Imagination Gone Wild Series

Something is Out There:

Rumors of the Invisible World of the Sacred God

Imagination Gone Wild: Opening the Eyes of our Heart--Hope 3/8/09

John and Cathy going back to Church

subject: discovering the hope that Heaven is

Bruce D. Rzengota

john and cathy preparing for church

John is struggling with his tie while his wife is putting on a necklace. She pauses thoughtfully fingering the piece when she has finished.

Cathy

Are you okay John?

John

I’m fine honey. Are you?

cathy

(sullenly) Yes I’m fine. Just thinking a lot. Do you know when I got this necklace?

John

Um, I’m not sure. You know I’m no good at this. Should I?

Cathy

I bought this for our 10th wedding anniversary. It’s been two years since I wore it that first time. We’ve been married for almost 12 years now.

John

Sometimes is it seems like it was just last week I was standing next to you in church and you were sneaking peeks at your cell phone.

Cathy

(shocked) I wasn’t sneaking peeks at my cell phone I was just turning it off.

John

(Chuckling) I’m not so sure about that.

Cathy

(serious) John, does it ever seem to you that time is just racing by? That this journey we’re on is going to be over way sooner than we every thought?

Don’t you every struggle with regrets?

John

Regrets? I’m one of the luckiest men alive.

John takes Cathy in his arms behind her.

12 years ago I ended up sitting next to the most beautiful single mother in the world. (she smiles) You were a little bitter over a divorce. A little. . .

cathy

(with vemon) He was such a jerk.

John

A little critical.

Cathy

I was not!

John

Yes dear. But you were carrying some wounds that could make you a little judgmental a times.

Cathy

(nodding, conceding) You’re right.

John

But that was the beginning of a great thing for us. I got you coffee and sat with you in the coffee house between services.

cathy

(Turning to him) You remember that?

John

Sure it was the day I became fascinated with you.

Cathy

Fascinated? That day?

John

Yeah I’m pretty sure it was that day. I remember it was because you kept talking about how the pastor had missed a patch of hair shaving his head that day.

Cathy

(pushing away) That’s what you remember?

John

Well yes, but I also remember you talking about some grade Ashley got on a paper. You went on and on about it because you were so sure that the divorce would be such a distraction for her as she started college that fall. You talked up a storm.

Cathy

(defensive) I hardly said a word.

John

But then I remember that suddenly in the midst of it, you got quiet and asked me the most profound question.

Cathy

I did?

John

You did. You said, "John, will you get me another muffin?"

cathy

(slapping his arm) I’d not.

John

(chuckling) Yes you did, but that wasn’t the profound question. You asked me I was ever bored in church? You asked me I understood what the pastor meant by the kingdom of God being a Treasure hidden in the field.

That was the first time I ever had a conversation with someone about something so spiritual. It got me thinking. It got me thinking so much I sought out one of the elders. What was his name? He was the money guy at church, the treasurer.

Cathy

It wasn’t Dave was it?

John

No it wasn’t Dave. He was hard to forget? Bob I think?

Anyway I sought him out and we began to talk about what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, one who was discovering the hidden treasure that Jesus talked about in that parable.

cathy

Why did you pick him?

John

I’m not sure, I just remember thinking that the Treasurer ought to know something about the treasure.

Anyway it was the beginning point of so many changes in me. I was coming alive in Jesus. I was falling in love with you. I was learning what it was like to let go of my past.

So no. I’m not struggling with regrets. And I’d like to believe you aren’t either.

Cathy

John, I’m not, at least I don’t think I am. It’s just, it’s just. . .

John

It’s just what Cath?

Cathy

It’s just that were getting old.

John

Old? Cath we’re so young at heart I don’t feel any older than that day we sat so awkwardly next to each other in church?

Cathy

Even today John?

John

Oo. . . I get it. I see where this is coming from. Yes honey even today I’m okay with it. Honey she was 94 years old. She loved Jesus.