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Nonsense and a
Large Americano Please
Flash Fiction/ FaithWriters Writing Challenge
Word Count 636
Tom
sits at his regular table at the local coffee shop he visits every
morning to sip on his large Americano and read a devotional before
starting his day. This morning is a great morning; the sun broke over
Mt. Rainier at 5:20am. Red, purple, pink, and gold rays burst over the
mountain-top.
Tom sits, looking out the window. The stream from his Americano floats
into the air and disappears. He takes in a deep breath, and smiles.
Retirement is great.
“Tom?” A man calls as he barrels through the glass door, stumbling over
his own shoes.
“Paul” he says to the young journalist. “How are you doing this
morning?”
“Tom, buddy, you were not kidding.”
“About what?” He sits at the table in front of Tom and folds his hands.
Then he unfolds them- too excited to stand still. “Calm down, my friend
talk to me.” Tom says and takes another sip.
“Where do I start? It’s just…gosh. If there was a Christian word to cuss
I would. I can’t find any words to describe this …this, change!”
“Tell me, what happened, Paul.” Tom says, a smile cracking across his
wrinkled face.
“Come on , you know. You’ve been a believer for what?”
“Forty-two years…”
“I sound like a nut job, but this is great. Look, my job is soo
stressful that I’ve been taking meds to think straight. Today, I
suddenly realized that I have crazy deadlines to meet, boss on my back,
not an idea for a story, yet,” he slaps his hands on the table, “I am at
total peace! Really, I don’t get it. It was soo surreal.”
“Peace that passes all understanding.”
“Exactly! But that’s not even all. The last five years have been really
tough on me; I’ve been really depressed; you know; wanting to be the
best husband and father, bring in enough money, and feeling that no
matter what I do, it’s never enough. But now, oh , now, my friend, I
feel happy. No…it’s joy. Real joy, it’s…” He pauses trying to find the
right word, his mouth gaping open in mid thought.
“Joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Tom laughs.
“YEAH!” Paul bursts out. “And there’s so much more. I try my hardest to
do everything I know I should, but honestly, sometimes I miss it. But I
still feel Him, His presence, His love. It’s incredible. I know that I’m
not a failure to Him, and it feels like when I mess up, He picks me up
and pushes me in the right direction again.”
“He does. The Bible says that He will finish that which He began in you.
Tom, God chose you. He began this amazing work in your life, and He’s
not going to stop working on you until you are complete in Him. Yeah,
sure you mess up at times; it’s a process, Paul. But His love for you
has no boundaries. He’s not going to cut you off just because you miss
it at times, no, He’s going to pick you up and continue to work. The
Bible says that we’re His workmanship that He wants to display for all
ages.”
Paul sits there hanging on every word – his face is that of a child’s.
just finding out that he’s going to have the best day ever. “Tom, this
is indescribable, amazing, unbelievable, and it makes absolutely no
sense at all.” He looks past Tom in deep concentration. “No sense at
all. I don’t deserve this. Really, how could God…”
“Paul don’t even try and figure it out.”
“But, Tom, I used to…”
“Old things are past away and everything’s made new.” Tom rebuttals
“But really…”
“Paul, you’ll drive yourself nuts if you try and make sense of it all.
God’s love makes no sense. He loves us, and loves us enough to have
sentenced His son to death, saving us. We don’t deserve it, never will.
That’s it, Paul. Don’t try and figure it out logically. You can’t.”
Paul puts his hand out and touches Tom’s shoulder. “You know that you’re
asking this of a journalist. I ‘m made to think; especially when it’s
the greatest story ever.”
Tom smiles and pats Paul’s hand. “You’re a silly kid.” Paul grins, and
they both laugh.
“Go get some coffee, and humor and old man.”
Paul just laughs as he gets in line to get an Americano for himself. He
looks up- eyes closed, “God, you make no sense at all…and I love it.”
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