“GOTHAM” 12/10/14

“THE ENCOUNTER III” > The story is written as if fictional, but it is not, I’m living this every day. Signed: Don.

CHAPTER FOUR

The bus continued rolling in the night. It turned right at the VA Hospital and did a horseshoe shaped loop past the Eskenazi Hospital, and then back out onto 10th street. The Internet had spoken of a hub drop around Senate and Capitol. That sounded like a good place to jump off, and they would soon be there.

As a hub stop, several were exiting at this point, which made it easy to recognize. Don grabbed his small backpack and quickly slipped out the middle side door onto the street. Acting like he knew what he was doing, he immediately began walking in a direction he hoped led to Circle Center Mall. He looked like he knew where he was going but actually he was still finding his bearings. It was hard to miss Monument Circle, so as soon as he spotted it, he turned, knowing he could find his way from there.

Now that he had his bearings he was free to think about what he came here for, to hear God. He would walk in the night, he would look and listen, he would commune with God in his soul, and he would listen for leading. This was a spiritual scouting trip. Just riding the IndyGo bus downtown had been a new experience, and he wasn’t sure what bus stop he planned to take back, because he also wanted to walk through the college campus area, and that would take him away from the Circle, and the Mall.

Finding the Mall he began his journey through. He looked at the people sitting in Panera Bread, laptops open, or chit-chatting with a friend, a cup of coffee in their hand. He walked past so many food places in the food courtyard. “What about that place, Lord?” But he felt nothing. He walked through all three levels and passed many stores, but nothing stood out. Finally reaching his favorite area, the Garden Center, he found a bench and sat watching the people moving below, on the sidewalks outside, and he prayed, and he listened.

Much to his surprise he had noticed there was a Starbuck right on Monument Circle. He did not know this. He had been fasting all day. “Yes, a green tea latte would be wonderful. I will end the fast and enjoy the view of the Circle, and I will listen. I will sip my latte and listen.

A short hike later it had all come true. He had his drink and a stool right in front of the street window looking out at the War Monument. It was a very comfortable night. People were out and about in the beautiful fall weather. This Starbuck was known for having Baristas that were the best in town. They moved like high-speed efficient machines and yet could manage to be friendly at the same time. Soon, as he stared out the window, people passing, War Monument standing, friendly chatter all around, he thought about the power of his new life, and how much he wanted to share it.

For too long he had thought being a Christian was just about being a good person, with the help of God, but now he knew it was more, it was so much more, it was supernatural. He pulled the book from his bag, “Flap Less / Soar More”, and then took another delicious sip of his hot latte. It was just reaching the best temperature. He stared at the eagle soaring on the cover, and he wished every person knew what God was offering them. The question was, how was he going to find a way to share? Even just one person? God would send him downtown even for just one, but in his heart he knew it would be more.

What was the difference in his new life? It was like a child trying to fly a kite but there was no wind. He had been the child running, running, and running. As long as he ran, pulling the string behind him, the kite would fly, but as soon as he stopped, it started falling back to the ground, and so he ran again! Flapping, flapping, flapping. Somehow he knew it was right for the kite to fly, but what he did not understand was how God wanted to send a Wind. Once he caught a glimpse of the power of his priesthood to ride the Wind…he understood supernatural…he understood soaring…and he would never live the same again!

So he was here to soar, not flap. His night had gone well so far, and he had learned much, but the night was not over. Countless people moving all around him, candles in the night, glowing now but so quickly out if chance happened upon them. There would be a way, and God would show him. No one knew, no one suspected that a silver haired man sipping on a latte, staring at a War Monument, was a warrior at heart, and he felt very good to be here, to be right here.