PROMISES KEPT
Alvaro's excitement was almost out of control. Tonight was the biggest night of the year. He was eleven years old, and a costumed member of a pack of “Trick or Treating” elves destined to invade Halloween night. With but an hour till deployment, Alvaro dressed as a bearded Hobo, was in his bedroom, standing over his bed, surveying his tools of chaos. Next to his distressed patched pillow case, able to hold massive amounts of loot, lay two piles of fake poo, one dose of fake vomit, and a black cat, with it's stuffing removed, covered in streaks of red paint. Alvaro was lock and loaded for the 7th grade night of all nights. This would be one for the history books for sure.
Alvaro was carefully placing his equipment in the Hobo Sack, face permanently affixed with a painted grin, when he heard his mother call from the foot of the stairs, “Alvaro, you have a phone call.” Alvaro knew the importance of this call:
Alvaro’s feet barely touched the carpeted surface of the stairs, as he flew downward laser fixed on the goal. The phone was laying on the kitchen table, Mom’s back in front on the sink registered her attention on “Mom Things.” Alvaro grasped the phone, took a deep breath, and prepared his most "just another phone call" voice and said, “Hello?”
It was Campbell. He was a relatively new guy to the gang. He was okay, possessing an incredible gift for gab, but there always seemed something desperate about him. Now it appears he had been promoted to spokesperson. “Alvaro, we are going to meet in 30 minutes but Phil cannot come.” Alvaro had introduced Phil to the gang that day at lunch and told them he was invited. Phil was a bit, no more than a bit immature, and from a family that gave him little attention. Alvaro had befriended him and defended him on a couple occasions. Phil was actually a good guy and there had been no outward objections to his presence at lunch. Alvaro responded, “I can’t do that to Phil, I gave him my word, we all did.” Stacy responded, “Then you can’t come either.”
Robotically, Alvaro hung up the phone filled with something dark that had never touched his soul before. He had no words, there was no focus, just a sense of nothing. Mom, awakened him, “Alvaro, what did your friend say?” Subdued, “He said Phil couldn’t come Trick or Treating with us, and if I insisted I couldn’t come either.” Alvaro turned his back on Mom and proceeded the mountainous climb to his bedroom. There he sought the embrace of his bed's comforter, and face down in his pillow he wept.
A knock on his bedroom door interrupted the flow of his sorrow; a super natural strength, spurring him to a sitting position on the edge of his bed. “Yes?” The door opened and silhouetted in the light of the doorway stood his father who paused and said, “Are you okay?” Alvaro poured out the conversation, all the while determined to keep weeping at bay. When he finished confession a weight was released, leaving his soul to a unstable vibrating peace. “Alvaro,” and he looked up toward Father’s face. Father continued, “I am very proud of you.” Alvaro responded, “Thank you Dad, I’ll be okay.” Dad responded, “Get up, get ready, and call Phil, you’ll miss Trick or Treating.” Dad turned, leaving the room and leaving the door wide open.
Alvaro and Phil went Trick or Treating. They got lots of loot and performed a couple harmless tricks. Although, on one occasion Alvaro had to prevent Phil from getting carried away. That night when Alvaro lay on his bed in the memory of all that happened, he was filled with a new experience that was more powerful and permanent than the new one that brought him tears. It was a presence of strength, direction, and personal satisfaction. His Father’s words, “I’m very proud of you,” was worth more than all the loot in the world.
Abram was chosen to receive the first great covenant of the Hebrew people. It contained a requirement; to trust God enough to leave the comfort of the status quo and go to a new land. It also contained a promise and God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. Abram was a man with God’s heart. He made mistakes but he kept his word.
Alvaro was carefully placing his equipment in the Hobo Sack, face permanently affixed with a painted grin, when he heard his mother call from the foot of the stairs, “Alvaro, you have a phone call.” Alvaro knew the importance of this call:
NEED TO KNOW DEPLOYMENT INSTRUCTIONS!!!
Alvaro’s feet barely touched the carpeted surface of the stairs, as he flew downward laser fixed on the goal. The phone was laying on the kitchen table, Mom’s back in front on the sink registered her attention on “Mom Things.” Alvaro grasped the phone, took a deep breath, and prepared his most "just another phone call" voice and said, “Hello?”
It was Campbell. He was a relatively new guy to the gang. He was okay, possessing an incredible gift for gab, but there always seemed something desperate about him. Now it appears he had been promoted to spokesperson. “Alvaro, we are going to meet in 30 minutes but Phil cannot come.” Alvaro had introduced Phil to the gang that day at lunch and told them he was invited. Phil was a bit, no more than a bit immature, and from a family that gave him little attention. Alvaro had befriended him and defended him on a couple occasions. Phil was actually a good guy and there had been no outward objections to his presence at lunch. Alvaro responded, “I can’t do that to Phil, I gave him my word, we all did.” Stacy responded, “Then you can’t come either.”
Robotically, Alvaro hung up the phone filled with something dark that had never touched his soul before. He had no words, there was no focus, just a sense of nothing. Mom, awakened him, “Alvaro, what did your friend say?” Subdued, “He said Phil couldn’t come Trick or Treating with us, and if I insisted I couldn’t come either.” Alvaro turned his back on Mom and proceeded the mountainous climb to his bedroom. There he sought the embrace of his bed's comforter, and face down in his pillow he wept.
A knock on his bedroom door interrupted the flow of his sorrow; a super natural strength, spurring him to a sitting position on the edge of his bed. “Yes?” The door opened and silhouetted in the light of the doorway stood his father who paused and said, “Are you okay?” Alvaro poured out the conversation, all the while determined to keep weeping at bay. When he finished confession a weight was released, leaving his soul to a unstable vibrating peace. “Alvaro,” and he looked up toward Father’s face. Father continued, “I am very proud of you.” Alvaro responded, “Thank you Dad, I’ll be okay.” Dad responded, “Get up, get ready, and call Phil, you’ll miss Trick or Treating.” Dad turned, leaving the room and leaving the door wide open.
Alvaro and Phil went Trick or Treating. They got lots of loot and performed a couple harmless tricks. Although, on one occasion Alvaro had to prevent Phil from getting carried away. That night when Alvaro lay on his bed in the memory of all that happened, he was filled with a new experience that was more powerful and permanent than the new one that brought him tears. It was a presence of strength, direction, and personal satisfaction. His Father’s words, “I’m very proud of you,” was worth more than all the loot in the world.
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12 1-3
Abram was chosen to receive the first great covenant of the Hebrew people. It contained a requirement; to trust God enough to leave the comfort of the status quo and go to a new land. It also contained a promise and God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. Abram was a man with God’s heart. He made mistakes but he kept his word.
As a parent of a 12 y/o, I found this to be a very powerful story. It's often difficult to stand and do the right thing in a current that prompts us to seek ease and comfort. I pray that I can do my part and know when to give that much needed reinforcement. Great word. I hope you're well.
ReplyDelete