EDWARD HAD closed his eyes; the rain almost had stopped and, as Maryann expected, he went to sleep. She was thinking, as the rain slowly stopped, about the first and second talks.
"Who am I," she wondered, she knew she enjoyed being
housewife, didn't enjoy being an attorney and a mother, although her kids were gone. Mostly she concentrated on shopping.
Being an attorney never really enthralled her. The second talk, "Who am I with Christ," she answered to herself, a shopper, but, that's not all. I am a wife.
Or, am I? I used to be. I remember . . . Edward and I couldn't
wait until the kids would be asleep. Then I was a real wife. That's probably why we had more children.
All that changed as we got older. I'm fifty-four, and he is fifty- seven. After menopause, I stopped doing wifely things.
"You were no longer a wife," a voice interjected. Almost having a conversation with this other voice, she
exclaimed: "It 's not all my fault. Edward wasn't the man I married. He has become paunchy, and he doesn't have the desire he had when we were younger. I remember once I wore this sexy underwear to bed, and he went wild. Those were the days."
ROD AND CAROLLE walked hand in hand, in the rain, behind the Rollo Room, a little bit farther into the woods. Rod wrapped his arms around Carolle and moved her against a tree. She arched her body and pushed against him, enjoying the warm feeling of being so close to him.
He kissed her. She kissed him back. They had their arms around each other, and were necking and kissing in the rain.
Rod licked the rain drops off Carole’s neck, like they were still at Greenville High. Carolle remembered, I couldn't believe it; the captain of the football team liked me. That's the best! She smiled to herself.
He would take me to all the proms, but we would always get away, it didn’t matter if it was raining cats and dogs, we would find a tree and then we would neck and kiss until the prom was about to end. And then we would have to go back. Sometimes we were wet, but so were others.
MIKE AND ROSE looked at the rain for awhile, and decided they would help the cooks prepare for dinner. There was a table leaders meeting at approximately two pm. this afternoon.
EDWARD STIRRED. then he awoke. I must have dosed off. Where is Maryann? Oh, over there . . . alone in that clearing. The rain had stopped. "You doing oky-doeky? I must have dosed off. What 'ch a been doing all this time?"
"Just thinking. A little praying. Mostly thinking." "Anything you want to share?"
"No . . . just thinking."
"Well, think all you want. I'm going back to sleep. This is the best holiday I've had in a long time."
MARYANN WATCHED Edward go to sleep. She walked a bit. She wasn't ready to share her thoughts with Edward. Not yet. She had to be sure that Edward would not jump all over her if she let him know what she was thinking.
She had been a good wife; Edward had always been a good husband. She thought about him, always working – her not working, leaving her alone – but, not listening to her. Why can't we communicate? That’s what really troubles her about him.
“It's you!” said a still small voice, just like before. Me? me? It's not all me. Is it?
CLANG, CLANG, clang. Carolle jumped, Rob rolled to the side, Carolle straightened her skirt, and pulled on her top. The clanging shot through her like a knife. Like the time her parents came
home early. Poor Rod climbed out her upstairs window. Somehow he got off the roof.
Thank God the rain had stopped.
ANNE ASKED Kenny: "Did you hear the gong?"
Kenny looked at his wrist for his watch. Dropped his hand: "Supper's on? I don't feel that hungry. Have we been out here that long?"
"Yes, you fell asleep on the wet grass. I guess Blanch knew what she talked about. Men are different, certainly uncouth, messy and dirty.
MARYANN TURNED, and asked Edward: "Did you here that? "Freetime" must be over."
Edward woke up: "Yeah."
THE HEAD Roister directed them to the Rollo Room.
ALL SAT around the Angel table after "Freetime" for the next rollo, but Mike and Rose had been replaced. Did they change
table leaders in midstream?
Anne thought to herself, I hope not.
--9--
MIKE AND ROSE TOOK THEIR PLACES AT THE podium ready to give their rollo, titled, 'Christ in Your Marriage.' "Hi, I'm Mike and this gorgeous lady, Rose, married me. I don't know why, but I'm sure glad she did.”
Mike began, "After my talk you will have to draw something, and talk a little about the talk. I have to tell you that the symbol used by most churches can't be used -- even in part.
“ Most churches use two rings, one for the man and one for the woman and a cross representing Christ in the middle. Every church wants Christ to be a part of your marriage, and we do too.
“Yet, each couple must decide for themselves to put Christ in their marriage. There are many other drawings besides this one. Although you may feel that I have severely limited you, many drawings have been presented which convey 'Christ in Your Marriage,' the topic of this rollo.
“Christ can make a big difference in a person's life.“
Anne said so nobody could hear, “I know. That's why I brought
Kenny here; to put Christ in our marriage.”
“Now, we say . . . adding Christ to your marriage, can make a big difference in your marriage.
"How?
"Even if you don't read your Bible or know about Jesus, surely you have heard Jesus say, 'Forgive them Father, they know not what they do,' and you have heard of the grace of God, a topic that begins this rollo.
"One fella, I knew," Mike continued, "experienced grace flying from Denver to Los Angeles. If you have ever flown coach on this particular route, the time of the flight is just under the the length of time that normally includes lunch or dinner served by the airlines.
“So, no lunch. This fella was sitting in his assigned coach seat, and the flight attendant asked him out of the blue, 'If he would like to become a first-class passenger?'
“He agreed. He didn't know, until he experienced it, the special treatment he would receive as a first-class passenger. Not only did he sit in a comfortable, large, seat, receive no cost television and movies, the flight attendant continued to offer no cost drinks and snacks throughout the flight.
“This blessing continued. He didn't ask to be a first-class passenger. Somebody asked him . . . a gift. He had the choice of accepting or rejecting this gift. The Bible verse that best describes grace is Ephesians 2:8. it says:
“'You have been saved by grace, not of works, so that no man can boast.' (Eph 2:8)
"Grace, a free gift with no strings attached.
"The blessings, which no one could measure, went on and on. The flight attendant gave him a lunch menu, imagine that, with four choices: prime rib, capon with grape sauce, sushi, or lamb chops. Now he knew why they pulled the curtain to separate coach from first-class. No lunch was given to the coach
passengers.
“So, what does this have to do with marriage?
"God's free gift of grace speaks directly to a marriage. "Grace is used in the Bible 120 times in the New Testament.
Back then, everybody knew the meaning of the Greek word
'charis'. It means, God's unmerited favor, freely given. You may have heard the acronym, G-R-A-C-E: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
“In other words - Christ suffered and died in order that you can receive God's unmerited favor and blessing. Christ's gift came from God. You have to believe that Christ died for you to experience a personal relationship with Him.”
“That's it. That's what I wanted to here,” Anne said, almost too loud. She forgot about her not forgiving Kenny or backing off.
“Christian marriage has been described as two sinners saved by grace. In a marriage, all couples reveal their sinful nature. Oh, I might put on my church face, I might
hold his hand, we might be all lovey-dove wherever we are – you know, seen by others.
“The saying, 'Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors,' couldn't be more true. In today's newspapers, we hear, 'What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas.'
“This city has made the name, 'City of Sin,' stick, and they have marketed that people can sin and get away with it. A marketing slogan that has been very successful. Not here.
“Everybody is a sinner. If you have told one lie, you qualify as a sinner. Marriage can bring out the sinner in each of us. Each of us sin all the time.”
Anne wondered, she wouldn't call Kenny a sinner.
"Paul said he was the chief sinner (Ti 1:15). If you look at his life before Christ, you would easily agree. He claimed, as he says, a Pharisee to the Pharisees. Pharisee represented the highest level
of righteousness. In their own eyes, Pharisees judged the right and the wrong of the people.
“To Paul, Christianity challenged the Jewish way. He, the Pharisee to the Pharisees, went to the Chief Priest and asked for letters to allow him, Paul, to round up Christians, and bring them back to the Chief Priest for trial and imprisonment. He searched far and wide for Christian sinners. He found them easily.
“When we read Acts 9, we find that Christ appeared to Paul, and part of the conversation that nobody else could hear, Christ asks Paul an interesting question. Christ asked, 'Is it hard to kick against the goads?' (Acts 9:5). Christ revealed that He knew that Paul struggled with what he did.
“He implied, correctly, since He knows the content of men's hearts, that Paul knew down deep that what he did didn't please God. Paul had seen too many Christians die for their faith. Paul knew they had something he didn't have. Forgiveness.”
“That sounds familiar,” Anne whispered to Kenny.
"Forgiveness goes along with grace. The answer to someone who has sinned against you, can be found in forgiveness. That is true for myself also, but -- that's another talk.
“Putting Christ in your marriage means you always extend grace and forgiveness to your mate. 'Spouses' . . . sounds better.
"Now, for a big one, God wants your marriage to be terrific, and
He has included His wisdom in His communications to men, and
women. His communication, the Bible, or His wisdom on marriage, the Bible, has been called The Manufacturer's Handbook.”
Anne acknowledged so no one could hear, “I have never read the
Bible.”
“I was touched by His wisdom when I noticed the word, love in Eph 5: 25 where it says, 'Husbands love your wives.' God told me not to listen to the world's definition of love.
“The definition as outlined in Paul's letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13) gives us God's definition of love. In Jack's rollo I know you have looked at the definition of love. It is worth repeating:
'Love is patient, love is kind . . . love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; love...does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; love . . . bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
(1 Cor 13:4-5)
"Boy, that wasn't my understanding of love. I understood
“love” as balloons popping, loss of appetite, and not be able to speak without using Rose's name. Yet, none of these things happened when I met Rose.
“God says real love is patient and kind. We see love more in actions rather than in feelings. When I see a husband cutting the toe nails of his wife who has a disease that makes her move her legs and arms with unpredictable movements, I recognize love. Thinking about love from God's point of view changed me and
our marriage.
“It's the little things that make a marriage. Flowers, a phone call, notes. They speak of love to a woman. Not putting him down, going along . . . to be going a long, adds respect and shows a man love.”
Anne said so no one could hear, “You tell 'em.”
--10--
"CHRIST IN YOUR MARRIAGE ALSO provides power over sin,” Mike when on, “Christ gives us the power over sin. For example, God hates divorce so it is never mentioned in our house. God hates it, therefore, we hate it.
“Putting God's wisdom in our home makes a difference. Putting Christ and His Word in your marriage makes a better husband and a better wife.”
Kenny thought about what Mike was saying, I never forgive Anne, not that she needs it. Yet, to have the power over sin and knowing God's Word could be most helpful. I'm not sure which sins I am committing but, I'm sure there are some.
Probably, my company sins more than I do. If I understand God's point of view, do I point that out to my company or leave?
Well . . . that's in the future. I will forgive Anne. I will also be more patient.
Rod whispered to Carolle: "I wonder how much longer Mike will go on? I like Mike; he's nice, in fact; the whole conference is a little “churchy”, but nice. We will be separated again tonight.
“Maybe,” Carolle smiled and squeezed Rod hand.
Maryann asked Edward quietly: "What do you think the table should draw? “I can't use the wedding symbol.
“It came to me so easily before. It was changed slightly, but it started out as my idea. The best choice, two rings with the Christ in the center, has already been used.”
Then, she exclaimed to Edward: "I may have it," smiling widely. She described her drawing to Edward: "The word GRACE arching over a man and a woman. Stick figure decals like those
on the back of some of the cars I see parked at the grocery store." “Sounds good to me,” Edward said, approvingly.
Carolle said quietly to Rod: "Nobody's listening to Mike's talk. Parts of it really speak to me. For example, I have never heard about grace that way before . . . God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
“That's so true. Remember we sinned – boy had we ever. The things we use to do before we got married. Actually, we had to get married. Didn't we?"
Kenny thought, Everyone is so nice – especially Anne. If I felt younger, we wouldn't have slept apart last night. We would have gone deeper in the woods and made-out like a couple of rabbits. I miss her so --
"Pleasing God," Mike continued, "putting forgiveness in our marriages and using the power over sin – we please God. I don't know about you, but I want to please God.
“There are too many stories in the Bible where men decided, out of ignorance or willfully, not to please God. Their actions in the Bible ended in death.”
Kenny thought, I didn't know that.
"One Bible story centers around Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. Christ had risen from the dead, and ascended, and the church was coming together. The Apostles had been set up as leaders, and God spoke through Peter.
“If I remember correctly . . . all the Christians, those that had decided to follow Christ, shared everything they had in common. Those in need received from those who chose to sell their possessions. The Apostles kept track of everything.
“Well . . . Ananias and Sapphira his wife, possessed much. They sold some of what they had, but wanting to look good in the people's eyes, they gave some the proceeds to Peter, who asked Ananias if he gave everything he received from the sale. The correct answer would have been, 'No.'
“Ananias agreed to Peter's question, and, in fact, answered, 'Yes'. A little reading between the lines shows that although Ananias agreed, he knew that he and his wife kept some of the proceeds. God chose to make him an example for the early church. Ananias chose to displease God. He lied to Peter, and he died – dead.
"But . . . the story goes on. Later, Peter saw Ananias's wife, Sapphira, and asked her the same question about the gift proceeds amounted to everything they received.
“Isn't it great that God lets each of us, men and women, decide if we want to please God or not. She agreed with Ananias. Peter said rather matter-of-factl
y before she died -- 'the feet who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.'
Ananias and his wife Sapphira chose not to please God.
"Pleasing God, means doing things God's way. Read your Bible –
and do what it says. Not as easy as it looks. The world left the
Bible long ago.
“Your worldly friends won't help. Christian friends in small groups may help a little. Mostly it depends on your husband, the leader of your home. God tied the husband and wife together.
“The wife according to the Scriptures (Gen 2:18) refers to the wife as a helpmate, read a gentle helper, to her husband."
Kenny thought about Anne. She's my helper.
Maybe I should follow God? He is always there helping me. I guess He is; I've just ignored Him. Pleasing God may not be so hard to do.
"If the husband sees his wife straying,” Mike said, 'he may say, that bothers me. Let's see what God's Word says about it.' Then in time, at home, they will search the Scriptures.