There Must Be Something More

43 | First Meeting

My phone was filled with flooded messages from Meredith. I read them and they all said the same thing. The very first meeting of Grace Club was today. Right after school. She said she had especially picked this day because she knew I didn't have any baseball practice. I thought it was a nice gesture, but I was a little nervous of our very first club meeting. I wasn't nervous of going in the club, I was nervous of meeting the new believers. Sure, I was happy for them, but I couldn't help what they would be like.

What would their stories be? Will they be as sad as mine? What will they say of me? I was pretty famous as the star of the baseball team. What will they think of the club?

Before I could even interrogate myself more, a knock on my door broke into my thoughts and I had to yank my backpack from the rack to hurry. 

When I got outside I felt arms wrap around my shoulders before I could see who owned them. But from the faint smell of lilac perfume and dry hair on my shoulder, I knew it was my mom. Her night gown which swept the floor whenever she walked around was touching my bare toes. I smiled and hugged her tight.

"Did someone brought you in to the counselor, Charlie?" she asked, squeezing my face between her hands. I smiled, shook my head. "Well, whatever you did, I'm just glad you're not going out anymore and staying inside during weekdays."

I wanted to tell her that I found God and made some really good friends, but Dad came out and saw us and joined in the hug.

For the first time since I'd been a teenager, I had never felt this good being around my parents. It was not only until I reached thirteen that they started getting more busy and having less time with me. But that very Thursday in my sixteen years of existence, I once again felt like I had four years ago and back. 

It was the first time I smelled Dad's hair who always seemed to smell like strawberries. I saw a streak of gray hair on the side of his head and I smiled, Mom and Dad were growing older and I had to take care of them just like they did for me before.

As we hugged in silence for seconds, I breathed a silent prayer to God. Thank You.

"We're really lucky to have you, son," Dad said, patting my head. "You know, my coworkers told me if you didn't straighten up, I should send you to a military school. And I thought about it, too. I didn't want you to end up like those drunk teenagers who go off onto the deep end of their lives just because they were so caught up with things that didn't give them any good benefits. Those beers and girls will pass, but education is the real road to a good life. Hard work pays off, son."

I smiled. I found something better than education. I found something better--and it will last forever!

Before I could tell them about my faith, my dad's phone rang and he hurried back into their room to shower. My mom giggled and led me to the dining table before I could talk. I waited for a chance to tell her as I ate, but she kept telling me about her day at work. When I attempted to interrupt, she held up her hands to stop me. Before I could let her finish, it was time for me to go. Reluctantly, I said good-bye and jumped onto my pickup.

I missed slowing down and passing by the church to read the verses on the sign. And today I did.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.  ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

I thought: Maybe that's why I couldn't find a chance to tell Mom and Dad about God? Because it's not their time yet? Or not their time to hear it yet?

I just hope it's not their time yet, I thought. I hope they'll accept God just like I did. I hope they know the truth and act upon it before it's too late. And I'm just going to keep trying till God opens the door for them.

And then I snatched a wandering thought. Maybe I should keep trying for Amanda and Calum too. No matter how discouraged I feel. No matter how much they say no.

This is going to be hard.

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"Are you as excited as I am? Huh? Are you? Are you?" Meredith skipped towards me, her boot heels echoing down across walls. Her brown hair was pulled into high pigtails. Big ribbons were tied around them, so that she looked like a real-life doll. I smiled, she reminded me of kids in kindergarten.

"Probably not as much as you," I said, chuckling. "I'm not hopping. Besides, what's with the... grander getup?"

"I wanna dress nice for the new believers," she smiled wide. Her yellow polka-dotted peter pan collar dress seemed to be brighter than the ceiling lights overhead. 

"How many will they be?" 

She shrugged. "Not sure. So far, I've had ten people accept Christ for the past few days. I don't know if they'll all come. I mean, all of them might have responded positively, but you'll know a real believer who's interested for more."

I nodded. My expression must have given me away, because Meredith tilted her head and said, "Something wrong, Charlie?"

I faked a smile. I shook my head and grabbed my loose leaf Chemistry notebook. 

"Come on," she urged, "as brothers and sisters in Christ, we have to be more transparent with each other. You know, tell each other things needed to be told."

I stared at her. She stared at me. She seemed to be serious. She didn't blink.

She was serious.

"I'm a little nervous..." I said. I hoped the bell would ring so I wouldn't have to explain. It didn't.

"About what?" she asked.

I clenched my teeth. Do I have to spell it out for you?

I cleared my throat and tapped my locker door. "You know... being around new... people. New... believers. I don't know, I'm not used to it. Being around people who love God so much. I mean, sure, I do love God now, but I'm still not used to this."

"But you do want to meet them, don't you?" she asked. The bell rang.

I smiled. "I can't wait to meet them."

She smiled. We walked to our succeeding classes.