Strangers and Pilgrims
by
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"Is this the garden where Judas betrayed Him?" Shannon had walked on. Now she turned, partially sheltered by the low hanging olive branches, eyes huge in a white face. "I feel so strange . . . almost sleepy." None of them were prepared for what happened next. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she dropped with startling speed into a boneless heap on the rocky ground. Pete and Cindy rushed to her side, knelt. David felt an unusual constraint. Every fiber of his being cried out to run to her, gather her in his arms and comfort her. He remained, feeling rooted to the spot. Shannon woke as quickly as she’d lost consciousness. David could see her face quite clearly. Her skin looked luminous, eyes wide with wonder. "He did it. He died on a cross for me, didn’t he, Cindy? Pete?" She stared at each of them in turn as she slowly sat up. "My ears heard it all those years in Sunday school, all those sermons, but I didn’t know in my heart till just now." Silent tears made silver tracks on her smiling face. "He did it. He did it." Cindy, seeming unaware of her own tears, wiped Shannon’s face with gentle fingers. "Yes, darlin’, He did. Do you believe with all your heart that He’s your Lord and Savior?" "Yes. Yes, I do." Pete took each of their hands in his. Kneeling in the dirt, there in the Garden of Gesthemane, his simple words touched David’s heart in a totally unexpected way. "If you truly believe, confess your sins and repent of those sins, Jesus will come into your heart. You’ll never be alone again. His Holy Spirit will live within you for all eternity. Will you confess and repent?" "Yes." Shannon’s whisper was barely audible. David watched as they bowed their heads and prayed. "Father in Heaven, our sister Shannon ben Isaacs comes to You today with bowed head and humble heart, seeking forgiveness for her sins, accepting Your Son into her heart as Lord and Savior. If it be Your will, Father, accept her into your Holy Family as a true believer, a Sister in Christ. Uplift her spirit, grant her the peace that passes all understanding, let her live forever in the shelter of Your loving arms." Pete faltered a bit, swallowed with some difficulty and continued, "If it be thy will, Father, let our friend David be touched by Your love, let him accept Your Son as his Savior as well. Watch over us this day, keep us safe in your hands, forgive us our many sins. In Jesus’ precious name I ask and pray. Amen." Released by Pete’s words, able to move at last, David turned and walked away. Confused, jealous, hurt, even a little angry, he shoved balled fists into the pockets of his denim jacket and walked faster. He was almost at the bottom of the hill before Shannon caught him. "David? Wait! Don’t leave. What’s wrong?" "I just witnessed my wife being brainwashed by two well meaning fanatics into believing that a minor prophet who lived almost two thousand years ago could give her eternal life and guarantee her entry into heaven. Why wouldn’t I be upset?" He hadn’t meant to explode that way. Dismayed, he heard the angry words even as he reached out to her. "We were married by a Jewish rabbi, Shannon. I am a Jew. Jesus was a Jew. That doesn’t make Him able to do all those things."
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Strangers and Pilgrims,
About the Author
A grandmother of two, I’ve been writing since age twelve. My husband of forty-five years and I have two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law. Each of the boys has one child. I’ve lived in Anderson, Indiana, since age six when my mother got a job at a local radio station. She met and married my stepfather when I was eight and along with my grandmother and later a younger brother, made a home for us here. We lived on a small farm for a while and I had a horse, a Palomino named Pal’s Golden Pride [Ally]. My love of horses has guaranteed having horses in everything I’ve written. I met my husband in high school, and despite the normal ups and downs of opposite personalities, we’ve had a good life. We were invited to a local Baptist Church some fourteen years ago. After a false start we both accepted Christ as Savior and joined the church more than ten years ago. My husband is a trustee and head usher, I sing in the choir, chair Ladies Auxiliary and act as church clerk. When the Lord laid it on my heart to write a novel that would bring honor and glory to Him, I ignored Him for several years. He closed doors to publishing other work until I listened to Him. This book is the result. I hope He is pleased with it.