Far Country (31 page)

           
Reverend Graham stood up and motioned to Steve to come with him. “Just sit
there,” he said soothingly.  “Sit there, and even if you can’t say you
believe for certain, consider the possibility of Christ the Redeemer.” He
placed his hands lightly on the crown of her head and shoulder, and Steve
hesitantly placed both of his hands on her left shoulder.

           
Lee Ann sat up straighter, placing her hands on the table. Resolutely, she
squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay, I’m ready.”

           
Steve grinned a little at the sight of her. “Relax, Mrs. Bolton. It’s not the
firing squad. He’s done this to me before, and I promise that it is painless.”

           
“Just get on with it before I change my mind,” she advised them through gritted
teeth.

           
Steve was only too aware of his mother, watching in silent disapproval of what
she had often called ‘Religious Voodoo’. He sighed and resolutely blocked her
out of his mind, choosing instead to center his thoughts on a plea to the Holy
Spirit to take control of the next few minutes, and work His will on Lee Ann Bolton.

           
Reverend Graham bowed his head and was silent for a moment, also focusing his
thoughts on the woman before him.  “Precious Jesus,” he began, his voice
vibrant with the strength of his own faith. “We call on you as our God and our
king. You hear our hearts’ desires. You know our joys, and our
sufferings.  We humbly claim your promises, Lord. Draw near to Lee Ann.
Look into her heart and heal her unbelief. Help her to find peace and comfort
by resting in your word. And Lord, if it be in Your will, heal her body
too.  We remember the story of the friends of the paralyzed man. Their
love for their friend was so great that, when they were unable to get to you
through the crowds that day, they dug a hole in the very roof of your dwelling
and lowered their friend from the ceiling, so that he might come into your
presence and be healed. Lord, you honored their persistence and faith by
granting that healing, not just of his body, but of his spirit, even though we
are never told that the man even believed in you. We ask this same healing for
Lee Ann. May our faith lift her up and place her in Your presence. Heal her
spirit, Lord. Fill her with your love and the everlasting peace that comes with
being your child. And restore her to health, Father. Overcome her doubts and
heal the wounds on her soul. Make her a new creation in you.  And as
always, we give all the glory and honor only to you. In all things we bow to
your will. Amen.”

           
Several moments passed after Reverend Graham fell silent, and Steve struggled
to open his eyes.  He was acutely aware of the very air in the room, and
of his fingers resting lightly on Lee Ann’s thin shoulders. Their tips seemed
to grow warmer for a moment, tingling, and then it seemed as if something slipped
from his grasp and flowed into Lee Ann.  He heard her gasp slightly in
surprise, as if she too felt the strange sensation passing to her from his
hands. Then as quickly as it had come, the presence withdrew, and the room
returned to normal. He drew a deep breath and opened his eyes, staring at his
hands in uncertainty, afraid to speak.

           
“What was that?” Lee Ann asked in a breathless whisper.

           
Reverend Graham bowed over Lee Ann and gently kissed her forehead.  “I
think,” he said in a shaky awe-filled voice, “that you need to go in for a
second opinion on that cancer.”

           
Lee Ann nodded, her hand resting lightly her chest. “I can still feel the
warmth,” she said in quiet wonder.  Then she looked up at Robert Graham’s
joy filled face and laughed happily. “I think you may be right!” She
exclaimed. 

           
“Here now!” Richard Bolton growled in confusion and worry. “Don’t be getting
her hopes up like that! It’s cruel.”

           
Lee Ann reached for Richard’s hand and squeezed it lovingly. “It’s all right,
Richard. She glanced up at Steve. “You felt it, too, didn’t you?” She asked
eagerly.

           
Steve nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

           
Lee Ann wiped her eyes on a napkin. “Reverend Graham, I’ve been such a fool!
He’s been here all along and I never once even looked for Him." She bowed
her head for a moment and then took a deep breath. "I want to become a
believer,” she announced decidedly. “right now.”

           
“Lee Ann!” Richard snorted in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous! Do you know what
you’re saying?” He waved his hand contemptuously in the air. “What if it’s
nothing? What if you aren’t healed and this was just a trick? Think about what
you are doing!”

           
Lee Ann was suddenly sober and serious. “I know exactly what I am saying and
doing,” she said to her disturbed husband. “And it doesn’t matter if I am
healed in body. He has already healed me where I needed it most. I feel whole!”
Her face filled with the awe of the moment again and she looked keenly at
Richard. “I felt Him, Richard, and I think you felt something too! I can see it
in your face.”

           
“I don’t know
what
that was!” He rasped.

           
“Then I am sorry for you,” she told him sincerely. “I can’t describe to you the
peace that just came over me when Reverend Graham was praying. I feel
wonderful, Richard! And I believe it was the Holy Spirit descending on me, just
like it says in the Bible.  I’ve always dismissed it as just stories, but
I believe now, and that’s why I want to do this tonight, just for that
reason!  It won’t matter now if my body isn’t healed, God is with me and I
believe in the Truth of Him!” 

           
She turned to Steve and Robert Graham. “What do I need to do?” She asked, her
eyes shining.  Robert Graham squeezed her hand, but looked at Steve. 
“Would you like to lead her in the Sinner’s Prayer?”

           
Steve returned the smile. “You bet!” He breathed. He took Lee Ann’s hands in
his. “Just repeat after me, and believe the words in your heart, as you confess
your belief aloud,” he instructed her. He spoke slowly and she repeated each
sentence with fervor.

           
“Holy Father, I acknowledge you as my Lord. You alone are God. Thank you for
loving me, and for sending your son to die for my sins. Come into my heart,
Lord, and be with me always. Forgive my sins. I want to live the rest of my
life so to bring Honor and Glory to your Holy Name. Amen”

           
“Amen,” Lee Ann echoed. She grinned happily around the table, where Richard and
Laura Williams sat in tight lipped disapproval.  “Be happy for me,” she
begged them. “I’m saved!”

           
Richard glared angrily at Robert Graham. “I don’t know what you just did in
here, but I don’t believe it was some god, come down out of the sky just to
heal her.  Shame on you for making a fool of Lee Ann! Are you going to be
here tomorrow to pick up the pieces when she realizes that nothing’s changed?”

           
Robert Graham looked gravely at Richard. “I understand your feelings, and that
you feel that you have a right to be concerned, since you are not a believer. I
care about Lee Ann, and tonight I simply wanted to pray for her. What happened
here,” and Robert Graham looked around in amazed joy, “was not of my doing! It
was a gift of the Holy Spirit!  

           
Richard,” Reverend Graham pleaded gently as Richard Bolton maintained a stony
silence. “This was a real miracle from God,” he insisted, “and when Lee Ann
sees her doctor again, you will know who healed your wife.”

           
“Life doesn’t work like that!” Richard replied in a desperate and angry voice.

           
Reverend Graham looked at Richard with compassion.  “Richard, it’s all right
to have hope,” he said emphatically. “There is a God in heaven, and with Him
all things are possible!”

           
Richard turned away. “I think that you should all go now. We’ll call in the
morning with the great news,” He added sarcastically.

           
Lee Ann looked from Reverend Graham to her husband and sighed in sad
frustration. “It is late,” she agreed. “Let’s all get some rest. We’ll talk
more later.” She walked the three of them to the front door.

           
Steve said good night and stepped outside, but Laura Williams stopped in the
doorway, taking Lee Ann’s hands in hers, a worried frown on her face. “Lee Ann,
I know Steve believes in all this, but he carries it too far, in my opinion.
Please don’t get your hopes up too high!” She pleaded.

           
Lee Ann smiled reassuringly at her old friend as she joined her son outside.
“It’s going to be fine, Laura. Good night.”

           
Lee Ann hugged Pastor Graham tightly. “I can’t thank you enough!” She
whispered. “I’ll call you tomorrow after I’ve seen my oncologist. I just know
that it’s shrunk some already!”

           
Reverend Graham shook his head. “All honor and glory goes to God, Lee Ann,”
Robert Graham reminded her firmly. “And I’ll be praying for confirmation on the
tumor.” He turned to join Steve and Laura on the sidewalk.

           
“Reverend Graham!” Lee Ann called after him. He turned back to look at her. Her
eyes were still filled the wonder of the evening, but her head tilted to one
side as she studied him, and he knew that she was half serious, and half
teasing. “I’ve often wondered over the years,
are
you related to that
evangelist, Billy Graham? That was some powerful praying in there tonight!”

           
Robert Graham laughed. “No Lee Ann, no relation at all, except,” he added with
a twinkle in his eye, “we do share the same Father.”  

           
Richard Bolton pushed open the back door of the church and headed toward the
picnic shelter, carrying two trays stacked with plates of snacks. Three other
ladies followed closely behind him, equally laden with food, drink pitchers and
cups of milk to wash it all down. The kids cheered at the sight of warm
chocolate chip cookies, but Richard’s face remained unmoved by their joyful
reception.

           
Steve, dressed in a tunic, a luxuriant fake beard, and carrying a net, grinned
openly at Richard’s disgruntled demeanor. He walked over to the older man and
helped him hand out the plates of cookies to the children.  “It’s good of
you to help out with Vacation Bible School,” he offered by way of opening a
conversation, as he set down the last two plates. Richard barely muttered an
acknowledgement, but then he grimaced unhappily and looked around. “The whole
church thing makes me uncomfortable,” he grumbled, “but Gracie wanted to
come…,” he trailed off. Richard stretched his back and looked at Steve as if
what he was about to say left a bad taste in his mouth. “Lee Ann is better. The
tumor is gone. The doctors are stumped, but she’s convinced your prayers,” he
said the word with clear distaste, “brought her a miracle.”

           
The two men turned back to the building and walked inside. Steve stopped
outside the kitchen door and faced Mr. Bolton.  “You were there in the
room with us that night,” he reminded Mr. Bolton quietly. “What do you think
happened?”

           
A troubled expression crossed Mr. Bolton’s face. “Nothing,” he said flatly.
“Nothing
could
have happened. But as long as Lee Ann believes that
mumbling a few words are what made her better, I’ll keep carrying the cookies
and sit through all the rest of it.  What’s important to me is that she is
well, and I will put up with a lot to make that woman happy.” He looked at
Steve mutinously, expecting some sort of lecture for his unwillingness to
believe that Lee Ann’s healing had been a bona fide miracle.

           
But Steve only nodded thoughtfully and smiled at Richard appreciatively.
“You’re a good man, Richard,” Steve told him, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Thanks again for being here.”

           
Steve turned away, but Richard grabbed his arm to stop him. “Are you being
sarcastic?” He asked angrily.

           
Steve shook his head. “No, I meant it. It’s one thing to do something like this
if you enjoy it,” Steve told him. “But to do something that makes you
uncomfortable out of love for another,” Steve shook his head in admiration.
‘That, my friend, is as much as Jesus could as of anyone here.”

           
“You mean your Jesus would approve of my being here, even if I don’t like what
I’m doing?” Richard challenged him, as if certain that Steve was pulling his
leg.

           
Steve nodded.  Trust me, Jesus was always getting people to do stuff they
didn’t think they wanted to do.” He tucked a slim pocket edition of the Bible
into Richard’s shirt pocket. “Read it sometime,” he advised. “You should at
least understand what it is that you don’t think you like.” He patted the
pocket and nodded his farewell. “
Gotta
get back to my
station, it’s almost time for the skit.”

           
Richard stared at Steve’s robe and fake beard. “What are you supposed to be,
anyway?” He asked frowning.

           
Steve made a half bow.  “Just a simple fisherman.”

           
“What do fish have to do with Jesus? I thought he just sat around on a mountain
and preached a lot” Richard asked in exasperation.