“Guess what! Todd asked me out for tonight! Can you believe it? A concert! And he’s going to pick me up at six-thirty! That means I only have three hours to get ready! I’d better get in the shower! I’m so excited!”
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Marti. “What are you going to wear, dear? Don’t you think the new dress from San Francisco will be perfect?”
“I guess so. I hadn’t really thought about what to wear. I’m just worried that my nose is starting to peel. Look at it.”
“Haven’t you been using the sunscreen I got you?” Marti scolded as the two of them headed up the stairs. Then, turning to her husband, she added, “Robert, be a dear and call Maurice to cancel my nail appointment this afternoon. I need to help Christy get ready!”
Standing alone with the book of wallpaper, Uncle Bob called up the stairs to his two elated women, “Noooooo problem!”
At six o’clock sharp, Uncle Bob placed the platter of grilled chicken, potatoes, and salad on the dining room table. Aunt Marti was finishing filling the crystal goblets with water when Christy appeared in the doorway, wearing her new blue dress with silver accessories.
“You look absolutely stunning, dear! Don’t you think her hair turned out nicely, Bob?”
“You look beautiful, honey. You ought to knock this guy right off his feet.”
“Thanks,” Christy said with a confident smile. “I really like this dress, Aunt Marti. Thank you for getting it for me.”
“You know,” Christy commented as they sat down to dinner, “people were actually dressed like this at that party I went to, and I felt so dumb wearing jeans. I’m glad to have something nice to wear tonight.”
Aunt Marti smiled and looked pleased with herself.
“What concert are you going to?” Bob asked, offering Christy the platter of chicken.
“I don’t know. But you don’t have to worry about Todd. He’s a great guy, and I’m sure he wouldn’t take me to anything raunchy.”
At 6:25 they all went into the living room to wait for the doorbell to ring. Christy carried in a gift-wrapped box and propped it by the front door.
“What’s that?” Bob questioned.
“It’s the sweatshirt I got Todd in San Francisco. Tonight should be a perfect time to give it to him. I hope he likes it!”
“He will, darling,” Aunt Marti assured her. “He should be here any minute.”
They waited and waited. Finally, at seven, Uncle Bob started suggesting why Todd might be late.
“Maybe he stopped to get you flowers.”
“Oh, Uncle Bob! Guys don’t do that kind of thing anymore.”
“Then maybe he chickened out!”
“Robert! What a horrible thing to say!”
Tears filled Christy’s eyes.
“Well,” he defended, “I was only trying—”
Just then the doorbell rang. Christy blinked to keep her mascara from streaking. As she hurried to the door, she quickly grabbed the gift and concentrated on looking bright and cheerful. After all, Todd was bound to have some good reason for being so late.
Opening the door, she put on her sweetest smile and greeted Todd with an enthusiastic, “Hi there!”
Then she froze. He was wearing shorts! Shorts and a T-shirt! Why, oh why, had she worn a dress?
Todd didn’t seem to notice that she was overdressed. Nor did he apologize for being half an hour late. His voice came out smooth and casual. “Hey, how’s it going? You ready?”
Christy called out “Good-bye” over her shoulder and hurried to close the door before Aunt Marti could see what Todd had on. Too late. Bob and Marti had stepped into the entryway, and Bob was stretching out a hand to Todd.
“Good to see you, Todd. You remember my wife, Marti.”
“Todd,” Marti said with a smile, then calmly added, “so nice to see you again.” She turned her back to him slightly and gave Christy a panicked look. “Are you sure you’re ready to go, dear?”
Christy read the clue. She knew it was her opportunity to change clothes, but she really didn’t know what to change into. She just wanted to leave with Todd. Now. Before anything could stop or change this opportunity.
“I think I’m all ready,” Christy answered.
“You’re sure, dear?” Marti gave her another piercing look.
“Yes, I’m sure. Let’s go, Todd.”
“Good night, then,” Todd said to Marti. Turning to Bob he added, “We’ll be back before eleven, sir.”
“That’s fine. Have a good time.”
Christy and Todd headed toward the car.
“What’s that?” Todd asked, looking at the box.
“I almost forgot! It’s for you.” Her voice came out shaky.
“For me? What is it?”
“Something I got you in San Francisco. If you don’t like it, that’s okay.” Why had she bought him anything? Why was she dressed up? Why did she always feel so dumb? For a split second she considered telling him she didn’t feel well and couldn’t go. But then they were at the door of his old Volkswagen van, which he affectionately called Gus the Bus.
Todd slid the door open, and Christy nearly let out a scream. The van was full of people! And another girl—Tracy—was already sitting in the front passenger seat!
Todd made quick introductions. “You know Tracy and Doug. This is Brian, Heather, Leslie, and Michelle.”
The only open seat was way in the back of the van. Christy retreated to the seat as fast as she could, her face hot with anger and embarrassment. And what was worst of all was that everyone had on jeans! She felt ridiculous in her fancy outfit. What were all these other people doing here, anyway? Hadn’t Todd asked her for a date? What was Tracy doing here? Christy felt sick to her stomach.
“What’s that?” Doug asked as Todd pulled out of the driveway.
“Something Christy got me in San Francisco.”
“Here, I’ll open it!” Tracy offered from the passenger seat.
Before Todd could answer she tore off the wrapping and held the sweatshirt up so everyone in the van could see. The remarks stung like saltwater. “Just what you need, Todd!” and “Guess she figured you out, convict!”
Christy didn’t say a word all the way to the concert. Everyone else talked and laughed but didn’t include her. They pulled into the parking lot of what looked like a community center, and the gang headed for the front door, where a crowd funneled its way into the auditorium.
“Come on!” Tracy called, pulling at Todd’s arm. “If we hurry we can still get seats near the front!”
The others whooshed off with Tracy, but Christy lagged behind, desperately wishing that Todd would notice and come back to walk with her or at least pay some attention to her. But he didn’t.
The fantasy balloon she had filled all afternoon completely deflated as she entered the large auditorium and sank down into a seat between Michelle and Heather. Tracy positioned herself between Todd and Doug at the end of the aisle and leaned forward to give a cute little wave to Michelle.
“That’s it!” Christy growled under her breath. “I’m leaving.”
“Did you say something?” Michelle asked.
“I’m not feeling real great,” Christy said, startled that Michelle had heard her and even more startled that Michelle had talked to her. “I think I’ll go call my uncle and ask him to come get me.”
“You can’t go now!” Michelle said. “The concert is ready to start. You won’t want to miss it.”
Just then the lights dimmed, and a young man walked onto the stage to announce the performer.
Michelle turned to Christy and asked enthusiastically, “Do you have any of her CDs?”
“Who?” Christy shouted over the clapping as everyone else rose to their feet.
“Debbie Stevens,” Michelle hollered and pointed to the energetic young performer who appeared on stage, dazzling the crowd with her vibrant appearance.
“No! This is the first time I’ve heard her,” Christy answered, stunned by the
loud music and the crowd’s excitement.
Clear and strong, Debbie’s energetic voice filled the auditorium:
Everyone is telling me
Which way I should go,
But no one has the answers.
Don’t you know?
I’m no fool. I look at you.
You’re not living what you say.
Can anybody show me?
There’s got to be a better way.
Christy listened carefully to the words. Surprisingly, she could understand most of them as the music loosened the self-pity knots that had tightened around her throat and stomach. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Tracy swaying and clapping with the beat, laughing and moving free as a breeze. Todd and Doug followed Tracy’s lead, and when Debbie announced the next song they whistled and clapped with their arms over their heads.
Great! This is everybody’s favorite song, and I’ve never heard it, Christy thought.
You won’t find it at the mall.
It never goes on sale.
You can’t put it on your credit card
Or order through the mail.
Its value is priceless,
But for you, today, it’s free.
Just give your heart to Jesus
And get life eternally.
You can’t buy it,
The price already’s been paid.
Jesus bought it for ya
When He raised up from the grave.
“Is this a religious kind of concert?” Christy asked Michelle.
“Yes! This is the church we all go to.”
“This is a church?” Christy scanned the large room. It looked like any huge, windowed auditorium. The only hint that it might be a church was the long, padded benches they sat on.
As the concert continued, Christy listened with a discerning ear. The songs all had hidden messages, she realized, and since this was the kind of thing Todd liked, she wanted to try to get into it too. Maybe he would be more interested in her if she could talk to him about “the Lord” the way Tracy did.
She looked down the aisle at Todd. He’s so cute! I wish he liked me!
Debbie sang for nearly forty minutes before introducing her final song. She asked everyone to sit down. “I want to tell you a story about something that happened to me a few years ago.”
The group respectfully quieted down.
“I came to this same auditorium four summers ago with some friends and listened to a band play. At the end the drummer talked about how he had surrendered his life to Jesus and that he and all the other guys in the band were now Christians.”
Debbie walked to the edge of the stage and continued to talk while she gestured with her hands. As she spoke in her animated fashion, she shook her head, causing the little curls around her face to shiver. “I couldn’t figure out what they were talking about, because I grew up in a family that went to church all the time, and I thought I automatically was a Christian.”
Debbie’s words penetrated Christy.
“Then the lead singer told how to become a Christian, and a lot of people prayed with him that day. But I didn’t. I didn’t see why I needed to ask forgiveness for my sins. I mean, I was a pretty good person. I hadn’t killed anybody, I never cheated on tests, and I tried to obey my parents. I didn’t see what Jesus needed to ‘save’ me from, like these guys were talking about.”
Christy glanced down the aisle, and Todd caught her gaze and smiled back. Her cheeks warmed as she focused back on the stage.
“Well,” Debbie continued, “the next evening I rode my bike down to the beach and sat on a bench for a long time, just thinking. One of the guys had quoted a verse from the Bible that went like this: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’
“As I sat there looking out at the roaring ocean and watching the sky turn all the colors of a rose garden, I realized I had come short of the glory of God. It suddenly became so clear! No matter how good I tried to be or how many self-improvement plans I tried, I could never be good enough to stand before God, because He is perfect and holy. I needed Jesus to open a way for me to get to God.
“Right then and there I prayed a prayer that went something like this: ‘Lord Jesus, I need You. Please forgive my sins and come into my life. Make me the woman You want me to be. Amen.’
“This next song I’m going to sing is one I wrote that night when I returned from my bike ride. That was probably one of the happiest nights of my life, because even though for so long I didn’t think I needed Jesus, He knew I needed Him, and He never gave up on me.”
The music began soft and slow, and Debbie sang,
I didn’t think I needed You in my life
Until today.
When in Your very special way
You showed me
How You wanted me,
Showed me how You cared for me
Even when I didn’t care.
Now I surrender my life to You
Give You all of my heart
You’re the one I’ve waited for
Even though I didn’t know.
Oh, Lord,
It was You who loved me first.
“What a pretty song,” Christy whispered to Michelle.
Debbie closed her eyes and held the microphone close to her mouth as she repeated the final line, “Oh, Lord, it was You who loved me first.”
The auditorium fell completely still. As the last strains of music faded, Debbie opened her eyes and said in a gentle voice, “If you haven’t yet surrendered your life to Jesus, I’m praying you will tonight. He’s there waiting. Lord bless you! Thanks for coming!”
The houselights came on, and people started chattering as they moved down the aisles to the back doors. Todd’s group stuck together in their row, waiting for the crowd to subside.
“Hey, you guys! Let’s try to go backstage and meet Debbie!” Doug suggested.
“Yeah, right!” said Heather.
“Come on!” he urged, leading the group up to the stage and looking for a way to get to the back.
“Can I help you guys?” asked one of Debbie’s band members.
“We want to meet Debbie,” Doug said confidently. “Do you think she would have time for some fans?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not,” the guy said. “Follow me.”
He led them to a side door and down a short hallway to a small room, where he knocked on the door. “Debbie? You’ve got some fans here who want to meet you.”
Debbie opened the door wide and blurted out, “Hi, fans!” Then she immediately flushed a deep red and turned to the guy in the band, slugging him in the arm. “Mark! I thought you were kidding. I didn’t know anyone was really here!”
They all laughed, which helped everyone relax, and Debbie regained her composure, shaking hands with each of them and asking their names. When she came to Christy she said, “I’m so glad you came tonight!”
“I am too,” Christy said.
“You know,” Debbie told her, “I’ve always liked the name Christy. It means ‘follower of Christ.’ Did you know that?”
“No,” Christy answered, surprised at Debbie’s friendliness. Weren’t singers supposed to be aloof, temperamental, and very protective of their backstage lives? Debbie sparkled with her genuineness.
“Your concert was awesome!” Doug said.
“I have all three of your CDs,” Michelle said. “Do you have another one coming out soon?”
“Hopefully by December.” Debbie flashed a bright smile.
Her shiny black hair curled in little ringlets across her forehead, and Christy thought she looked quite pretty. It wasn’t necessarily her makeup, because she didn’t have much on. But there was something about the way her eyes glistened that made her beautiful.
“I really liked your last song,” Christy told her rather shyly. “It made me feel something.”
“Oh? What did you feel?” Debbie asked.
“It’s hard to explain.” Christy wished everyone wasn’
t standing there, staring at her.
Todd may have sensed her uneasiness because he cut in and said, “We want to go buy some of your CDs, Debbie. Do you have a table at the back?”
“Yes.”
Tracy piped up, “Will you autograph them for us?”
“Sure.” Then reaching over and touching Christy on the arm, Debbie said, “Do you want to stay here and visit for another minute?”
“Me?” She didn’t really, but she felt put on the spot and didn’t know how to say no.
“We’ll be back in just a minute,” Todd told her and followed Tracy and the others out the door.
“So, tell me. What did my song make you feel?” Debbie asked, offering Christy a chair.
It took Christy a few seconds to clear her thoughts. Here she was, alone with a complete stranger who was asking her about her innermost feelings. All she could think of was that Todd probably wanted to get rid of her so he could put his arm around Tracy or something. What if they left without her?
“I … I don’t remember,” Christy stammered.
“That’s okay,” Debbie assured her. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I like talking to people after concerts to see how the Lord spoke to them through the music.”
“Well, I really just came with some of my friends who come to a lot of these concerts. Maybe you should ask one of them, because they talk about the Lord all the time.”
“Can I ask you something?” Debbie’s eyes flashed their sparkles.
“I guess so.”
“Christy, if you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?”
Christy’s heart pounded. She had gone over and over that question when Shawn died. She had challenged her aunt and uncle on it, but nobody had ever asked her. “I’m pretty sure I would.”
“There’s a way you can be absolutely sure,” Debbie said. “By asking Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your heart.”
Why did they leave me here for Debbie to pin me down like this? Christy’s heart raced.
“Yes, I know all that. I’ve gone to church since I was a baby.”
“That’s good,” Debbie said. “But it’s not enough. See, everyone has sinned, which makes us unable to come before God, who is holy. The penalty for sin is death, and that’s why Jesus died. To pay the price for our sins. Only through Jesus can we be saved.”