Part XVIII:

Growing Pains

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     You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ~Galatians 5:13-15

     As Alex drove back to Christian Stepfordville his thoughts were on Sarah and their recent conversation. He thought she looked like a curious puppy that had ventured away from the comfort and protection of home to explore the world and in the process found itself lost and confused. Alex knew his invitation went beyond personal interest in her. She had a real gift for seeing into the spiritual realm and what she had shared was already of indispensable value. She could be a wonderful benefit to their whole community, and likewise he saw wonderful benefits for her too. His first intention was to be of service to her and he did not intend to let his personal interests and insecurities get in the way of that.

     Through fellowship with the Lord and his recent conversation with Reuben he felt really good about the situation now. He was going to just let things unfold and take them as they came. That's how he tried to live his life, until the past overshadowed his hope in Christ. Alex did realize he wasn’t helping the situation by filtering his future through his past. That only blindsided him to the Lord's blessings for him and all. Yes, Alex felt hopeful about the future once again. It still held concerns and grievances in the dating department, but he no longer felt the need to wrestle with his wish to remain single and his growing interest in Sarah. Now back on track his concerns were overshadowed by the needs of others. He knew his Heavenly Father would take care of his personal life as he went about His business equipped with Jesus' Heart. This dance he knew, and if it led to a dance with Sarah, he was ready to dance.

     After stopping home to pick up the cake he had baked and left cooling on a rack, Alex then drove across the street into Reuben's neighborhood where he saw Bill talking with a few of the residents. 

     Knowing the tension and differences that existed between both neighborhoods, Alex sensed trouble and thought of dropping in, but he knew that Bill may be set in his ways yet he wouldn’t remain engaged in a heated conversation, for good, and not good reasons.

     "Hey Alex," Reuben Junior greeted him at the door.

     Alex gave him a pat on the back, "Junior, what’s up?"  

     “Been waiting on you. Mom and dad said I can’t go out until you showed.”

     “Well it’s nice to see you too,” he lightly tossed back. He knew Junior was in those transitional teen years where looking to make connections with peers can take priority over family gatherings.

     Junior thought about how he had greeted Alex and quickly added, “Oh no man, it’s not like that. Just my friends are waiting on me.” He then leaned in and whispered, “I met a girl.”

     Alex gave him an understanding nod before leaning in and whispering back, “I met a girl too.”

     Junior looked surprised, then happy that they shared something in common. After a moment Alex leaned in again and asked, “Why are we whispering? Do your parents know?"

     Junior shot him a distressed look. “Are you kidding me. As much as dad and the rest of the neighborhood talk about the importance of liberty and thinking for ourselves it doesn’t seem to apply to me.”

     “That’s because he loves you Junior. Be patient with him and try to see things from his side…you should tell him. Your dad is more understanding than you give him credit for. After all, he was your age once too."

     “It goes both ways Alex," there was unmistakable anger in his tone. "He treats me like a child, I'm almost 17. Shouldn't I be allowed to exercise my freedom? I have rights too you know.”

     It was a dialogue Alex knew all too well. It resounded all over Reuben’s neighborhood.

     “Junior, do you really want to go over this now?” 

     “No,” came his hushed reply.

     “We’ll talk some more soon ok, but for now think about what I said.”

     Junior nodded in silent agreement.

     “Alex!” Maria came out of the family room with their youngest Danny in her arms and the rest of the kids running ahead of her.

     “Alex!” they yelled in excitement and gave him a group hug as all arms wrapped around his legs and waist.

     Alex pretended he was about to fall. “Whoa, it's good to see you too.”

     After letting the kids enjoy the moment Maria then said, “Ok kids, let Alex breath.” They giggled and dropped on the couch while Maria greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. "It's been awhile Alex, you don't come over here enough," she chided.

     “I’ve been working Maria but I’m here now,” he explained apologetically as he gave her a hug.

     “You work too hard,” she said disapprovingly.

     Danny leaned forward in her arms and with his arms outstretched called out, "Alex."

     Taking him from Maria's arms Alex enthusiastically greeted the boy. “Danny, look at you, you're getting so big.” Then pretending Danny’s weight was too much for him to bear he swung him down in his arms before quickly lifting him up again.

     Danny squealed in excitement, then yelled, “Do it again! Do it again!!”

     “Later Danny,” Maria said as she took him from Alex's arms and sat him with the rest of the children. "You kids ate already but Mommy, Daddy, and Alex are going to eat now.” She then informed Alex, “I made your favorite dish.”

     “I know. Reuben said you would. You know I cannot resist your cooking Maria. You're a wonderful cook.”

     At that she laughed in delight before glancing at the covered dish he was holding, “Is that what I think it is?”

     “Sure is, your favorite, fruit cake.”

     “Bueno! Come, bring it into the kitchen and we’ll set it on the counter for later," then barely able to contain her excitement she continued with a change of subject, "Reuben told me you met a girl you really like...” 

     As they entered the kitchen they found Reuben hovering over a pot on the stove with a spoonful of beef stew just entering his mouth.

     “Reuben!” Maria yelled, “Leave it alone. Alex is here and we are going to eat now.” She then looked back at Alex before saying in exasperation, "You would think the man never ate.”

     Clearly startled at the reproof Reuben looked like the cat that ate the canary. He took a moment to chew and swallow the mouthful before exclaiming, “Alex, it’s about time. I’m starving here!” Then glancing down at the covered dish and taking it from Alex’s hands he asked hopefully, “Fruit cake?”

     Alex nodded and Maria quickly interjected, “For later Reuben, later. Put it on the counter and leave it alone.” She then turned back to Alex, “He’s like a kid sometimes.”

     Alex chuckled and apologized for being a few minutes late.

     “No problem Alex, I just cannot resist Maria's cooking and she wouldn't let me touch a bite until you got here.” Leaning over he gave Maria a kiss on the cheek. “It's your fault Maria. If you weren’t such a wonderful cook I wouldn’t get so impatient.”

     “He’s such a smooth talker…” she said before adding sheepishly, “and it usually works.”

     Reuben laughed and kissed her on the cheek again, “Maria, it works because it’s the truth.”

     “Ok Reuben,” Maria reproved while shrugging him off, “Alex didn’t come here for that and we’re not teenagers anymore.”

     Meanwhile, Reuben mouthed behind her back, “She loves it.”

     Alex was trying with difficulty to suppress his laughter. He loved this lighthearted banter that generally took place between Reuben and Maria and regretted that he hadn't come by sooner.

     Afterwards Maria served them dinner and they said grace. She then immediately began to question Alex about Sarah. “Alex, tell me, who is this woman? Where did you meet her? Is she…"

     “Maria,” Reuben interrupted, “The man hasn’t even had a bite to eat yet and you're already giving him the third degree.”

     “What?!” she exclaimed innocently, “I just want to know who she is.”

     “It’s ok Reuben,” Alex reassured him. "Her name is Sarah Hart. I met her Saturday as I was on my way home from the park...”

     “He almost ran her over with his truck,” Reuben quickly interjected.

     “Dios mio!” Maria exclaimed while raising a hand to her heart. “What happened? She ok yes?”

     “Thank you Reuben,” Alex shot back. “Would you like to tell the story?”

     Reuben feigned innocence, “No bro, you go right ahead. I like to hear your version of it.”

     “Maria, no te preocupes, she's fine. The Lord was there and stepped in for the both of us.”

     After crossing herself Maria exclaimed in great relief, “Gloria a Dios!”

     Alex and Reuben then said in unison, “Amen.”

     Just then Junior walked into the kitchen. “Can I go out now?” he asked impatiently.

     “Si Junior, but make sure you put on your jacket. It’s starting to get chilly out there and I don't want you catching a cold.” 

     Reuben then added, “And be home by 8:30. You go to school tomorrow, I go to work, and I don’t want to have to come looking for you this time.”

     “But dad…” Junior whined.

     “No 'but' Junior. We’ve been over this before. On occasion and with our permission it is fine but it was becoming a habit with you.”

     “Fine!” he exclaimed before leaving in a mood.

     “Teenagers,” Reuben grieved. "I tell you if I tried those things when I was that age my dad would have smacked me upside the head...and I love my parents. Sometimes I wonder if we are too lenient.”

     “This is true,” Maria added. “We came from another generation and Latino at that…at that age they think they know everything, as if we haven't lived. He's a good boy though, although he takes after his father in his adventurous spirit. I tell Reuben he needs to be more patient with him.”

     Alex gave them an understanding nod, “Is it fine with the both of you if I tried talking to him?“

     “Have at it,” Reuben replied without hesitation. “I’ve seen him a few times hanging out with Jimmy and his homies and I don’t want him being influenced by them…although I suspect it has already begun. Maybe if he hears it from others beside Maria and I but all he hears on this side is the call for ‘personal rights and liberty’ without also addressing the need to take others into consideration. It’s true, I once thought the same but not anymore and with children of my own I see it even more clearly now. Don’t you agree Maria?”

     “Absolutely. Alex, the Lord has gifted you with much wisdom. We’ll pray that He softens Junior’s heart and gives you the right words.”

     Reuben then sighed, “I seem to have more patience with the residents than with my own boy.”

     Alex totally understood. “The closer something is to our hearts the larger the call to trust in God.”

     “This is true,” Reuben acknowledged, “And I know the Lord has been growing my faith, but it seems there is still quite a bit of work to do.”

     “That’s for all of us Reuben. We all have our share of stretch marks as he grows our faith.” Alex then said, “That reminds me, remember how I mentioned Sarah has a wonderful gift of seeing into the spiritual realm?”

     “Yes.”

     “And you also remember that incident from Sunday?”

     “Sure do,” came Reuben's reply.

     “She was there.”

     “She was?" Reuben asked, "Where?”

     “Oh, I don’t think you saw her. I believe she was out of there before you arrived.”

     Reuben thought it over for a moment, “Hey, a couple of the residents said there was some gutsy gal that had a few choice words for Jimmy. That wasn’t her, was it?”

     “Unless there was another gutsy gal that spoke with him, that was her.”

     “So what happened?” Maria and Reuben both asked with much curiosity.

     “She says she's intrigued by this place and was looking around when she saw the crowd, but here’s the thing…she saw most of them as teenagers.”

     “Teenagers?!” they repeated simultaneously. Reuben went on, “Alex, most of them were adults, many young yes, but clearly beyond their teen years.”

     “I know, but that’s what she said, teenagers. I believe she was seeing their level of spiritual maturity."

     “Now I believe that. We‘ve known that for some time.”

     “Yes, and she saw more that is quite rich in details, like she saw them partaking of strong drink and smoking cigarettes. I believe that is the magnet that is captivating and uniting them. I believe it speaks of partaking of unhealthy things, like anger and bitterness. I know we also know many here have been hurt and are angry at others due to abuses and wounds, yet to see it confirmed and brought out in such a way...it's quite insightful."

     Reuben and Maria were all ears.

     Alex went on, “There's more that we haven't considered much and feel we need to, but first let me tell you what she saw in my neighborhood. Get a load of this…she saw many of the residents wearing masks and costumes...and saw how things were staged.”

     “What do you mean, like in Halloween?” Maria was fascinated.

     “Oh yea…we’ve known many misuse the word and put up a front but she saw it in rich details.”

     “Man,” Reuben was serious, “We knew this but who was to know there was a whole Halloween show going on there."

     "I trust you both but I don’t intend on sharing this with the residents. I don’t have the confidence that they won’t use it against each other. I think the better route would be to continue to address the issues grounded in the love of God and his Word. We need to continue to come against the lies of the enemy. As Jesus said, ‘Ye shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.’ The enemy knows that a house divided will fall and as long as he can keep us all at each others' throats he knows we'll continue to meet with defeat and captivity."

     Reuben and Maria agreed.

     Alex continued, "Our natural lives are a reflection of what is happening in the spiritual realm. What I feel is happening with many in the body of Christ in your neighborhood is similar to our teen years. It's that awkward and sensitive transitional stage from childhood to adulthood. As you said Maria, at that stage we can think we know everything...Don't they understand that we've lived through it and have learned some things they have yet to learn? In their quest to stretch their wings and exercise their liberty teenagers can start to rebel against their parents and don't really take into account that even if mistakes are being made, a good deal of those mistakes can be coming out of a heart of love for our children."

     Maria and Reuben were quiet for a moment as they absorbed it all. Reuben was the first to speak, "That's good Alex, I hadn't thought of it but yes, I see it. In a way I have been seeing and also living it with my own boy."

     "Now, I know there are others that don't have our Shepherd's Heart so I'm not saying it is all that. Just like there are people that abuse kids for their own selfish gain, so it is in the body of Christ and we need to speak against those things while continuing to teach others to hear from the Lord personally before buying into something at heart as his Truth, but many of these kids here, physical and spiritual, don't really see the other aspect of it." Alex paused for a moment before continuing, "Here the tables have turned. Just like in the natural where the outrage over child abuse has brought in so many legalities that parents can barely disciple their children anymore, so in the spiritual realm are spiritual children now using the law to exercise their liberties and rights without the consideration of God's greater law of love found in Christ. They think they have so much freedom and going about God's work but don't realize that they are going about it wrong, and if they continue they will also find themselves in bondage and a hindrance to others. Just like in our society, our God given liberty and freewill are gifts. God gave them to us to help us in our progressive journey in Christ, but they are not law...and if we abuse these precious gifts for our personal agenda 'the law' will step in and take it away from us. As you both know, the law we are called to live by is God's love."

     Alex continued to share more on what Sarah had seen, like the utility workers she saw on the telephone and power lines. Considering there were no such workers, and taking into account all that Sarah had shared with him about them, he felt they were demonic forces, or at the least those being used by the enemy, that were interfering with the source in the community so that misunderstandings would arise and they would continue in strife. They also felt that since the Lord was revealing that area, they needed to remain alert to it and come against it in prayer for as overseers they had been given the authority to deal with it on this larger scale, but each resident would have to remain in Christ to overcome in their personal lives.  

     When they had finished eating their dinner Alex and Reuben joined the kids in the living room while Maria was still in the kitchen getting ready to serve the cake. Someone knocked at the door. It was their neighbor Dolores.

     “Reuben, I was just coming home from the supermarket when I saw a small riot starting up just outside the neighborhood. I saw Junior there and was concerned for him.”

     “I sensed something like this was going to happen," Reuben muttered. "I'm heading over there now.”

     “I’m coming with you,” Alex immediately said.

Reuben then turned to Dolores, “Thank you Dolly, don’t mention this to Maria ok. I don’t want her worrying. I’ll mention it later when it is over and things have settled down.”

     Dolores nodded and left. Reuben then went into the kitchen, “Maria, Alex and I have to step out for a moment but we’ll be right back.”

     “What? But why? I was just about to serve the cake.”

     “Serve the cake and save us two pieces, we’ll be right back,” he said as he gave her a kiss before he and Alex went out the door.

Part XIX:  The Law, to Protect and Serve