A toad and a boiled egg

  I bet the title of this helped you decide to read it. This is a simple story with no real purpose or meaning. Just a story about life, living, and loving.
  This last weekend didn't go at all according to the plans we had. Things began to change unexpectedly Friday evening. There has been snow and ice all week. School had been canceled until Thursday and it was delayed two hours the two days they did have it. I had to take my wife in to work and go pick her up afterwards. As I was going in to get her I saw my son-in-laws parents parked at the local emergency station. I went on up to get my wife and we came back to find out what was going on.
   To make a long story short the mother-in-law was sick enough to need some special attention. Nothing major, but still serious. Well we ended up with the grandchildren for the night. I wasn't planning for that, but I didn't mind it either. The night went pretty good until bedtime. That never goes well with grandchildren so even it wasn't too bad.
   In the middle of the night  or actually the wee hours of the morning a little blonde bug came squirming into our bed. The thunder snow and ice storm had apparently frightened her enough to bring her to us. We didn't mind having a little bug snuggle in between us... until that bug got warm. It seems that a queen sized bed doesn't have enough room for us and a little bug princess! It isn't very restful when you spend your time trying to stay on a bed and under the covers too!
   Thankfully the little princess slept well and was up with the sun, even if the clouds still had it hidden. After a little while we got up and went in to check on the pair. One was on the computer and one on the Ipad. Both of them were happy. I offered them pancakes, blueberry or chocolate chip, but had no takers. I later discovered that red velvet Oreo cookies make a perfect breakfast for hungry children when their grandparents are still asleep. My granddaughter decided to have lettuce for breakfast too. She had that and a glass full of shredded cheese. Now you ask what does all of this have to do with a toad and a boiled egg? Well it has everything to do with it and nothing at all to do with it.
   My wife was so tired she gave up and went back to bed, leaving me alone to deal with the grandchildren. I was tired, but I was in a comfy recliner and they were both happy. My grandson was still playing games and my granddaughter had started sweeping up the cheese that was now scattered over the floor. She likes to clean house. Well she tired of that and started trying to get Papa to wake up and play with her. She also noticed that Granny was gone. I told her the dog ate Granny, but she looked and the dog was outside, so she wouldn't buy that. She went in and informed Granny in a loud voice that the sun was up and it was time to get up. Granny ignored that lovely little bit of information.
  So she came back and started working on Papa again. She was poking at me with the broom to get my attention. I took it away from her and started poking back at her. She could easily get too far away from me to reach her, but she was cornered too. She couldn't get past my broom, especially not when her brother stuck his feet out behind the chair to block her path past him as he continued to play. I finally let her get past me and get the broom back. Then I grabbed it and we fought over it for a good while. Finally she stepped up close to me and with a determined look and a commanding tone of voice she raised one hand and pointed one finger at me with a magical wave and announced that she had turned me into a toad! I didn't even get to be a frog, so a kiss could save me. I was a toad!
   She yanked the broom away from the toad and mounted it to fly away. The toad asked her if she was flying in reverse since the broom was pointed the wrong way. She quickly corrected her broom and flew around the room for a moment. As she flew back into the living room she stopped for a moment and I saw an evil twinkle appear in her eyes. She had spotted her other antagonist still seated playing games on my computer. She quickly lowered her broom and with deadly precision flew it right into his exposed rear! The toad could only watch and laugh! luckily my daughter finally arrived to rescue us. I thought everything was safe and secure in my home once more. We laughed a lot about the toad that night.
   But you ask what about the boiled egg? Well the story goes on. Sunday morning I got up still exhausted and feeling much like a toad. I went into the kitchen and started to make my breakfast. I was making an omelet with sausage, onions, and shredded cheese. I started the sausage and onions cooking and then I tried to add the critical part to any omelet the eggs. I wasn't awake or functioning well yet. After three attempts, each more determined than the last, I discovered that you can't crack or scramble a boiled egg!
  Now while I would never attempt to scramble a boiled egg under normal circumstances, this morning was anything but normal. I mean seriously how many toads do you know that want an omelet for breakfast? Once I discovered the first boiled egg I wasn't so easily fooled by the second one in my box of fresh eggs. I did find two normal fresh eggs and I had my omelet. I was still rather rattled though. I did manage to figure out that a certain little witch had probably seen the boiled eggs I had sitting in the frig ready to use in a salad and decided to put them back in the egg box. Eggs do belong in the egg box after all! Especially when you are a little blonde witch who is OCD and a cleaning nut too!
  And now you have heard the tale of a toad and a boiled egg. This toad advises you to avoid trying to have scrambled eggs for a meal too soon after a witch has turned you into a toad. Have a cup of coffee first and make sure you  are ready to hop out and face the world before you end up with egg on your face. Rib-it, Rib-it says the toad!

Faith and prayers

These last few months I haven't been doing enough. I have been struggling to just get up and start the new day in the mornings. That has to change if I want to change my life. I need to lose weight and to change my attitude. I know that I can do the diets, I have done it before and I did feel better. My attitude is a little tougher to deal with. I just let myself become very discouraged because of other things in my life that I couldn't change or control. I am going to be praying and working to remind myself that I am not responsible for anything or anyone beyond my own control. All I can do is live my life the best way I can and live it to please God. Beyond that I can do little to change the world around me.

   It is very easy to let the world around you affect the person inside you. That always happens, but it isn't too bad, if you remember that God is the only one that matters in the end. If we please God then the world doesn't matter and if we don't please God the world won't matter in the end. I seem to forget that too often for my own good. I am still struggling to find the words to pray, but I am trying to make myself open my heart up and pray from it to the Lord. There are so many things in the world that bother me and so many things in my own life that trouble me even more. I don't know where to start or what to say. I feel like I am whining when I should be doing, but I don't know what or how to do what needs to be done. I don't even know what to ask for; much less what to do!

   I just know that the Lord is trying to reach me. He has the answers I need even if I don't know the questions yet. I am trying very hard to listen and truly understand, but that isn't easy to do when you feel lost and alone. I know I am not alone and never truly will be, but it sure feels lonely around here sometimes. Prayer is the first step and the first answer for me. I know that I must pray and from the heart before I can take another step or find more answers. I just don't know how to pray for something I don't even understand. I guess that is where I have to depend on the other answer I have for all of my questions... faith. Faith that God has the answers waiting for me when I am ready to hear them.

Thoughts and prayers for the day

  I started a new week today. I am still struggling to find my focus and hold onto it. I want to blame the weather, my health, and the world in general for my problems with finding my focus. The truth is that I am still the root of the problem. I simply don't want to put the effort into my life that I must have if I am to get beyond this. I know what I need to do. I just don't want to do it. I want something easy instead. What I need to do is simple, but it isn't easy. I think I gain ground and then I slip back. It is hard to stay focused and keep moving forward when you feel like you are constantly losing ground.

  I know in my heart that until I fully yield to the Lord in all aspects of my life I can't gain any ground. I have struggled all of my life with that issue. It isn't that I don't believe, I just don't have that absolute kind of faith that I should have. It is easy to say you believe, but it is very hard to actually find the faith. It shouldn't be that hard. I know in my heart that there is an unlimited supply available for me to use, but I am afraid of using it. As I am writing this I know that I must let go of that fear. I must face my fears of this world and conquer them; to do that I must overcome my own doubts. I must truly have faith that I can do what I need to do and faith that I will know what I need to do.

   I am very grateful that the Lord is so kind and loving. I am truly amazed that He will work so long and so hard to help me when I am too lazy and frightened to do even the smallest of things. I am given opportunities to serve Him every day. I am shown how good that service makes me feel and yet I still resist, because of my fear of failing. I fail, because I fear failing. There was a time when I didn't have that issue as bad, or maybe I just wouldn't face it. Now I know what my problem is, I just don't want to deal with it. I can deal with my fears, but not alone. I must have the Lord to help me and that is the problem.

   I know I need to pray more and open my heart more, but that is very hard for me to do. Prayer is the most important thing in our life and it is the weakest part of mine. I make lots of excuses for that weakness, but there is no excuse for it. The Lord loves me in spite of my weakness and fear. The Lord wants me to kneel before Him in sincere prayer, but I fear that. I fear it for many reasons. It is hard to pray when you are afraid. Monday was a long day for me. I struggled against doing what I needed to do all day. I am writing this a day late, as I usually do. I plan to make a stronger effort to do what I need to do today instead of fighting against it.

   I am going to try and open my heart up and pray to the Lord. There are many people who need my prayers, including me. I often feel guilty about praying for myself, but I need the Lord's help and the only way I can receive that help is to ask Him for it. Today I will ask. I don't think this will be a productive day as far as the world sees it, but I am hopeful that it will be a great day for my spirit. The Lord has opened my ears this morning and I have shared what I have heard. Now I just have to find that seed of faith He has given me and pray for rain to make it grow again. It has been a long dry spell for my spirit and it is time for me to pray for rain. I want to spend today walking in faith while the Lord rains down His spirit upon me. I want to be washed clean again and begin growing my faith again. Please Lord wash me clean and help me grow. In your Holy name I pray.

Hope you enjoyed teh book

  That was the end of the second book in this series of books. I am still uncertain if I will post the next book online or not. I am working at sevral things and haven't been writing much lately. I hope some of you have enjoyed the books. I will be posting a few things along until I decide what to do next. Thanks again for you time and interest.

Epilogue

           Epilogue

   James Andrew Cooper had stepped forward and accepted the job of bringing his nation back from the edge of destruction. He had spent all of his adult life serving and defending his nation as an officer in the United States Air Force. He had distinguished himself during that career and proven himself to be a man of honor. He had faced many difficult missions and made many difficult decisions during that time. He had often been forced to give up time with his family in order to answer the call of his duty. Many times he had doubts and even fears about what the future might hold in store for him, but despite those doubts and fears he had always stepped forward to faithfully do his duty with both honor and courage. During the last few years James had sometimes questioned his own abilities and even the path he was following. But James had never questioned the abilities of his God or any path once he was certain God had put it before him.

   James faith in the one and only true God has recently carried him through some of the most violent and difficult times his nation and the world have ever seen. It has taken him to the end of the path he has been following for so long. His faith has sustained him and guided him along that path as he has followed the Lord along it. His faith was the foundation upon which he stood throughout all the difficult times and difficult decisions he has faced in his life. It was his faith that enabled him to do what many said he couldn't do. Many people saw one man doing what others couldn't do, but they didn't understand that James was never actually working alone. God was always there with him; working through James to reach out to a world in need of God. Many had failed to see or accept that it was one man working for the good of all, but only his faith in the one true God had made everything that one man had done possible. His faith in God and God's own faithfulness to His Word had been what made the difference.

    Now James has come to the end of his journey as an Air Force officer. He can no longer continue to serve his nation as an Air Force officer; not unless he is willing to abandon his faith and the people of his nation along with it. Unwilling to abandon the people of his nation or the faith that has sustained him all the way from his humble beginnings to his current position of power; James has made the choice to leave his career behind. James has given up his own power and put his trust in the power of God alone. This part of the journey has come to an end for James, but his journey isn't over yet. Others have now challenged James to step forward to serve his nation in another way; to walk a new path. Once more James is faced with a decision that will alter his future life and may alter the future of his nation along the way. Once more he must look to God for guidance and wisdom about what path he should take and who he will serve by taking that path.

    His nation is still in trouble and needs someone to lead it back onto a path that won't end in destruction. Many of the current leaders want to once again start the nation down the same path that brought it to the crisis it has just faced. James knows that is the wrong path, but without a new leader to change the course of things; James knows it will be the path that is taken. Many people have seen James as he was leading them out of the chaos that had consumed the nation. They are the ones who have challenged him to step forward and become the new leader; a leader who will take his nation down a different path; a leader to take them down a path that leads out of the chaos of broken promises of government and back to the certain promises of God. Those promises from God were the very foundations upon which this nation was originally built and to which it must return.

    James knows in his heart that only a path that leads back towards God can save his nation from the disasters that men have made. This has been a long and difficult journey for James; and a long and painful fall for his nation to reach this time and place. Now James has made one decision about his own faith and own personal future. But that decision has brought him face to face with another, much greater decision, one that he must soon make. James could simply step back to wait and watch what happens or he could once more step forward to make something happen. He has been called by many good people to step forward and become the leader his nation so desperately needs, but should he do that? Is that the path God wants James to follow now? Has God brought James all this way only to have him step aside or had God been working to put James in this place to become a new leader for his nation in this time of trouble? Was God now calling James to be the leader who would turn his people back to God? A leader who would try to rebuild his nation upon a foundation of faith in God? 

   James had many questions and many doubts, but somehow he wasn't afraid. He knew that he was just a man. However he also knew that there truly was one God, the God he served. Men had forgotten that over the years of plenty in their lives. They had begun serving false gods, gods of their own making, but now James knew that only the one true God could help them. The people were looking for someone; some man to save them. But James knew that no man, no matter how great a leader he was, could do that, not alone. Only with the help of the loving and saving grace of God could any man hope to save this nation. The people of his nation were ready to follow any man who could give them hope for a better future, but would the people of this nation follow that man if he tried to lead them and the nation back to God? Would they follow a leader down a long and difficult path leading back to God and a new secure future? Or would they take the short and easy path leading away from God and back towards their lost dreams of fortune and fame?

   James had asked God all of those questions over and over again. Could James be the leader the nation needed? Did God truly want James to be the leader of this nation? If James became that leader would the people follow him and more importantly would they follow God? Unless they truly began to follow God and not just a man, even a man who followed God, it would mean little in the end. James was just one man and the people needed more than that. The people needed one God. The people needed the one true God! Only God knew the answers to all of the questions men had.

    James knew that only when God was ready and the time was right would those answers be revealed to men. Until then James would just have to hold firmly onto his faith and wait... but would the people of his nation wait with him? Would they wait for God?

Monday on the farm

  

   This is an entry from my daily journal. I am posting it a couple of days late, but I have been too busy to find the time to do it until this morning. I hope this will remind others to be grateful for all of their daily blessings... even when the day seems to be going bad you can still find some reason to thank the LORD. 

   GOD never promised us life would always be easy; GOD only promised us HE would never leave us. If we take the time and look for HIM our days will be brighter and our life will be more joyful... even when life is going wrong GOD can brighten your day if you will allow it to happen by looking for HIM!

January 19, 2015

   Well I haven't been writing in my daily journal for a few days. I just couldn't find any reason or desire to write. The end of the week was just about as productive as the start of the week had been for me, so I just had nothing worth writing. I did enjoy a nice weekend though. The weather has finally warmed up, but the clouds hung around a lot longer than I wanted them. Today was absolutely perfect. It was about 70 degrees with no wind and it was sunny too. I had made plans for a big day to start my week, but it wasn't looking good when I got up. It was cloudy and I was very down about that. I needed to see some sunshine. The sun finally did come out and my day improved drastically.

  My plan for Monday was to work the cattle and I did that after the sun came out. The cows all came in and only one refused to go into the lot. Brindle can be a bit stubborn about that and she was in that mood today. That was fine for me though. I didn't need to work her today, so I was satisfied with what I got up. The cows actually worked very well. I messed up on a few of the ear tags. I got them tagged, but I think I missed the numbers a few times. The cattle were all very calm and easy to handle. I know some of them more by the way they act than the way they look and they all acted the same today! Once I got all of the cows worked and the calves I wanted to wean sorted out I loaded them up and moved them. They loaded up easy too.

   I dropped them off and got ready to load the big heifers and the bull I needed to move. That was when things started to get interesting. These are all among my youngest cattle and they haven't been loaded or worked very much. It started off fine. They all went into the trailer, but the bull stopped near the front and they didn't have room to get all of them in. I finally let them all out and tried again. This time the bull refused to let any of them in the trailer at all! I always move the bulls alone and he didn't want any company! I just gave up and just hauled him down to put in the lot until I got back with the heifers. I went back and tried to load the heifers. That was when everything fell apart. The heifers balked about loading and there were too many for me to be able to reach the gate and start closing it and force them in.  I finally got them started and was trying to get the gate swung around when one of them went nuts and started bucking and kicking at the gate. She knocked it out of my hands and it hit me in the face. My nose was pouring blood and my eyes were watering, but I got three in the trailer. I shut them in the front and tried to load the last three. After several tries one of the heifers earned a ride to the sale in the morning. She was fighting at me and acting completely crazy, so I just left her there. I put the last two in the back of the trailer and went on down with them. Once I had them at the other place I ran them all in the chute and worked them along with the bull. They weren't happy about it, but they were fairly calm and it wasn't too bad. When I was done with them I put out hay and called it a day. I will take the other heifer  to the sale in the morning. Sis was with me when I got hit and thinks my nose is broke. I don't think it is, but I will have a black eye.

  In spite of all of that I had a very good day. I will be a bit stiff and sore in the morning. A calf kicked my right arm and hand. My nose and eye will look bad tomorrow, but I am happy. I got all the cattle worked and sorted out. Even more important; I am still smiling and happy. I didn't ever completely lose my temper either. Oh I got mad when I got hurt, but I never lost my temper. It was mostly my fault anyway. Keeping control of my temper is a good thing for me. The Lord answered my prayers for help and strength today. This could have been a terrible day, but thanks to my Lord it was a great day. I may get up stiff and sore, but I intend to get up with a smile and praise my Lord. Thanks for the great day Lord, see you again in the morning! 

Chapter Eight - part eleven

    James spent his time well. The press conference would be held at noon. The word was out about a conflict within the command structure of the operations and the press had been asking lots of questions. This would be the first time they had been able to speak directly with James since that rumor had started. James went directly to his command center in D.C. to speak to the people there. Once he had things settled with them; he quietly turned over command to General Hodges. That was to be effective immediately at the conclusion of the press conference. The press conference was the next issue he had to deal with. They had somehow gotten word about the meeting with the President this morning and they wanted to know what was going on. The normal room for it was already overflowing. James thought for only a short time before he made a decision to move it outside. He would hold it in the area open to the public near the 9/11 memorial to reduce the problem with clearances for everyone that suddenly wanted to be there. Everything he said would be broadcast live on national news, so there was no point in dealing with those problems or to limit access. The world would know everything within minutes anyway.

   That decision had only served to fire up the interest from the press. That wasn't a bad thing in James opinion. He wanted to do this up front and in the open for all to see and hear. If the press thought he was trying to hide anything he would never be free of them. It was going to be bad enough for the next few days without making it worse by trying to keep it quiet. The time rolled around and James walked out to give his normal briefing. When the press tried to ask questions he silenced them quickly. He informed them that regardless of what they might have heard he would first give them his full report as usual; then and only then would they be allowed to ask questions. He also gave them his word that he would answer any and all pertinent questions at that time. The press fell silent and listened as James began his report. By the time James had finished there was a considerable crowd of onlookers in addition to the press. Many were Pentagon personnel who had heard the rumors too, but some were just people who happened to be in the area. James looked out across the still growing crowd and taking a deep breath prepared to face them after he broke the news of his resignation to them.

   "Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the normal portion of my monthly briefing on the status of operations to restore control and order in the United States. Now I know that you are not all here just because I give such exciting briefings." That brought a lot of smiles and chuckles. James was smiling as he continued. "I am well aware of the rumors that have been flying. Being a fighter pilot, I will now do my best to shoot all of the false rumors down and leave you with only the truth." That brought even more laughter and smiles. "Please hold any questions or comments until I have done that and then I will, as promised, answer all reasonable questions that I have answers for." James stopped and looked around the crowd before he continued.

    "There have been major disagreements and debates about the command of this operation, or more to the point; debates about the goals of this command and whether or not those goals have been reached yet. I won't now or later go into the details of those debates, so don't ask me to. The simple truth is that I alone have reached a decision about my own personal goals. This is my decision and I alone take full responsibility for it. This morning I informed the President that I can no longer continue to serve as commander of these operations." The press had stopped smiling and were all concentrating on him and what he was saying now. "I tendered my resignation at that time and he agreed to accept it on the conditions that I select my successor and inform you of my decision. I have now met both of those reasonable conditions. I have already transferred command to General Hodges to be effective immediately at the end of this press conference. Before any of you ask. The reason for my decision is very personal and very simple. I will share some of it with all of you though. I took an oath to serve when I became an officer. I feel that I can no longer continue to serve my duties as an officer under that oath while also serving my duty to God. I have made the decision to serve my God first and so I have resigned my commission. I ask you to show respect for both my faith and my decision. Now I will answer your questions."

   James had expected an explosion of activity and questions, but what he got was stunned silence. The press people seemed to be shocked by his announcement. They were all looking at him or looking around as if they didn't know what they should do. Before any of them could say anything a woman from the crowd raised her hand and called out. James acknowledged her and waited for her to speak. All eyes were on her as she stepped forward. As she did James began to smile. He knew her. It was Candy. She smiled and spoke once she was close enough that she wouldn't have to shout. "Hello James, it has been a long time since I last saw you. You haven't really changed at all though. You are still the Ironman I wrote about. Nothing shakes you. But you shake the world. My question is simple. What will you do now?" James laughed and shrugged as he answered her. "I don't know! That is up to God."

    After that a lot of questions started to be asked. The press weren't alone in asking them though. People from the crowd spoke up too. Most of their questions were about what was going to happen to them now under a new command. James explained that nothing should really change. It was his hope that the people would continue to work together towards rebuilding their nation. He remained positive that they could do that. He told them that he was just a man and they didn't really need him. That one statement disrupted everything in an instant. Actually it was the response of one woman to the statement that changed things. James had no idea who she was or why she was there. All he knew was that she started to change everything for him with her words. She spoke out from back in the crowd, but the crowd opened up around her as she spoke.

    She was almost screaming when she began. "I don't believe that! You are more than that! You have given me hope! You have given me something to believe in! The government didn't do that! You did that! Candy was right! You are my Ironman!. You gave us strength and you carried us out of the chaos! You did that! Not the government or the military...you! You can't just quit! Not now! We still need you!" She lowered her voice as she continued. "You know what is wrong and you know what we need to do to fix it. You have brought us so far already. Please don't abandon us now. I need to know that someone is leading us that I can trust. I need to know that you are still there for us. Please don't just walk away from your duty to us. I know you have a duty to God, but doesn't that mean you have a duty to us too? Aren't we all God's children? How can you walk away from us when we need you the most?"

  Tears were filling James eyes as she spoke. When she was done she had barely been whispering, not everyone could still hear her words, but James could. He was standing directly in front of her when she was done. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and spoke softly to her as tears streamed down her face. "I haven't abandoned you. I will do all that I can to continue helping everyone that is in need of help. But you must understand that I can't do anything that will matter if I don't first serve God. You are still looking for a man to lead you; a man who can save you. I am not that man, no man is. Only God can truly save you! I promise you that God hasn't abandoned you either. God is right here, right now! God is ready to lift you and carry you to safety, but you must look to God not to a man. I follow God. That is why I must walk a new and different path now. Please believe me. You and the people of this nation don't need me... you need God!"

    The woman had listened and cried until he was finished. Then she had wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug for a moment, before letting go and simply walking away with two small children at her side. James and everyone else watched her walking away. Then James looked around a moment before he spoke again. "I think we are done here. I don't know what I am going to do, but I do know I won't just walk away from my duty to all of you. I couldn't do that and remain faithful to God.  I ask you all to let me go my way in peace for now. Trust in God and it will all work out for the best. You still have great people to guide you. You don't need me." James slowly began to walk back towards the Pentagon. The crowd and the press silently parted for him as he walked. There were still tears in his eyes, but there were tears in many eyes now. There were people with tears streaming down their cheeks as they silently watched the man who had done so much for his nation walking away with tears streaming down his cheeks. It was the silence, not the tears that shocked James though. It was the complete and total silence that had enveloped the entire scene. Nobody spoke, he wasn't even sure they were breathing. They just moved apart and let him pass silently by. They looked lost and alone. James felt like he was abandoning them, but he still walked towards the door. James walked towards the door, because he knew it was the right choice for him; it was God's choice for him.

   James had thought it was over, but he was wrong. A voice he knew well spoke out loud and clear from across the crowd. He turned to see Sabella standing at the podium he had left only moments before. She repeated her statement again as he looked at her. "I said, we don't need great people to guide us... we need you!" She just looked at him for a long minute before she spoke further. "I have known you since you began the journey that brought you here; to this place and this very moment. I have seen you do things that to this day I find hard to believe. You are absolutely right. We do have great people trying to help us. But we need more than that. You said that yourself. I know that you will say that what we need is God not you." Now she turned red and hesitated before she went on. "You know that I didn't want to believe in God. I still don't want to, but I do believe. I believe enough to be willing to start looking to God for answers. You brought me to this place, but not just to follow you! You have shown me that there must be a God. God must walk with you, because I know that you couldn't have done all you have done without the help of God." Her tone of voice became almost pleading. "James, I know that you are just a man. I also know that what we need is God and not a man. But I know that what we have right now. We have you!" James shook his head slowly as he walked back to the podium. Sabella waited with tears in her eyes for him to get there. Once he was there he shook his head again and spoke softly. "Do you know what you are asking? Do you know what you may have done?"

    Sabella smiled as she went on again. "I do know! James we do need you! We need you to show us the way back. We need you to show us how to find and follow God again. That woman was right! You can't just walk away, not now! God has put you here! You have to follow God, but you have to lead us back to God with you. Any great man could lead us right now, but only a man of great faith can lead us where we need to go. You have that great faith! James, you are that man! I am begging you! Become the leader this nation must have! You have restored order and control. You have restored water and power systems. Now restore our faith along with our future!" James just stood there looking at her. He had forgotten everyone and everything except for her and her words.

   After a moment he closed his eyes and slowly knelt down in front of everyone. Then he began to pray. "Oh Father in heaven, what am I going to do? I thought I had this all worked out. I thought I had it taken care of. Now I have no idea of what I should do. Forgive me for my pride and boldness; for thinking that I knew what to do. I am not worthy to be here. I am not worthy to do what this woman asks of me. I can't do that. Only you can restore our faith and lead us into future you have planned for us. I am just a man. I am weak and unwise. I don't know what I can do or should do. Father I ask you to guide and direct me in the days ahead. I ask you to bless those who have done so much to help me. I ask you to bless the people of this nation. We have all suffered much, but I know that you have a plan for all of us. Show us that plan Father. Show us the way we should go. I am lost just as the people lost, but we are not alone. Show us the way Father. Help us find our way back to you. In the name of my Lord, Jesus I ask these things." James heard a low but definite 'Amen' from the crowd around him.

    James slowly got to his feet and tried to smile at the people. Then he simply turned and walked back into the Pentagon. The press and crowd were silent once more. James doubted that any of them were ready to talk right now. They all had too much to think about. Just seeing a man kneel and pray was enough to shake many of them. The man who had been in command of the much of the military doing that and in front of the Pentagon had to have shaken them as much or more than James had been shaken by what had just happened to him. He had no idea yet of what God wanted him to do or even of what he wanted to do himself. James only knew that he was done here. It was time for him to go home. It was time for him to pray and to wait. When God was ready; James would know the way he should go. He would see the sun rising and the darkness fleeing. He would see the path God was preparing for him now. Until then he would wait. He would wait and he would pray.