Chapter XLV: 

Motives 

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      After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  ~John 13:5

     "You don't think it's the alternator?" Alex asked about the noise coming from under the hood of his truck.  It was Thursday, early evening, and Alex had called Reuben for a second opinion.

     "No. I say it's the compressor, but we'll wait to see what Jimmy has to say.  This is his department." 

     They had both agreed it was one or the other, but neither one was sure which one it was and in turn, Reuben had called Jim.

     "Well I appreciate your input anyway.  I hope I'm not keeping you from anything at home," Alex said apologetically.  "I could have called Jim myself."

     "Are you kidding?  Bro, when you called I was looking for any excuse to leave the house.  Tonight Maria and the girls have a get together at our place."

     "And that's a bad thing?"  Alex asked.

     "For me yea,"  Reuben declared without hesitation.  "Picture five women sitting in your living room discussing pms, menapause, and men for the night...the whole night bro."  His arms were beginning to join in on the conversation, generally a sign that a wild story full of special effects was around the corner and Alex was grinning at the anticipation of what this one would hold.  

     "I'm serious," Reuben continued, "I don't want them filling Maria's head with a bunch of that women's lib mumbo jumbo.  Nowadays women are all about equal rights and as you know I'm all for liberation and equality but not when it means abandoning their responsibilities at home.  A woman should be attending to the needs of her family."

     "Spoken like a real hombre," Alex mocked teasingly.  "I don't think you have to worry about Maria.  She's not easily influenced by others.  Are you sure you're not more worried about yourself rather than Maria?"

     Reuben flashed him one of his "duh" looks before saying, "Of course I'm worried about me, it's challenging enough trying to keep her on a leash."

     Alex couldn't help but chuckle before stating, "Reuben, she's your wife not the family pet."

     "Well I know that, I'm just saying...if it isn't broke don't mess with it."

     "You got a point, although I still think you're all talk Reuben.  You love every minute of it and it gives you more material for your wild stories."  Alex jabbed him on the shoulder before continuing,  "You really think that's all they talk about in those meetings?" 

     "Every time I pass them that's all I hear.  Sometimes they get real quiet when I walk by and I can feel their eyes on me as if I was the enemy."

     "Oh, I can't see Maria putting up with that," Alex commented in disbelief.  "That may be in your head."

     "I know Maria loves me but you gotta hear these women bro...one time I was on my way to the kitchen to see what Maria cooked up for the ocassion when one hollered at me.  She wanted a man's opinion on this fight she had with her husband.  So, being the good sport that I am I went over there, grabbed a seat, and volunteered my services.  Boy, what a mistake that ended up being.  She kept going on, and on, and on, about what a loser he was.  It was apparent she was oblivious about the effect her nagging has on the nerves, and talk about ungrateful.  I then took the opportunity to share my two cents with her, and then some." 

     "Really?  And how did that got?"

     "Maria interrupted me with something about checking on the kids.  I was not happy about that.  Bro, I felt dissed by my own wife.  I mean it wasn't like I came barging in on the conversation.  I was minding my own business when I was invited in and asked to share my opinion, but I swallowed my pride, got up, and left.  I tried to forget about it but all night I felt it eating away at me.  You know what I mean?"

     "Sure.  You didn't go to bed angry at her, did you?"  

     Reuben nodded yes, "I just didn't think I could talk to Maria about it reasonably, at least not then, but I was praying.  Well, when Maria came to bed she brings up Daisy's situation, that's her name, Daisy.  The thing was she saw the same thing I saw. So I finally cut in and told her that I saw the same thing and was trying to address it until she interrupted me."  

     'What did she say?"

     "She said I needed to clean up."

     "What does that have to do with it?"  Alex asked puzzled. 

     "Exactly, I asked her the same thing.  So she tells me my message was tainted with ill feelings and ulterior motives."

     At that Alex flashed him a huge, appreciative grin.  "Ill feelings, ulterior motives, and ministering don't make good bedfellows.  And was she right?"

     Reuben shrugged in response, "As you know, not too much gets pass Maria.  She said I had some good things to share but I also have some issues with the role of women in a home that are more cultural rather than biblical.  That I need to work on my issues and motives before I work on theirs...that two wrongs don't make a right."

     Alex nodded appreciatively.  "So how's that coming along."

     "You tell me?"  The question was another "duh" moment.  Reuben had asked knowing full well he still needed work, and that it should be apparent to Alex. 

     "Got it," came Alex's reply. "Sounds like there are fears that need to go too."  Then with a pat on Reuben's back he added, "Hey, you know the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem."

     "Thank you doctor Phil," Reuben mocked.  They then heard Jim pulling up. 

Part XLVI:  Bilingual Lessons