K
Disclaimer:I really don't own these characters and the only thing anyone could get out of me would be my laundry quarters so there's no point in even trying. We all know who they belong to.
Jarod sat in the church quietly contemplating thepretend he had just finished. The principal of the church day school had been embezzling funds. The church was empty, it was 11am on a quiet Thursday morning. The priest of the church, a wonderful woman named Abigail came in and sat down quietly next to him. They sat in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thought.
"The board wanted me to ask you if you would replace Dr. Keulinger as principal of the school, but I told them that wouldn't be possible, that you had to move on."
"How did you know?"
"It's my job to know things about people that are not said."
Jarod turned and looked at her, "Have you always believed in God?"
Abby thought for a minute before answering. "Yes and no. I was raised in the church but I did go through a period where I questioned my beliefs."
"How did you finally come to your current beliefs?"
"It was a combination of things. Experience, guidance from others and mostly faith."
"I don't know what I believe. I wasn't raised in a church. I was raised to think about things very scientifically." He paused as he thought about how much he wanted to say. "I was stolen from my parents when I was a boy and raised like a lab rat, someone to be studied and experimented on. How could a god let something like that happen?"
"Everything happens for a reason." She paused. "You didn't have any other children your own age there?"
"There was one little girl, her father and mother worked there. We became friends, and a little boy who also lived there." He smiled as he thought about Miss Parker, Angelo, and himself as children, wandering over the Centre and exploring. "The little girl, Miss Parker, her mother died when she was ten and she was so sad. Her father never paid her much attention."
"Jarod, did you ever think that maybe God put you there to help her. Without you and without her mother, it sounds like she would have become a very lonely, bitter person. It sounds like you were her savior, and she was yours. Maybe God put the two of you there together for a reason, maybe you were meant to be together." She stopped and let him think about this for a few minutes. "You've helped a lot of people in the last few years Jarod. If you had lived a normal life with your parents, do you think you would have done all the things you have done to help others."
Jarod thought about that for a minute. "Wait, I didn't tell you about the people I've helped."
"I know. The Episcopal church has a national network and we pay attention to people who help others. I've heard a lot about you Jarod and I knew who you were when you got here. You have done so many wonderful things for so many people. If you ask any of them if they believe in God and miracles, they would probably say yes, at least in part because of how you helped them.
Jarod thought about that for a few minutes before getting up. "Thanks for your help. And good luck with everything."
"No, thank you Jarod, you've been such a help to us and to so many others. If you ever need anything, just ask. You're always welcome here."
"Thanks. Bye."
Jarod sat on the plane thinking about his conversation. She was right. But even if he had been normally he was sure he would be helping people somehow. But he wouldn't have met Parker. She has been a part of his life for so long that he can't imagine his life without her now. But if he had never met her in the first place, would he miss what he never had? He pulled out the airplane phone and dialed Sydney's number.
"This is Sydney."
"Do you believe in God?"
"I believe that there is a God in some way, maybe not an all knowing, all controlling God, but a God nonetheless, yes."
"I met a woman who thinks that everything has happened for a reason. That maybe there was a reason God chose to allow me to be kidnapped and raised the way I was."
"Do you believe her?"
"I don't know. My mind is so scientific that logically I keep looking for concrete evidence that a God of some sort exists and that without that, one doesn't. But, I've seen some things and experienced some things that make me question my mind."
"Believing in God does take a certain amount of faith."
"How much faith?"
"That's something you have to figure out on your own Jarod."
"Thanks Syd." Jarod replaced the phone and sat back.
