The Awakening of John - Episode 13

John had gone to sleep that night with a conflict raging inside. The answer Bob had given wasn’t an answer, but the pain he felt, the intimate knowledge of what it felt like couldn’t be ignored. At one moment he wanted to hate Bob, at the next, he wanted to share with him his deepest hurt. He fell asleep with both competing for his attention. Breakfast was an exercise in avoiding the big issues, John thought he’d divert by asking “So, Bob, you encouraged me to get to know Mubina, is that because you want me to lead her to Christ or marry her – or both?” Bob rewarded him with one of his deep voiced laughs. “Well, I reckon in different ways you could both ‘lead each other to Christ’ and as for marrying, whose decision is that?”

John as usual was unprepared for the answer and the question. He stumbled, “What? I don’t understand, what do you mean we could lead each other – I’ve already...” he trailed off... “... and I guess the couple get to decide, but haven’t you already decided who the right person is? Don’t you have a plan for my life?”

“Oh my word, I thought we were studiously avoiding the big questions for a bit – we should have had a bigger breakfast if we’re going to tackle those... Think, John. If love gives choice, why would you assume there has to be one right person and one hidden route through life that you have to discover?” John thought for a moment, taken aback as yet another one of his foundations was shaken.

“So, you don’t have a plan for my life? What about that verse in Jeremiah that always gets quoted?” John was getting braver at quoting scripture back to God, vaguely alarmed that the devil had done the same... but Bob seemed unperturbed:

“Oh, I have lots of dreams for you... and not to be picky, but the verse says ‘I know the plans...’ plural. That isn’t the same as giving you a script to follow...”

This was dislodging a lot of John’s foundations at the same time as feeling freeing. “But you encouraged me to get to know Mubina...” he said, pulling at the same thread.

“Yes, as a person rather than a label! It wasn’t divine guidance commanding you to get married! If you want to take it further and she does too, then that’s lovely, be kind and loving, I’ll be with you.”

 

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