Faith Unseen (3 page)

              Leah went down to see Faith after seeing the preacher off. “Rach?”

              “You couldn’t have warned me he was coming down here?”

              “I’m sorry. The doorbell rang just as I was about to bring him down here. I didn’t even think about it.”

              “It’s okay. Do I even have matching clothes on today?”

              “Yes, little girl. I matched your pink tigers with your purple tigers as I dressed you this morning.” Leah joked reminding Faith of the way their mother used to dress them in matching outfits.

              “Thanks mother” Faith joked back. “What was he doing here anyway?”

              “He brought me the plans for the Christmas scenery and then asked if I knew a Faith who went to our church who answered phones for the Help the Flock.”

              “I thought Tom has the plans, why did Pastor Lindstrom bring them by?”

              “He wanted to meet me.”

              “Oh really?” Faith asked

              “Knock it off. We hadn’t met yet at church and so he made a pastoral visit is all.”

              “Sure he did. Leah’s got a new boyfriend.”

              “Goodbye. I’m done talking to you.” Leah said climbing the stairs.

              Faith turned Nathan’s sermon back on and went back to her studying. She was trying to memorize a verse as her email signaled that she had a new message. Faith activated the programs necessary and listened to what the email said. “Thanks for showing me your work. Nathan”

              Leah forgot to mention to Faith that Nathan would be at their parent’s house the next day until she pulled into the driveway and saw him exiting his car. “Faith, I forgot to tell you something. Nathan is here for dinner tonight.”

              “Please tell me that that is a joke.” Faith stated

              “No, it isn’t. He is already here and walking up the front steps.”

              “Is this payback for picking on you?” Faith asked

              “No, I’m truly sorry. I completely forgot he told me he would be here. What do you want to do?”

              “Pray that I don’t embarrass myself. Kick me under the table if I spill food or something.”

              “Okay. Wait for me to come around and walk you to the door. His car is in the way.”

              Leah parked the car and went to walk around the car to get Faith, but Nathan beat her to the door. “I parked in your way, Faith. I’m sorry. May I walk you to the door?”

              “Sure” Faith answered trying to be happy about this. She maneuvered out of the car until she could stand up and then held her hand out for Nathan. He carefully and skillfully guided her to the front door. “You have done that before.” She stated without thinking

              “Yes I have. My grandmother was not able to see.”

              “Thank you for your assistance. I appreciate it.” Faith said as she turned to listen for Leah at the door. Thankfully Leah was quick to open the door and walked Faith the rest of the way in. Once she was inside, she knew her way around and could go around by herself. Faith excused herself and Leah took Nathan into see her father. “Dad, have you officially met Pastor Lindstrom.”

              “Yes, we met on Sunday. These are my sons Jeremy and Paul.” He said indicating the two men that were standing around him.

              “Hi again Jeremy. Paul, it is nice to meet you.” Nathan said as he shook their hands

              “Pastor Lindstrom” Pearl said as she entered the living room “We are so glad you could come to dinner.”

              “Please all of you call me Nathan. And I am glad to be here.”

              “Where’s Faith?” Pearl asked of Leah

              “She is here somewhere. She is probably talking to Martha.” Leah said with a meaningful glance at her mother.

              “Oh yes, probably. Leah, I need your help, can you join me in the dining room?” Pearl said walking towards the room she mentioned. Leah followed and closed the door behind her. Pearl started talking quietly the moment the door closed “I completely forgot her reluctance to eat around strangers. Is she mad at me?”

              “No, I’m not. But can you warn me or not invite me next time.” Faith said from the far side of the room.

              “I’m sorry sweetie. I truly did forget.” Pearl said going to hug her daughter

              “It’s okay. But we will be leaving as soon as we finish dinner. Sooner if I spill something which I probably will since we are having “messy” foods tonight.” Messy food was Faith’s definition of Mexican food which was hard to eat gracefully and even harder to eat when you couldn’t see it.

              “I’m sorry. I asked Nathan what he liked to eat and he said he loved Mexican food.”

              “It’s okay Mom, Leah’s going to kick me under the table if I make a mess.”

              Martha stuck her head through the doorway and announced that dinner was ready. Leah directed Faith to the chair as their mother went to call the rest of the crowd. Leah sat on one side of Faith and Jeremy sat on the other but unfortunately Nathan sat across from her. Leah grabbed Faith’s hand under the table and gave her silent support as their father prayed.

              Leah helped Faith dish out the food as it was passed around the table. They had over the years worked at their own form of communications. Faith could also tell that Nathan watched her as she ate. She ate slowly and carefully and Leah didn’t have to kick her under the table.

              A few minutes after finishing dessert, Faith excused herself from the table and went to wash up. Faith wandered around in the upstairs part of the house instead of venturing back down to the dining room. Faith counted steps and doorways until she found her old room. She stepped inside and closed the door. She didn’t move any farther into the room because she was unfamiliar with where things were located now. Mainly she just wanted familiar around her right then. Faith let the pictures of her childhood play in her mind as she stood there.

              Faith remembered the night she had accepted God’s gift of his son Jesus Christ. She had been about ten and finally told God she needed his gift. Her father had prayed with her and then stood with her as she was baptized in the same church she still attended. Faith was still replaying memories when she heard footsteps in the hall. “Faith?” Leah called softly

              Faith opened the door and stepped out into the hall. “Are you ready to go home?”

              “Yes. Are you?”

              “Is that a joke?” Faith laughed

              “No. I didn’t know if you had changed your mind or not.”

              “I have not changed my mind. Go tell Mom we are leaving and maybe she will come to the door instead of me having to walk back into the dining room.”

              “Everyone moved to the living room already.” Leah stated

              “Oh great. Let’s just go home.” Faith said as Leah directed her hand to the banister. Faith gracefully and carefully walked down the stairs and turned towards the living room. “Mom, we need to be going. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Faith stated “Good night everyone.” She said turning for the door. Leah helped her down the front steps after her father and mother came to hug her goodbye.

              Pearl and Jacob returned to their guest in the living room. “Your daughters are impressive.” Nathan said to them. “Leah is a master craftsman and Faith was a great help to me when I moved here.”

              “She was? How?” Jacob asked

              “I called that Help the Flock organization that she works for and she gave me information about Albuquerque.”

              “She doesn’t work for them. She is the owner of Help the Flock. It is an organization she formed and now runs from the basement of her home. She has lots of volunteers and three other employees that help her.” Jacob clarified

              “Then I’m even more impressed.” Nathan stated “She takes her mission seriously. All I had to do was ask a question and if she didn’t know the answer right away, she got back to me within a few hours.”

              Nathan talked to the Newham’s for several more minutes before announcing that he needed to head home. “Thank you very much for dinner and for the opportunity to get to know your family even more.” He said shaking Jacob’s hand. “Jeremy, basketball next Monday right?”

              “That’s right. See you Sunday.” Jeremy said shaking his hand.

              Faith wasn’t talkative on the way home. Usually they had plenty to discuss after a night with their parents but tonight Faith wasn’t talking.

              “You are awfully quiet. I thought tonight went well.”

              “Me too. I didn’t embarrass myself. I felt like he was watching me the whole way through dinner.”

              “Who Nathan?”

              “Yes, was he?”

              “I don’t know, I was watching you. Wasn’t that my assignment?”

              “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair to you. This whole night has been unsettling. I wasn’t expecting him to be there, or to help me walk into the house.”

              “I thought you would be impressed by that. You hate it when people are nervous around you.”

              “That is true, but it was still unsettling.”

              “Faith has a crush on her new pastor.” Leah said teasingly

              “Why in the world would you jump right to that conclusion? You are nuts. Me and a pastor? That would be a joke.”

              “And why wouldn’t a match work between you and Nathan?’

              “Well, overlooking the obvious” she said pointing to her long scar “Let’s just pick one area where I would fail miserably to be the kind of wife a pastor would need. We are standing at the back of the church greeting church members, how would I know whose hand I was shaking?”

              “The same way you do now. People tell you who it is when the walk up to you to talk to you now.”

              “Yes, but ..”

              “But nothing; and I’m not even discussing the scar issue. I think I see you and Nathan together perfectly well.” Leah said getting out of the car and coming around to help Faith

              “Please don’t.” Faith said almost sadly. Leah, however, was thinking that she actually could see Faith and Nathan married. Faith didn’t see herself as being a help to anyone only a hindrance; but help is what Faith did best. Leah decided to appoint herself as matchmaker for her sister and her new preacher. This was going to be fun.

Chapter 3

              Sunday morning, Leah once again helped Faith to find her seat in the worship center and then went to the choir room but all that was after she purposely led Faith right by Nathan as he was talking to another member. Faith was pulling out her tape recorder and preparing for the service as her brother Jeremy sat down beside her. “Hi Jeremy” Faith stated.

              “How did you know it was me?” he joked reaching one arm around her to give her a quick hug.

              Faith was just about to say something when Jeremy spoke up “Hello Nathan.”

              “Hi Jeremy, Hi Faith”

              “Hello Pastor Lindstrom” Faith responded formally. Nathan was a bit surprised by her greeting but Jeremy was asking him a question so he paid attention. As soon as he finished answering Jeremy’s question, he saw the music minister enter the auditorium so he went to the front row to take his seat.
I wonder what I did to cause that kind of a greeting from Faith.

              Faith was too preoccupied to pay attention to the music being sung. It was all Leah’s fault; she made her self-conscious in front of the pastor now with her teasing.
Pay attention to the sermon and remember you are here to worship God, not worry about the preacher. I’m sorry Nathan. Please forgive me Lord for giving my thoughts priority.

              After the sermon, Nathan decided to stand outside the front doors of the church and greet people, it was a beautiful day and he wanted to enjoy it. As he was greeting people, he saw Leah lead Faith out from the side of the building and to their car.
That explains why I never met them until I went to their house.

              “See you tomorrow night Nathan” Jeremy said as he came up to say goodbye.

              “I’ll be there.” Nathan returned

              Monday evening found Faith reading her Bible in the living room when her first guests started to arrive. Leah was the door handler and when everyone had arrived, she joined the other five people in her living room.

              Faith began to talk as soon as it was quiet. “Brenda Smith suggested that we have a prayer group for our new pastor. I agreed with her and thought the six of us could be that prayer group. We can take turns praying for Nathan when we meet together and then continue to pray for him each day on our own.”

              “Great idea, Brenda” Leah said to Brenda

              “It was your sister who organized it though.”

              “Anyway, who would like to start?” Faith asked and Brenda’s husband Bob volunteered. “Let’s pray.” He stated and began his prayer.

              At Pickles Park on Monday evening, Nathan spotted Jeremy talking to a group of males across the way. He walked over to them and Jeremy introduced him. They were a team from around the neighbor that started playing basketball on Monday nights just for fun. Nathan was glad it wasn’t a league, he was an okay player but not outstanding.

              There was a lot of ribbing and good natured teasing as the game progressed. Nathan’s skills were about like all the others. Jeremy was the biggest jokester of the all. He loved to have fun. He didn’t take the game or himself seriously. Nathan went up to block a shot and ended up getting hit in the head by Jeremy’s elbow. Nathan was momentarily dazed and stumbled backwards a couple of steps. Jeremy was instantly apologetic and concerned for Nathan. “I’m sorry. Here sit down.” He said leading Nathan to the nearest bench. “Are you okay?” Jeremy asked.

              “I think so. I have a hard head.” Nathan joked.

              “My sisters live just down the block, let’s go get you an ice pack just to be sure.”

              “I’m fine. I’ll just head home and get an ice pack.” Nathan said standing slowly

              “I’d feel better if you didn’t drive for a little bit. Let’s go to my sisters’ house.” Jeremy said pointing down the block. Nathan walked a little slowly as his head did hurt. Jeremy kept glancing at him to make sure he was alright. “I’m sure I’m fine Jeremy. This isn’t necessary.”

              “Humor me.” Jeremy said seriously as he opened the back door to his sisters’ house. He led Nathan in and fixed him an ice pack and told him to sit down at the table as he went to find his sisters.

              Jeremy walked into the living room expecting to find Leah watching TV but instead found six people having a prayer meeting for Nathan. He quietly retreated back to the kitchen. “They are having a prayer meeting. I forgot that Faith told me that. It is a prayer group to pray for you.”

              “Me? Seriously?” Nathan asked incredulously

              “Yes, its Faith’s way to support your ministry here.”

              “Wow” Nathan responded unsure of what he should do now. That was what Leah heard as she pushed open the kitchen door. Faith had been in the middle of her prayer when Leah heard the back door open. She knew it was locked so she figured out one of her family members had come in through the back. Faith had finished her prayer for Nathan and then talked to the others as they were leaving for the night. Faith told Leah good night and headed for her room. She apparently hadn’t heard the back door open but Leah went to see if someone was in their kitchen.

              “Hello?” she said suspiciously as she made sure the door was closed

              “Hi” Jeremy said. “I about took the preacher’s head off at the park down the street so I brought him here to get an ice pack. I forgot about her prayer meeting for him.”

              “She probably would prefer that he not have known about it.” Leah said uncertainly

              “Why not?” Nathan asked

              “Faith’s ministry is to help ministers as you know from calling her work. But she prefers to work behind the scenes and without anyone knowing about it, especially the minister. It is her way.”

              “I guess I can understand that. I’m still very grateful.”

              “Can you be grateful without mentioning to her that you know? She would be so embarrassed.” Leah asked

              “I can be grateful without mentioning it to her if I don’t have to lie about it. In other words, I won’t bring it up to her.”

              “Thank you. Neither she nor I would want you to lie about it. Faith will be much more comfortable around you if she doesn’t know you know.”

              “I don’t think she is comfortable around me anyway, Leah. Yesterday she called me Pastor Lindstrom when I spoke to her.”

              “That’s because I was trying to be respectful of your position in our church.” Faith announced as she came through the kitchen door. “I heard voices and came to investigate. Leah shouldn’t have told you anything. Jeremy shouldn’t have either. Yes, Pastor Lindstrom, I was having a prayer group and it was about you. Now that you know, please share with us if you would like us to pray for something specific.” She said turning to leave the kitchen. She made it to the stairs before Nathan caught up to her.

              “Wait a minute.” He said as she put her foot on the first step “I want to talk to you. Let’s go outside onto the porch.”

              Faith hesitated then turned in his direction. He took her hand and laid it on his arm to direct her through the door. On the porch he walked her to the swing and she sat down. Nathan took a minute to gather his thoughts. “First of all, you can call me Nathan and it will still show respect for my position in the church. I like to be friends on a first name basis with my congregation.”

              “I’ll try to call you Nathan.”

              “Thank you. Now, why are you embarrassed for me to know you were having a prayer meeting about me? I’m very grateful.”

              “Oh, okay” she stated but didn’t continue

              “You didn’t answer my question.”

              “And I’m not going too. My sister shouldn’t have told you that.”

              “Well, she did. Now I would like it if you did too.” He said coming to sit beside her on the swing

              “Leah told you why.”

              “Technically, she told me you would be embarrassed, not why you would be embarrassed.”

              “I could stop the prayer group if you want me too.” She offered hoping to distract him.

              “No. I can always use prayer on my behalf.” He said laughing slightly “Okay, I’ll back off. But know this, I’m honored that you would pray for me. Thank you.”

              “It is my honor to pray for you.” She replied quietly

              Nathan smiled at her “Do you want me to walk you back inside?”

              “No, I’m going to sit here for a few minutes. It is a nice night. What are you doing here anyway?”

              “Your brother walloped me in the head during our basketball game and then insisted I needed ice on it.”

              “Oh no! How bad are you hurt?” she asked concerned

              “I’m fine. It just dazed me for a minute.”

              “You’re sure? Go back in and get the ice pack.” She said pointing in the direction of the house.

              “Relax Faith” he chuckled “I have a hard head so I’ve been told, he didn’t do any real damage. I’ll go say good night to Leah and Jeremy though. See you Sunday.”

              “Good night Pastor Lindstrom” she said automatically

              “Faith” he growled

              “Sorry” she laughed “Good night Nathan.”

              “That’s better.” He said going into the house. He went to the kitchen and said his goodbyes to Faith’s siblings then headed back to the front door. “Good night Miss Newham” he said as he walked past her

              “Good night Pastor Lindstrom” she joked as he laughed walking down the front stairs

              Faith was still sitting on the porch when she heard the front door open. “Come on out. I can’t see you but I heard you.”

              “I’m sorry Faith” Jeremy said solemnly “I forgot about your meeting. After I clobbered him, I wanted to get him an ice pack.”

              “Did you have to tell him the meeting was about him?”

              “I didn’t know you would be this upset that he knew.”

              “Anyway, now he knows and I’ll deal with the embarrassment. I’m going to bed, good night.”

              On Saturday morning a few weeks after his discussion with Faith, Nathan was pulling a ladder and painting supplies out of his garage in preparation to paint his house when five cars pulled up in front of his house. He walked to investigate what was going on and saw about ten people from his congregation walking up to his front door. They were carrying paint rollers and brushes and some of them were removing ladders from the trucks.

              “Hi” he said walking up to them. “What are you doing here?”

              “We got an email that said to show up here today to help you paint.”

              “Who told you I needed help to paint?” he asked again “Who sent the email?” but everyone gave a different answer. “Thank you. I can use the help.” He said showing them the side of the house where he had the supplies. He told them what he wanted done and they got to work. About an hour later more vehicles arrived and they set up lunch on his front lawn. Those that had been painting stopped and ate then went back to work. By end of the day, his house was almost finished. “I appreciate your help. It would have taken me several weekends. I don’t know who told you I needed help but thank you to that person too.”

              “We will see you tomorrow, Nathan” Tom Green said as he headed for his vehicle. Nathan waved them off and went inside. They had even cleaned up the mess so he had his whole night to review his sermon for tomorrow.
Dear Lord in Heaven. Thank you for the person who organized my painting help. Bless them in a special way. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.

              On Thursday, Nathan’s car didn’t start so he ended up calling the church administrative assistant and telling her that he would be in tomorrow. She could tell whoever called to call him at home. He told her his car wasn’t working and he needed to work on it. As he walked out the door to head to the garage, a tow truck service pulled into his driveway.

              “Hi Mason.” Nathan greeted the driver as he stepped down from his truck. “What are you doing here?”

              “I heard you needed some help.”

              “You did. Did Amanda call you?”