Read Online The Other Side of Darkness by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online
Authors: Melody Carlson
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something is still under my control. And I get a sense of safety here, snuggled up in my minivan, parked near the rear entrance of the church. As if the Lord’s big umbrella of protection extends from the church walls and out over me. And I imagine that reading the Bible is cleansing me, washing away all the crud from the previous evening.
I nearly jump out of my seat when I hear a tapping on the driver’s side window. I turn to see Cynthia standing outside in the drizzly rain that has just begun to fall.
I roll down the window and smile at her.
“Are you okay?” she asks with a concerned expression.
I nod. “Yes. I think I am now.”
“I’ve had such a burden for you this morning.”
“You’re getting wet. Do you want to come inside?”
She hurries around to the other side and slides into the passenger seat.
“Sorry, it’s kind of messy in here,” I say quickly. “You know how it is with kids.” Then, of course, I immediately regret that comment since Cynthia is single with no children.
She just smiles, albeit a bit stiffly. Then she reaches over and puts her hand on my arm. “Now, tell me, Ruth, how is it going?
Really.”
Caught off guard by the intensity of her gaze and the knowledge that she is gifted at knowing what’s below the surface of things, I almost break. I almost pour out all my fears and insecurities and worries about my family and how Matthew came home drunk last night and how I got so angry at my husband. But in the nick of time, I stop myself. A lifetime of training, of covering up my real feelings, kicks itself into gear, and I put on my flat face, followed up by a smile. “The phoning went really well last night! I’m about a third of the way through the list. And there was this one woman, a single mom named Candy, who was really eager to come to the concert. She said she’s been looking for a church family.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” She peers closely at me again. “So everything is really okay with you, then?”
“Yes. I just wanted a quiet place to sit and read for a bit.” I hold up my well-worn Bible. “With Rick’s different schedule, working swing shift, and then there’s Matthew at home. He doesn’t usuallygo to the bookstore until later in the morning … Well, having a quiet time can be kind of difficult at my house.”
She smiles. “I can just imagine. But you know you can always come into the church library to read. With the cold weather coming, I’m sure it could get pretty chilly out here in the parking lot.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“I wanted to let you know that I passed your comments along to Pastor Glenn.”
“My comments?”
“Your concerns about some of the rumors circulating around in the church.”
“Oh …”
She sighs deeply. “Pastor Glenn suspected that you’d been talking to your friend Colleen McKinley.”
My cheeks grow warm. I should’ve known that he’d figure this out. Why was I so stupid?
She pats my arm. “Don’t worry, Ruth. Pastor Glenn doesn’t blame you for the rumors. He knows what’s going on. But he did want you to know that he’s got some concerns and that Colleen and Dennis have been having problems.”
“Problems?”
“Yes. I can’t divulge the nature of their problems, but I can tell you that it’s definitely impacting their walk with the Lord.”
I nod without saying anything.
“We’ve really been doing some spiritual warfare on behalf of their family. I’m sure that you will do the same.”
“Of course.” Now I feel guilty for not having spent much time with Colleen lately. “I had no idea they were having problems. I would’ve been praying for them all along.”
“Unfortunately, I must warn you to keep your distance from Colleen. You must be careful in your friendship with her, wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. Colleen’s spiritual vision is probably impaired right now, and we wouldn’t want her to lead you astray.” She smiles. “Because Pastor Glenn
I nearly jump out of my seat when I hear a tapping on the driver’s side window. I turn to see Cynthia standing outside in the drizzly rain that has just begun to fall.
I roll down the window and smile at her.
“Are you okay?” she asks with a concerned expression.
I nod. “Yes. I think I am now.”
“I’ve had such a burden for you this morning.”
“You’re getting wet. Do you want to come inside?”
She hurries around to the other side and slides into the passenger seat.
“Sorry, it’s kind of messy in here,” I say quickly. “You know how it is with kids.” Then, of course, I immediately regret that comment since Cynthia is single with no children.
She just smiles, albeit a bit stiffly. Then she reaches over and puts her hand on my arm. “Now, tell me, Ruth, how is it going?
Really.”
Caught off guard by the intensity of her gaze and the knowledge that she is gifted at knowing what’s below the surface of things, I almost break. I almost pour out all my fears and insecurities and worries about my family and how Matthew came home drunk last night and how I got so angry at my husband. But in the nick of time, I stop myself. A lifetime of training, of covering up my real feelings, kicks itself into gear, and I put on my flat face, followed up by a smile. “The phoning went really well last night! I’m about a third of the way through the list. And there was this one woman, a single mom named Candy, who was really eager to come to the concert. She said she’s been looking for a church family.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” She peers closely at me again. “So everything is really okay with you, then?”
“Yes. I just wanted a quiet place to sit and read for a bit.” I hold up my well-worn Bible. “With Rick’s different schedule, working swing shift, and then there’s Matthew at home. He doesn’t usuallygo to the bookstore until later in the morning … Well, having a quiet time can be kind of difficult at my house.”
She smiles. “I can just imagine. But you know you can always come into the church library to read. With the cold weather coming, I’m sure it could get pretty chilly out here in the parking lot.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“I wanted to let you know that I passed your comments along to Pastor Glenn.”
“My comments?”
“Your concerns about some of the rumors circulating around in the church.”
“Oh …”
She sighs deeply. “Pastor Glenn suspected that you’d been talking to your friend Colleen McKinley.”
My cheeks grow warm. I should’ve known that he’d figure this out. Why was I so stupid?
She pats my arm. “Don’t worry, Ruth. Pastor Glenn doesn’t blame you for the rumors. He knows what’s going on. But he did want you to know that he’s got some concerns and that Colleen and Dennis have been having problems.”
“Problems?”
“Yes. I can’t divulge the nature of their problems, but I can tell you that it’s definitely impacting their walk with the Lord.”
I nod without saying anything.
“We’ve really been doing some spiritual warfare on behalf of their family. I’m sure that you will do the same.”
“Of course.” Now I feel guilty for not having spent much time with Colleen lately. “I had no idea they were having problems. I would’ve been praying for them all along.”
“Unfortunately, I must warn you to keep your distance from Colleen. You must be careful in your friendship with her, wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove. Colleen’s spiritual vision is probably impaired right now, and we wouldn’t want her to lead you astray.” She smiles. “Because Pastor Glenn
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