Scott noticed his aunt’s car was parked in the driveway as he closed the gate behind him. It looked like he wasn’t alone. He knocked, then opened the front door.
“Hi, Scott, you were gone a while. What did the doctor say about your foot?” Ruth was arranging the pillows on the couch.
“It didn’t take hardly any time at all, actually.” Scott reached into his pocket and held up the small bottle. “The doctor gave me this ointment to put on every day. I wasn’t at the doctor’s for more then ten minutes. It was great.” Ruth looked up, puzzled. “Oh I went out to lunch with Laura. We drove off base and went to Dina’s diner,” Scott explained. “Have you been there before? They have great burgers.”
“Actually, I never have. I should take John there sometime,” she responded. “We don’t leave the base all that often. John’s work keeps us pretty busy here. It’s funny how we live on a tropical island, but we don’t hardly get out to do things enough.” Ruth laughed. “You’ll be hungry for dinner though, won’t you?” she asked. “I’m cooking up some tacos.”
Scott could smell the aroma of spicy meat and cilantro drifting from the kitchen. “Smells good. I’ll be hungry.” He sat and took his shoes off. “We actually talked for quite a while after we ate, so I’m already working on a dinner appetite.”
“Oh,” Ruth said. “So you enjoyed your time with Laura?”
“Yep, actually, I did.” He set his shoes on the rug and walked into the living room. “We read in a journal Uncle John gave me yesterday, and talked about Alaska and stuff. She’s a really cool girl.”
“I see.” Ruth was back in the kitchen, stirring peppers on a sizzling pan. Scott stood watching her for a second.
“I’m going to go to my room and read for a while. If there’s not anything you need help with,” he said.
“Oh sure.” She looked up from where she was now chopping an onion. “I’ll call for you when John gets home and dinner is ready.” She smiled. “Enjoy your reading.”
Scott went into his room and closed the door. Flopping out on the bed, he lay thinking about talking with Laura, and Matthew’s journal. Time for his mind to catch up.
“I won’t read now,” he decided.
A few minutes later, John arrived home from the office. He walked into the house and greeted Ruth with a hug and a small kiss.
“I’m still cooking dinner, so why don’t you come talk with me in the kitchen?” Ruth said.
“Smells good, don’t mind if I do,” he responded.
John sat on a barstool while Ruth talked. “Scott didn’t get home until just 15 minutes ago. He’s in his room reading now.”
“Oh really?” John began to sit up alarmed. “ Is it serious? The doctor kept him that long?”
“Oh, no, ” Ruth held up her paring knife. “He was out talking with Laura at Dina’s diner. His foot is healing fine, he told me.”
“That’s good.” John relaxed. “So he’s hitting it off well with Laura, then.” He picked up a chunk of cheese and popped it in his mouth.
“Yes, he is, and I’m happy about that.” Ruth lifted her eyebrows. “But, I’m a little worried, too. I hope I didn’t help start something that he can’t handle. I don’t know if Scott’s ready for a relationship.”
“Well, I guess we can’t worry about it too much. He’s twenty-one,” John observed. “If Scott learns what I hope he learns from his uncle’s journal, I think he’ll do okay with her.”
Ruth pulled the taco shells from the oven and set them on the bar. “I hope so, dear. Can you go call Scott? The tacos are ready.”
Dinner was a pleasant affair. Informal and tasty. Scott wasn’t very hungry, but he couldn’t help but eat three tacos, despite himself. His aunt knew how to cook. The bar was lined with all the ingredients and they sat on stools in the kitchen talking.
Scott told his uncle what the doctor had said, and a little bit about going to lunch with Laura. He didn’t tell that they had read the journal together, though.
John was making another taco, piling sour cream and green sauce onto the top. “That’s the thing with tacos,” he said. “They don’t make the shells big enough for all the good stuff Ruth makes for them. So there’s a guy I was talking to in my office today. An Air Force mechanic. I won’t tell you his name, just because as a chaplain we maintain confidentiality.” John set his taco on his plate and swung his bar stool to face Scott.
“The guy reminded me of myself when I was younger, actually.” John’s eyes looked reminiscent. “He told me how he was searching for truth, but he didn’t know where to look.” John took a bite of his taco. “And of course he has some personal issues since he turned his back on God’s principles. It took him a while to admit that though.” John chuckled.
“Integrity is very important, I wish I could better show these young guys how keeping it would remove so many heartaches.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Have you started reading your uncle’s journal yet?” He looked at Scott, who nodded.
“Just a little bit. I read about him having his tools stolen, and a few other things.”
“Well, if you keep reading, and carefully too, you’ll learn three principles about trust. They can change your life if you follow them. I’m not gonna tell you what they are, though.” He raised his hand. “You gotta find them yourself.” He crunched on the last of his taco and stood and walked to the sink, carrying his plate. “When you’ve found them, why don’t you come tell me, and we’ll see what we can learn from each other?” John rinsed his plate and set it in the dish rack. “Great tacos, honey. Why don’t I start on these dishes, and we can all go and play some dominoes after dinner is done?”
*****
After playing a couple of runs of “Mexican train” with John and Ruth, Scott politely excused himself. “I’m going to see if I can find those principles of trust you where talking about, Uncle John. I bet I can find them before the night’s over.” Scott stood from the table.
“Tell me when you find them.” John chuckled. “But don’t stress about it, they’ll come if you just let the journal flow.”
Back in his room, Scott shut the door and lay out on the bed, propped himself on his elbows, and took a deep breath. Time to really get into this thing.
He flipped the journal open and flicked past the first pages.
August 10, 1987, was the next entry.
I finally started my own business, I don’t know what to expect, but I’m excited. I got a contract to do framing with some guys in Anchorage working on new construction. Will see how things go. Got to get some sleep it’s getting late.
The line ended abruptly. I wonder when I come into this picture? Scott thought. It was at the end of that summer his uncle had first hired Scott to work for him.
Scott thought back. He had been bumming around home that August, irritated with his dad who was always trying to analyze and teach him. His dad had been critical of his brother-in-law, telling Scott how he didn’t have it together. He claimed that he, the psychotherapist, could have fixed all the problems of his brother-in-law if he only listened to him and not Timothy. It was the same thing he told Scott, so the fact that his dad didn’t approve of Matthew only increased Scott’s admiration for him.
His uncle had started his business that summer and he offered Scott a job towards the end of that August.
Scott turned the page. It was like he was re-viewing the whole thing through his uncle’s eyes now.
August 29,1987 – My brother-in-law, Robert, has never approved of me. I think that he doesn’t agree with my new Christian beliefs and thinks I’m too simple. Can’t help that much. I met his family the other day. He and his oldest son, Phillip, seem a lot alike. He’s grooming Phillip to go to college and work with him in his practice. His wife seems reserved and didn’t show too much personality. She seems to just agree with whatever her husband said, They have a younger son, but he’s different. His name’s Scott. I can’t help but like the guy. He’s the underdog, and his dad is always on him, but he still seems to have a spark in him—
August 30,1987—Today I asked Scott if he wanted to work with me. He said he wanted to get away from his house and earn some money, so we agreed. So, now I have my first “Employee.” And he’s my brother-in-law’s son! At first I didn’t think Robert would let him, but he shrugged his shoulders, and said it would be “better then having him around there.” On to other things. My wife and I found a “new” place to rent in Anchorage. So we are getting more settled. Tim says I have a good opportunity, working with my nephew. That I can make a big difference in his life too.
Scott bent forward, his eyes focusing on the page.
—Scott’s 15. He seems to be a very angry young man, though he probably thinks he hides it very well. I suppose as long as I don’t push his buttons like his dad does, he’ll be a good employee. I think he has a lot of potential.
Reading about these events put Scott into a dark place emotionally. He didn’t see how this would give him the principles of trust. But he wanted to answer his uncle’s challenge, so he continued reading.
September 1, 1987. Brrr. It sure is getting cold, but the work is good. I was worried that I couldn’t find any, because Alaska is just coming out of an economic crash, but Tim has given me recommendations so I have not suffered from it.
September 19, 1987. My wife and I have had some disagreements. She is angry at me for working so much, and thinks I don’t listen to her. I don’t know what to do. I do listen, but I don’t think she notices. If I don’t work, I can’t pay the bills. I do love her dearly though.
Hopefully I won’t have to work so much soon, life is getting more routine, and Scott is becoming a big help. I taught him how to frame and he’s an iron man. I like being able to pay him big bonuses, like I just did. He helped me get a job done almost a week early. I’m glad he’s going back to school for his sake, but for mine I’ll miss the guy. He’s fun to be around.
I think God has really blessed my business, I keep on getting recommended to new jobs and I’m only limited by myself. I think I should try to hire a couple of hands, and then maybe I can find more time to work on my marriage, and just supervise. Today I was talking with Timothy and he say’s I have a talent for leading, and he’s very pleased with how I’ve helped Scott. I think it’s probably the first time he’s ever really felt good about himself.
Scott stopped reading to readjust a pillow underneath him.
September 21, 1987. Scott went back to school today. Now he can only work part-time. He told me plain out that he didn’t want to go to school. I definitely need to hire some help now. I didn’t realize how much of a help he was until now, and the work just keeps coming.
I went to lunch with Timothy today. I hadn’t talked with him for almost a week now. I told him about my wife and asked for prayer. I also told him I wanted to hire some new guys to work with me.
We talked and there are two principles he said I needed. Number 1, getting the job done. He said as long as I did the job and did it well, I would do well in construction. He also said that I needed to get the job done for my wife, and if that meant spending time with her, I needed to make the time.
And number 2, I need to have integrity, If I run my business with integrity, and am honest, I will do well. I also need to have integrity with my wife, and be honest and good to her.
So I am making a mental note that I will have integrity in my business, and I will get the job done!
Scott read the journal, every page up through December, pouring over every page. He only stopped twice to rearrange himself and finally to sit on the floor and lean his back against the bed.
January 1st, 1988. I finally figured it out! I know what I’ve been missing out on! It’s having other people’s best interest in mind. I can’t believe I missed it. These last months have been busy and my business has grown to the point that I have three guys who work for me regularly now, but I’ve lost several key contracts that I was sure I’d have, and I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out why. I emphasize heavily on having integrity with the guys, and we always have gotten the jobs done on time, but it just dawned on me. I’ve been losing customers because I haven’t had their best interest at heart. My marriage has been suffering because I don’t have my wife’s best interest at heart, even though I always have integrity and have been faithful to her… I suddenly get it! That’s why I have been losing so many relationships.
So I talked with Timothy about it, and he kinda gently helped me discover what I was missing. It’s so wonderful to have a pastor mentor like him. Who knows where I’d be if it wasn’t for Timothy?
I’ve also been mentoring my nephew, Scott, even though he probably doesn’t realize it. We’ve gotten closer recently. He’s opened up to me about how his dad is so hard on him. It’s been very frustrating, because whenever I teach Scott a Christian principle, like having integrity or something, my brother-in-law tells him how stupid it is, and to learn some real psychology. That’s difficult.
January 4th 1988. My wife scares me right now. She’s been reading some new self-help books she got from her brother. She tells me they really focus on expressing yourself and how every feeling we have as humans is good. She even went so far as to tell me yesterday that people can tap into the universe and become like God, and there really isn’t a right and wrong, strictly speaking. We’ve been clashing a lot about that. Whenever I read something from the Bible, she gets angry at me. Our views are really clashing, but yet I can’t tell her that she’s wrong. Maybe I’m in the wrong. I don’t know…
Scott closed the book. I think I have the answer now. I’ll go see what John says.
He moved out of the bedroom and down the hall. John sat in an easy chair reading a book. “John,” Scott said, “I think I found those three principles.”
John set his book down and looked up over the rims of his glasses. “You’ve been reading this whole time?” He glanced at the clock. “It’s almost 10 PM.”
“I think they’re having integrity, getting the job done, and having people’s best interest in mind.” Scott counted them off on his fingers and looked hesitantly at John. “Am I right?”
“Good job, good job.” John rose from his chair. “Scott, I want you to come see something.” He walked across the wooden floor and down the hall. Scott followed. “This is my study, and part time junk room.” He motioned to Scott to have a seat on a wooden stool on the floor. “I have studied and read several books on trust,” he said quietly. “And these last years since my brother’s death, I’ve studied every verse on trust I can find in the Bible. His journal helped me discover what I now know. The Bible says a lot about trust, but boiled down, it comes to three main principles. Can I see that stool you’re sitting on?”
Scott stood up, uncertain, and handed the stool to his uncle. John held it up.
“See, it has three legs.” He jiggled one leg until it popped out. “Sit on this.” He handed the chair back to Scott.
Scott sat unevenly on the chair, but after a second he found his balance and managed to stop swaying.
“You’re sitting how a lot of people are,” John said. “You can trust them pretty well in two areas, like if they get the job done and have integrity. But then something comes along where they have to choose between themselves and your best interest, and you know what happens?”
Scott shook his head. John stepped forward and gave him a gentle shove. The stool fell from under him and he tumbled to the carpet.
“That’s what happens.” John reached out a hand. “Let me help you up. You want to try it again?” he asked, laughing. “Only this time with one leg?”
Scott shook his head. “I think I already know what will happen.”
John laughed. “That’s right. You may not even be able to balance, even without a shove.” John twisted the leg back into the stool’s seat. “Try it now.” Scott sat on the stool with all three legs, and John gave him the same gentle push. This time he only slightly rocked.
“You see, to truly be trustworthy, you have to have all three legs of trust,” John said. “Most people usually are weak in at least one area.” He shrugged. “I’ll leave that for you to think about. If you find out where you’re weak, then you can improve and life will get much better for you.”
“I think I know,” said Scott. “Kinda like this guy named Tony in Ebi. He was really good at getting the job done, and okay at integrity with most things. But he was so selfish, you couldn’t trust him.”
“Didn’t have your best interest in mind.” John nodded. “Or how about this, you have a friend who wants to help you get money because you need it, and always follows through? So he’s good at getting the job done, and he wants to help you, so he has your best interest at heart.” John paused. “So he says, ‘Let’s rob a bank.’ See, he doesn’t have integrity so he’s going to get you hurt.”
Scott nodded. “I see.”
John raised his hand. “Now that’s an extreme example, but I wanted to make a contrast. Nobody can ever completely trust you unless you have all three. The only one who will only ever have the three legs of trust completely is God. He has your best interest at heart, he gets the job done and comes through a hundred percent of the time, and he has perfect integrity.” John leaned back, “I’ll get off my soapbox now.” He winked and gave Scott a friendly slap on the back. “Your probably tired, I’m sure…”
*****
Scott lay in bed that night, wondering. He kept going over and over the journal and what his uncle had said in his mind, until he fell into a troubled sleep.