The Earring

Book 6 Part 3

"I haven't seen any studies, but my guess would be commitment. All relationships take work. If you work on your marriage, then it's more likely to last. If you go into it believing that you can bail if it doesn't work, then it probably won't."

"So how did you know you were ready to make that commitment to Aaron?"

It was Faith's turn to blush.

"I have to admit I've struggled with that, but I can't imagine life without him." She caught herself twisting her fingers together and biting the inside of her check. She grinned at Jacob. "I talked to God a lot about it, especially after Aaron told me that he aborted his child. God keeps taking me to I Corinthians 13 and reminding me that 'love never fails.' I've been reading my Mom's journals, too. It showed me that all marriages have the potential to fail. Commitment was the glue that carried them through the hard times. I believe commitment will carry us through them too."

"So, I guess I have to be sure I'm ready to make a lifetime commitment and work through whatever life throws at us," he said.

"That brings us to the fourth reason on your con list. What's this about forfeiting a scholarship?"

"I've been offered a full basketball scholarship to LSU."

"Why would you have to forfeit it? You already live close enough to drive to school, and I'm sure you could find an apartment that's even closer."

"All freshmen have to live in the sports complex."

"Do you know for a fact that no exceptions are made? Have you talked to the coach?"

He shook his head.

"I don't want them to know how much I screwed up."

Faith pointed to the newspaper on the bed. It was opened to the sports section and a picture of Jacob lying on the gym floor bleeding while sheriff deputies hauled Teresa's Dad away.

"I imagine they can read."

"That's what I'm afraid of. My cell phone's dead, so no one can reach me."

"Don't you think you should charge it?"

"Aaron's going to go by my house after work and see if Mom will let him get some of my things. He said if he can't, he'll pick me up a charger at Radio Shack or somewhere. His charger doesn't fit my phone."

Faith could tell that Jacob was starting to feel the effects of his concussion.

"You look like you need a pain pill," she said.

"I think so," he agreed. "I thought maybe I could tough it out, but my head's starting to throb. Thanks for talking things through with me. You've given me a lot to think about."

Faith left him asleep in his room and went into the living room. She set up her laptop and typed in some statistics that she'd picked up on Friday. She ate a bite of lunch and ran to the store to pick up the ingredients Teresa had ordered for supper. Finally, she settled down with the journal.

#

As the second month in our three-month idle wound down, David and I began sending out resumes. I had offered to work for a year or two and let David be Mr. Mom, but neither of us had a word from God as to what route we should take. Since both of us had teaching degrees, we were looking at the possibility of one of us returning to high school. We wanted Faith to have the advantage of a stay-at-home parent. I applied for some newspaper jobs, too. David scoured the want ads daily, looking for anything interesting for which he was qualified. All of our efforts proved fruitless.

Since we needed to vacate our borrowed abode by June 1, we formulated plan B. We would return to Louisiana and take up temporary residence with Nicole. We would pay utility and food expenses from our savings. I had continued to write for a few publications and that money was being added to the savings, along with David's severance. From our new base of operations, we would continue to search for jobs. Most of our belongings were in storage in Billings. Once we decided where we were going to live, we would return and get them.

On the drive to Louisiana, David and I talked while Faith slept.

"I'm scared," he told me. "With all of my education, I'm not qualified to do anything except teach and preach. It's my job to take care of you and Faith. I want her to have all of the advantages of the boys. What if I have to sell furniture or something that doesn't pay regular wages, only commission?"

"Then we'll live off of your commission and my writing. But I don't believe God is through with you yet, David. He has a plan."

"But it's no longer plan A. I messed that up."

"You did, but God always has a plan B. He wouldn't have told you to strengthen the brethren if He was through with you."

"No church would ever trust a pastor who had an affair. No seminary would hire a man with a checkered past."

"You don't know that. What happened to your optimism? You have never been one to see the glass as half empty."

"I wrote a guy who works at a seminary about a preaching position," he said. "He went to school with me. We had classes together. I thought maybe he'd put my resume in for the position. He sent back a copy of the article from the Northwest Baptist Paper about my resignation because of an affair with a student's wife. He wrote on it, 'Sorry, Bud. I can't go out on that limb.' No letter or anything, just the article."

I reached out and caressed David's arm.

"Don't let one heartless guy discourage you," I said. "Just because one guy is a spiritual coward, doesn't mean that everyone will be."

He shrugged. "I just wanted you to know what we're up against. If I decide to try to get a church, my past is going to be an impediment – unless I don't tell them."

The comment hung in the air.

"You will have to tell the first church you go to," I said. "If you try to hide it, it could come back to haunt you."

"I suppose," he said. "I just don't know if I can face a pulpit committee and admit my sin, Syd. It seems like I'll never be free from this."

"Maybe God wants to use it," I said. "How else can you strengthen the brethren?"

"I don't know, but I'm tired of living under a cloud of shame."

"God has forgiven you. He's taken away your shame."

"It didn't feel like it when I got the letter. You need to face what we're up against, Syd, to know that I'm all washed up when it comes to ministry."

"With God, all things are possible," I said.

"All things that He wants to happen are possible," he amended.

" Satan has asked to sift you as wheat," I quoted. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Silence enveloped us. For 30 seconds, I said nothing. Finally, I whispered into the hush. "God is not through with you David. Listen for the still small voice that speaks of second chances. He's going to give you an opportunity to strengthen the brethren. We just don't know how yet. Have faith."

A sleepy voice said from the back seat.

"Faith's right here, Daddy. Both of you got me."

We laughed.

"That's right, princess," David said. "We've got you and that's enough."

"Yep," she said. "That's enough cause Josh and Zach aren't here."