Palm Sunday

Mark was finally reaching home after an all day drive from Phoenix to

the California coast. Although his company owned three airplanes,

including one which was capable of going anywhere in the world, he

preferred to drive himself on trips less than five hundred miles. On the trip out it was relaxing to be away by himself, to get mentally geared up for the upcoming event, and on the return trip to relax and critique what had transpired..

It had been a long hard day on top of five hard days. He had been running a week long corporate sales and operations meeting in Phoenix.

He was the CEO and sole owner of a company of various business

interests, that had worldwide branches and subsidiaries. The top officers or managers of each were present. They represented many nationalities and many languages. All meetings were conducted in English. Being fluent in English was a requirement to become an executive at any level, but they often reverted to their native tongue when talking among themselves. It was a “Tower of Babel” when the official meeting was not in session. Mark had made it his standard procedure to personally have a private conversation with each one at this, the annual meeting. It was an extremely exhausting undertaking.

It was dark when Mark turned into the long driveway to his home

9overlooking the Pacific Ocean south of the Newport Beach area of Orange County, California. He clicked the garage door opener as he entered the driveway so that the door was open when he arrived. He left everything in the car, including his clothes. He was very weary.  He entered the house through the kitchen and started turning on lights. He was all alone. He had a house keeper who came in to clean and maintain the house Monday through Friday, but this being Saturday, even she would not be here. The large house had living quarters for servants, but he did not want to sacrifice his privacy unnecessarily. He really did not

want or need twenty four hour attention. Besides he did not want to get

further involved with the many government regulations and irritations that come to those hiring live in household help.

He was still a bachelor in his mid thirties. It was not that he was unattractive to women. In fact he was a pleasant looking man and

attracted interested eye contact from women where ever he went. The women he did date, had quickly cooled off when the reality of a lasting

commitment exposed them to the truth that he would be gone from home, more than he would be at home  They reluctantly decided that this very eligible bachelor was not good husband material even though he was an attractive and a rich man, with a very nice home. In fact he had designed the home as a place to bring a future bride. It was very much a home that needed a wife.

* * *

After Mrs. O’Leary left with her daughters, Ruth walked with Deborah

as far as the door of the guest bedroom and said, "We like having you

as a sister. I would like to hear more about your life. We''ll get to know each other much better in the morning when we can start to do woman things together. First on the agenda is to go by and see Mary''s husband for an exam and probable immunizations."

Mark staying out of the way until now, gave Ruth a hug, and whispered, "Thank you Ruth. You have been a blessing. Good night."

Finally alone, Mark and Deborah turned to each other, took each

other''s hand, and after a long loving tour through their house with

Deborah delightfully and childlike, proudly switching off the lights,

they went out on to the dark patio. Deborah stood with her head on

Mark''s shoulder, with his arm around her, looking out over the peaceful

Pacific at the stars and the lights of passing ships and airplanes.

Mark thought about his dear friends somewhere out there in the heavens, who had come into his life, and he had seen leave from this very back lawn.. A brief thought flashed through his mind, “I wonder if Abraham and Sarah had anything to do with delivering her into his time?”

Mark thought, "It''s so very nice to have Deborah at my side."

Deborah snuggled closer and answered his thoughts with her own. "Yes Mark, it is so very nice being at your side."

She also had been given the gift of mental telepathy!

Mark gently gathered her into his arms. She was now where she belonged. The impossible had happened!

Palm Sunday. For Mark, a new life, a new wife, a new world.