Dinner was not quite the same in the Taylor household this week day evening. While most of the talking lately had been done by Sister Marie, even she seemed noticeably distracted. Before Rose’s breakup with David, she kept her Dad and stepmother abreast of her plans to have a simple wedding with an elegant reception. She’d bring magazines to the dinner table with the latest fashions and she would ask their opinion on certain wedding traditions. Since the breakup, she talked more about the weather than anything personal. It was quite apparent that her private life was not to be discussed.
Pastor Taylor always ate engrossed in deep thought about the next sermon or an organizational meeting.
“What’s on your mind tonight honey?” he said, without looking up, as he carefully cut his chicken breast into small bite sized pieces.
“Nothing,” answered Rose.
He smiled at his daughter sweetly as he replied, “I wasn’t talking about you sweetheart.”
“Oh,” she said, with a giggle that hid her embarrassment.
“I’ve just been a little confused about the fellowship meetings that have been taking place,” Sister Marie said, stabbing at her overcooked broccoli.
“I thought you said the meetings had been very productive,” he said in an interrogative way.
“Oh they have,” she quickly responded. “It’s not the meeting that concerns me as much as the people who attend them.”
“Wait a minute honey,” he said. “You told me yourself that the people were hand-picked by you. How can there be a problem, if you invited them?”
“Honey, I told you in the beginning that this ministry was birthed out of a word that came to me in prayer. The Lord had me to hand pick all married women but two. I’m just still wondering why He included the two single women.”
“Maybe they’re engaged,” Rose said.
“No, I kind of doubt that, after talking with them in the meeting,” Sister Marie said.
“Well we could suggest answers from now until next week and still not figure out God’s mind,” Pastor Taylor said. “The Lord works in mysterious ways. When is your next meeting taking place?” he asked.
“Saturday at eleven,” she answered. “I sure would like to be a fly on the wall at one of those meetings,” the pastor quipped.
“That’s just too bad honey because these meetings are for women only, with no exceptions,” she said laughing. “You’ll have to start a club of your own.”
“Somehow, I find it difficult to imagine Dad as a member of anybody’s club,” Rose said.
“What’s so strange about imagining me in a club?” he asked.
“You speak whatever is on your mind Dad,” Rose said. “Clubs don’t like that. They want you to be in agreement with the way the entire body feels,” she explained.
“Maybe that’s why God called me to preach,” he said. “I don’t have to agree with anyone except God.”
“How do you know, you’re always agreeing with him?” Rose asked.
“By His Word, honey. I always have to line up with His Word,” he said, as he pushed his chair back to get up. “Dinner was delicious honey,” he said, giving his usual official blessing of what he had eaten before leaving the room. He always finished dinner first.
Sister Marie turned her attention to Rose. “How’s your chicken, Rose?” she asked.
“Oh it’s very good,” she answered, although she had picked at it throughout the meal.
“How do you like the potatoes?” Sister Marie asked.
“They are very tasty and so is the broccoli and the corn bread. I think I’ve lived with you long enough to know that you have something you want to say to me and I’m sure that it has nothing to do with tonight’s dinner,” she said, putting down her fork to look directly at Sister Marie.
“Alright, you’re much smarter than I give you credit for. I’d like to invite you to this Saturday’s women’s fellowship.”
“Alright, I’ll be there,” she said. “Don’t faint from shock. I know you expected me to give you a hard time. But I know if I said no, you wouldn’t give up, because as you put it, you are on a mission or you heard from God or something like that. I’ll come so I can get it over with.”
“Thanks Rose,” she said as she started clearing the table. “You just made my mission a little easier.”
When Friday came, David’s routine was just a little different. He awoke before his alarm went off, probably because he hadn’t slept well. He hadn’t dreamed, or at least he didn’t remember any. There was just so much on his mind. His father’s plans, his sister’s song and his neighbor’s situation. He was still ecstatic about them joining him for that chili dinner. It was even more productive than he had hoped, since they disclosed that they had a few marital concerns. He was careful not to push too hard, as he tried to generalize about how he had counseled people who were in similar situations. He knew he couldn’t take any credit for any of the things that had been happening in his favor.
During his hour of prayer, he now specifically prayed for the debt that was plaguing his neighbors and adding to their problems. They told him they had lost their home and had to move into the apartment until they could again get financially stable. Neither of them seemed to remember when they got above their heads in purchases. David couldn’t tell them, but he knew that it was when they were told they probably wouldn’t have children that the trouble started. They had borrowed money to travel to a number of exotic and fancy vacation spots. He found it interesting that the subject of children never came up. There are only so many things that you will tell a stranger.
It seemed his hour of prayer was getting more specific each day. Yet it was a sweet hour, because there was something humbling about praying for the needs of others. He felt compelled, even driven, to stand in the gap for hurting people, in spite of the fact that he was hurting too. Yet, after prayer, he always left his room with a sense of being sustained by nothing less than the power of Jesus Christ.
Today he opened his Bible and his eyes fell on Daniel 2:28. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream and the visions of thy head upon thy bed are these; As for thee, O King, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
David closed the book and returned to his bed to meditate on the passage. It was nearly time to get up and prepare for work. Just as he closed his eyes, the telephone rang. Startled by the piercing of the silence, he jumped up and grabbed the receiver.
“Hello,” he said wondering with anticipation who would respond on the other end.
“David, it’s Dad,” the voice said. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I was awake. Is there something wrong?” David asked.
“Well, I’m fine physically, I just haven’t slept much since our lunch meeting. I think I was too upset to call you the first couple of days. I keep thinking about what you said to me, about discussing my plans with God. I’m not saying one way or another what I’m going to do,” he said.
“Well Dad,”
“Please son, just let me finish,” Mr. Edwards said, interrupting him.
“I remember that when you were a little boy you told me about a dream that helped to save my life. Well, this time, I’m having the dream. Almost every night this week I’ve dreamed the same thing. I go to visit my special friend and I give her a gift. She opens this package that’s neatly wrapped and inside there’s a bundle of money. I expect her to be thrilled. But instead she looks at the money and gives it back to me. On another night, I dreamed that I was taking her shopping and I tried to give her a lot of money. She gives it back to me. I’ve dreamed this same dream at least three nights. Look, I don’t want anyone to know about this. I just want you to pray for the understanding. I’m sorry to call you so early but I just can’t seem to rest with this on my mind. I’ll talk to you later. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” David said. He was astounded. While he had been praying sincerely for his father, he never expected this result. He didn’t want to chance telling his father his own insight, so he decided to fast that day. It wouldn’t be easy because he had a full load of clients to see. Yet, to get a word from the Lord would be worth it.