Despite sending Pastor Preston several emails asking for an urgent meeting, James Dobbs had to wait a full week before he could see the minister. As he sat in the foyer of Woodstone Church waiting for Pastor Preston, who was fifteen minutes late, James thought about how much time he had spent in that church and in that town. He was nervous about starting what he expected to be the most important journey of his life, but he was excited. He knew that what he was about to do was important and needed to be done, not just for himself but for everyone on the planet. He felt that somehow this church had played a role in forming him as a person God had finally recognized as worthy of this task, worthy of carrying out his role in God’s plan. James had many good memories in Woodstone, and he knew he would miss it after he left.
Pastor Preston was talking on his cell phone when he came through the front doors. He said, “I know it’s more expensive, but I think it’s worth it. That’s right. Black leather, with the same color black for the trim around the dash. Yeah. Okay, next Tuesday. It better be ready. I’ll have one irate wife on my hands if it’s not. All right, bye.” Pastor Preston hung up and moved over to James as he said, “They’ve screwed up the interior of that car twice now. But you know what? I forgive them, because I’m a Christian, and I understand that things like this are just tests from God to see if we have the patience and love that he wants us all to have.” He shook James’s hand and said, “Okay, now, I got your emails. Seems like there’s some important stuff going on, and I’m happy to consult you spiritually on anything you might need help with. That’s what Jesus put me on this earth to do. Just let me get this coffee down, come into my office, and let’s hear what you need to tell me.”
James followed Pastor Preston into his office. He’d never been in it before. The walls were covered with pictures of Pastor Preston with various celebrities, Sarah Palin, Chuck Norris, and Kirk Cameron prominent among them. A glass case on one wall was full of trophies from various church-sponsored softball teams and choir groups. On the wall immediately behind Pastor Preston’s desk was a giant painting of him and his wife holding hands as Jesus hovered above them, shining light down on them from his open hands. James wished he could have a relationship with a girl like Pastor Preston had with his wife.
Pastor Preston drank a last sip of coffee, threw the cup in the trash can next to his desk, sat down and said, “All right, now, let’s do some work of the spirit. Before we start, let’s join hands.” James gave his hands to Pastor Preston, who bowed his head, closed his eyes, and said, “Heavenly Father, please fill me with your everlasting understanding and wisdom in this moment so that I may do what you have put me on this earth to do. Please help me guide the soul of this young man who sits with me in his hour of need so that he may do your bidding and carry out your holy plan. Amen.”
James repeated, “Amen.”
Pastor Preston said, “So, James, I know you know this, but I just want to take this opportunity to tell you again that you’re really one of the rising stars here at Woodstone. I haven’t had much time to talk to you after our rally the other week, but seriously, and I mean this with all of my heart, you’re an inspiration, son. Truly. Christ sees what you do, and you should feel very, very good about that.”
James thanked him for his compliments, and then Pastor Preston said, “So I’m more than happy to listen to whatever you want to tell me, and I’ll do my best to help you however God sees fit. So what’s the urgent thing you wanted to tell me about? Something with a new job opportunity? You’re thinking about buying a new car? Don’t tell me this has to do with a young lady? Not to toot my own angelic horn, but I’m very good with matters of the heart where they cross over with matters of the spirit.”
James told Pastor Preston that it was none of those things. He explained to Pastor Preston that the sermon he gave on listening for God’s voice was transformative for him. He told Pastor Preston that he had never heard God’s voice in his entire life, and never really thought that it might have been because he wasn’t an active enough listener. He told Pastor Preston that circumstances had come to be which allowed him three days off from work, and he felt that the number three had biblical significance in reference to Jesus rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. He went on to tell Pastor Preston that he had used the entirety of those three days to remain awake, listening for God’s voice, because he was certain that God had cleared his work schedule specifically for this purpose. He finished his story by telling Pastor Preston that on that third day without sleep, food, or water, he had indeed heard the voice of God, and that God had revealed a plan that he wanted James to follow—a purpose for his life.
Pastor Preston said, “That’s incredible. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier for you. Between that and our rally with the Anointed, it seems to me like you’re entering your spiritual prime. We never know when or where God will choose to speak to us, but you were listening, and that’s all he wants. So what did he say to you?”
James apologized to Pastor Preston for not being able to give him any details about the nature of his conversation with God. He told Pastor Preston that the conversation was private, and at God’s behest he was unable to reveal anything. And even beyond that, God himself didn’t reveal anything beyond the first step of his plan to James.
Pastor Preston said, “I see. Well, we each have our own relationship with God. I understand that more than most, I think. But if you didn’t come here today to speak with me about what God told you, then what exactly do you need my help with, son?”
James explained he needed some help carrying out the plan, and he assured Pastor Preston that the plan was of great importance to everyone, not just him.
Pastor Preston said, “Of course. I’d be more than happy to help any of God’s children follow their path, especially someone like you who is so obviously devoted to an unwavering Christian life.”
James explained that his plan would very likely require many things, and that most of them he knew would be provided by God as they were needed. But the first thing he needed, the thing that would enable him to initiate the plan God set out for him, was very simple, and it was something he knew Woodstone could easily help him with. He told Pastor Preston that he needed enough money to get to California, the place that God told him he had to get to, the place where he would be used in the service of God’s ultimate plan. He went on to say that he didn’t need much money, and he was happy to travel by bus if it was easier for the church financially.
Pastor Preston said, “And what’s in California, James?”
James explained that God hadn’t told him exactly what he would have to do in California, but that even if he had, James still wouldn’t be at liberty to say. God did tell him not to divulge the details of the conversation with anyone. The reason he needed to go to California was between him and God.
Pastor Preston said, “I see. Well, James, I guess the best thing I can tell you is that sometimes we want to hear God so badly, and we strain so hard to hear his voice, that we think we heard him when we really didn’t. It’s kind of like when you’re so hot that you get the chills. When it’s a hundred degrees out, and your air conditioner is on the fritz, and you want to feel a little breeze so badly, sometimes you feel things that aren’t there. The same thing can happen with God’s voice. And I understand how devout you are. I know you’re not just trying to get a free trip to California out of the church, and I know you’ve been waiting to hear his voice and you will, son, but I don’t think he told you to go to California.”
James couldn’t understand why Pastor Preston was questioning the validity of his conversation with God. Of all people, he assumed Pastor Preston would be as excited as he was about the event and more than happy to help in any way he needed. James tried to explain a second time as clearly as possible that he really did hear God. There was no mistaking his voice or his message. He reminded Pastor Preston that he had always told his congregation that the reason Woodstone was created was to help those who are truly faithful, and James was definitely faithful. He asked Pastor Preston how he could rationalize turning away a member of the Anointed when that member was asking for help carrying out God’s plan.
Pastor Preston said, “That’s a good question, James. I’m a pastor. That means I’ve been called on by Almighty God to spread his word, to gather those who follow in the teachings of his son, Jesus Christ, and to be used as he sees fit. I talk with God every day, James, and I know how he works, and I don’t mean to take anything away from the experience you had. But take it from me, as someone who has had much more spiritual experience than you, if he wanted me to help you go to California, then why would he have told you nothing else about the trip? That just doesn’t make sense. And besides that, why would he have had a whole conversation with you, knowing that you’d come to me to ask for help, but then not tell me you’d be coming? Wouldn’t he have spoken to me, as the minister of his word?”
James reminded Pastor Preston that God works in mysterious ways, and that no one should question his motives or his actions or presume to know his plans.
Pastor Preston paused for a moment. The logic of James’s argument was difficult to deny. He was aware that he himself had delivered several sermons making that very point. He eventually said, “You’re right about that, James. I certainly don’t know everything God knows about his plans. but I can tell you that in all my years as pastor of Woodstone, I’ve never sat in this seat and had a member of my congregation ask me directly for money to take a trip, and just as you believe that you heard God telling you to go to California, I can hear him right now telling me that I just can’t help you get there. So, while it’s obviously impossible for me to know everything about your relationship with God, I can tell you that I know mine better than anyone, and right now I have to obey his command. If God does intend for you to take this journey, it seems like he might have some lessons to teach you along the way that he knows you can only learn by doing it yourself, without help from anyone but him.”
James took what Pastor Preston said at face value. Then James asked Pastor Preston, since he was in direct contact with God at that moment, if he could ask God how James was supposed to get to California.
Pastor Preston said, “Okay, I suppose I can do that. Almighty Father, can you please help this young man on his way and deliver to him the knowledge and resources that he needs to carry out your heavenly plan?”
The two men waited in silence for a few seconds before Pastor Preston said, “I’m sorry son. He’s silent.”
James lowered his head. Pastor Preston could tell he was disappointed, and said, “Listen, James, don’t let this get to you. Sometimes God makes our journey more difficult to teach us a lesson. And even if you don’t end up getting to California, God will still favor you, and he will still love you, because you’re one of his children.”
James reminded Pastor Preston that he had no choice in the matter. He had to get to California. He had to carry out God’s plan. There was no alternative. He told Pastor Preston that he would do whatever it took to get there.
As James stood and walked out of Pastor Preston’s office he turned back and he told the Pastor that no matter what would come to pass, he would forgive him for turning him away when he needed help the most, just as Jesus did with Peter.