers and leaders in their church. Len was church pianist. Success and riches cooled their devotion to God. They migrated to a church socializing Len's alcoholic addiction. Their daughter, Lena, graduating from high school with high honors and scholarship offers to Ivy League schools, has gone to her parents' childhood church with her grandmother, given her heart to the Lord, and wants to pursue studies in a Christian college. Lena invited her pastor and some elders for dinner to talk with her mother and dad. Things did not go well. Guests left. Lena has gone to her room. Sam and Len argue...mostly Sam. Lena cries herself to sleep. Sam sleeps on the recliner in another room.
Having a $3,000 mattress and sleeping in a recliner was only made worse by Sam's anger. The hard words he had used were strange to his lips. He was a man who prided himself in self-control. How it happened he did not know nor remember but during the restless night he had found himself searching for Len's whiskey. By morning his head was throbbing. His mind was confused. He felt awful. His head felt funny and his stomach queasy. He did not know that he was drunk.
Oddly in his state of mind he could not recall all the events of the night before. He did know that he was not together. He did know that he had been drinking—for the first time. He knew Len would know that the bottle had less in it than her last time. One look in the mirror and his red face made clear that it was not a day to see his colleagues in the office. "Come to think of it," Sam mused to himself, "I don't want my family to see me like this."
Taking the keys to the sports car he eased out of the house just as he thought he heard Len getting up. He left quickly in the car, driving a little too fast.
An hour later he was in the country...driving...driving...driving. His thoughts were too muddy. Knowing how many times his picture had been in the paper and on TV he dared not stop at a restaurant for coffee. Finally, he came to a rest area that offered coffee from an outside machine. Two cups later the throbbing in his head began to ease.
Fatigue settled on him. He reclined his seat and slept, for how long he did not know. Oddly, when he awoke, he felt better. He remembered the events of the evening and night. Anger returned.
His cell phone rang. He looked at the dial. It was Len calling. He did not answer.
"It is all Len's fault," he mumbled to himself. The phone rang again. Len. He did not answer. His office called. He did not answer. His lawyer called. He did not answer. His broker called. He did not answer.
He started the car and rode. How it happened he could not explain, but he found himself driving by the home where he and his family had lived during his childhood. He drove by the various schools he had attended. The church he had attended—where he and Len had married.
About an hour later he found himself on an overlook above the city. He parked in the same place he had driven Len in his Volkswagen on that night long ago when he had asked her to marry him. "Why did I fall in love with her? Why?" he asked himself.
"Why?" He thought about his question. She was beautiful, gentle, pure, loved God more than him, had not gone to wild parties or been out with questionable guys. Oh, how she could play the piano...had played the piano and sung to him at their wedding. She had never been unfaithful to him. While he had not committed adultery, he had edged towards behavior that was unfaithful to Len.
The phone rang again. Len. He did not answer. However, his anger was subsiding. Len was still beautiful. She kept herself well. Her biggest complaint was that he did not spend time with her. Her alcoholism had made him angry. He knew in his heart that Lena had become his special project...his pride and joy. Lena would be the perfect daughter. She would go Ivy League. She would be famous. He suddenly realized that the more attention he had paid Lena, the less he had paid Len.
Sam took out his wallet and slipped out the photo long hidden of Len and him on this very overlook the night of their wedding. Almost as if shocked, he was stunned that the picture of Len could have been Lena.
Sam started the car and drove slowly down the road leading back to the valley. His heart was sobered. He had not once in the whole day thought about business deals, stocks, mergers, or the new yacht he was considering. He parked the car a block away as the sun was setting and made his way through the forest back of the church. In his teenage years there was a back door of the church that could be opened without a key.
Sitting in a pew...with evening sunrays shafting through the windows on the altar Sam renewed his love for Jesus. His values began to re-arrange. How long he sat quietly he did not know. The reflection of the light on the cross behind the pulpit seemed to chase shadows away. Only when he rose to leave did he notice that the Pastor sat quietly a few pews away.
"Hi, Sam," the Pastor spoke softly, "I did not want to disturb you, but Len is terribly anxious about your safety."
Sam stepped quickly to the Pastor and pulled him into a big hug. "Oh, Pastor, you have no idea what has happened to me today!" exclaimed Sam.
"Sam, I do know. And you should know that I just left your home praying with Len as she renewed her love for Our Lord Jesus! Go home Sam. She is waiting for you!" encouraged the Pastor.
With his heart bursting with joy of salvation, Sam restrained the sports car. By the time he arrived home he knew that Lena would be going to the college of her choice. He also knew that he was going to take Len on another honeymoon—soon. Best of all, he knew that he was home to Jesus!
Much love
Pastor Bare