Minnie Goes to Heaven (108)

(a novel continued)

The discipleship group gathered at Nan’s house. “What do we do with these dreams?” Nan wanted to know.

“Well it’s pretty obvious the first step is to actually get the churches on the same page.” Melissa said.

“That would be a miracle,” Amy said.

“How did the disciples get people from every tribe and nation together? Like in Acts?” Brenda wanted to know.

Nan reached for her Bible. “It’s right here. Now there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout and God-fearing men from every country under heaven." Nan looked up above the rim of her glasses, “Read from every denomination in Haven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect. And they were beside themselves with amazement, saying, Are not all these who are talking Galileans?"

“That’s it.” Minnie said. “We have to do signs and wonders. That’s what got everybody’s attention. Think about it. Everybody is so ready to believe when they see supernatural things happening. We have to ask God to do miracles and then we follow through with the good news.”

“The good news?” Amy looked puzzled.

“That’s the whole problem right there,” Minnie said. “We are so content with our small lives we don’t even recognize the good news. How are we going to get others excited about salvation, living with Jesus forever and ever, if we’ve lost that first love? I mean I was actually in heaven with Jesus, walking with Him and talking with Him and here I am living in the shadows. That’s the difference living in full colour to living in gray.”

“So we just go out and do a few miracles?” Hannah asked.

“No, we pray for God to do the miracles. He does them and then we do the follow through.”

“The follow through?”

“We preach, or rather just explain what God just did and ask people to accept Jesus as their Saviour.” Minnie said.

“What about the preachers? Where do they fit in?” Amy asked.

“Like you said, they will be one of the miracles, preaching together.” Minnie said.

“All sounds very pie in the sky,” Jill said. Jill who was new to the discipleship group had kept pretty quiet up to this point. She belonged to Minnie’s church and had a very practical bent.

“That’s why we have to pray.” Minnie insisted. “All this is very pie in the sky unless God wants it to happen. He has to do His part first. But, His part will be rather pointless if we don’t follow through.”

“Let’s pray then,” Jill said.

Minnie Goes to Heaven (107)

(a novel continued)

‘At least you aren’t telling me about the kind of death I’m going to die.’

‘If I did would you still follow me?’

‘Of course, I’ve been dead. It’s a great place to be. Besides I love you.’

‘Feed my sheep.’

Minnie thought about what that could mean. ‘Which sheep, Lord?’

‘My sheep.’

‘So, I feed your sheep your Word. That is the follow through?’ 
'Follow me.'
'In golf I keep swinging in the same direction for lift-off,' Minnie hesitated as she reached for a parallel.'The direction you had me going was to pray that the churches would be able to work together and that everyone in this whole town would come to love you and serve you. I am so sorry Lord, I stopped praying for that. When my club hit the ball, I simply stopped swinging. Dear Lord, forgive me.’

‘I have forgiven you. Follow me.’

Minnie prayed. She prayed with John and Mary. She prayed with the discipleship group. They prayed that the Lord would show them how to win Haven for Him. They prayed that all the churches would work together. Then one night Minnie had a dream. 

In the dream the discipleship group was praying at Pebble Beach. More and more people gathered as they prayed. Along the outside edge of the beach preachers from every denomination stood like talking flowers in a lush garden. People flocked around each flower fascinated by the beauty. More and more people gathered. 

Nan had a similar dream. In her dream people filled the beach and spilled over into the water where they began baptising each other.

Minnie Goes to Heaven (106)

(a novel continued)

Minnie thought about the things, the Lord had given her to do. He had led her into a relationship with that lovely couple from the Pentecostal Church. What were their names again? He had given her Nan’s discipleship group. What had they done lately? They’d finished the course, had the vigils and hadn’t met since. He’d given her the vigils. He’d given her that powerful 'thanksgiving for healing' meeting at her church where people had given their hearts to Jesus.

‘Follow through.’ she heard again.

But how, she wondered. ‘Lord, I admit, I don’t know how to follow through.’

‘Ask, knock, seek.’

That’s it of course. In golf the follow through was simple. You just keep swinging the club in the same direction, even though you’ve already made contact with the ball. She’d definitely made contact with the ball and had simply stopped swinging.

Minnie fell on her knees. ‘I’m so sorry Lord. Please forgive me.”

‘You are forgiven. Feed my sheep.’

Minnie got up from her knees and grabbed the Message Bible which happened to be on the shelf beside her. She read the passage in John where Jesus tells Peter to feed my sheep.

After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”

Then he said it a third time. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”

Minnie Goes to Heaven (105)

(a novel continued)

As they walked up to the door, a policewoman stepped out of her car. “Are you Mr. and Mrs. Beeky?”

“We are,” John said.

“I have a missing person’s report here.”

“Who's missing?” John  asked. 

"You are, according to this report. Normally we wouldn’t be concerned. You’ve only been missing for a few hours, but the person who reported the incident insisted that this was a very serious matter.” 
The policewoman wanted to see proof of identity. .She expressed relieve that they were who they said they were and retreated to her police car where, no doubt she radioed to call off the search.

Once in the house, Mary wondered out loud, “Do you think they went out to the compound? I can imagine what Brandon would do with that.”

“What would he do?” Minnie asked.

“Probably not tell them anything and insist they get a search warrant. He loved to make things difficult and then brag about it later.”

“So what do you think about working at Louie’s,” John asked.

Well, I guess it doesn’t make sense after what the waitress said. I’m glad we found out now. By the way, thanks for dinner Dad. That was awesome.”

“Awesome is one of those words that should only be used for God,” Minnie said.

“Well, you know what I mean. I didn’t think you were so rigid, Mom.”

“I’m not, it’s just that if we take the words that sort of describe God and use them to describe lesser things, there is nothing left to describe Him. It’s difficult enough to find words describe Him. It's just something I've been thinking about lately.”

The next several months passed very quickly, Christmas came and went as did Bill and Treasa’s wedding and pretty soon John was full into another planting season. Minnie was restless. It was almost a year and a half since her visit to heaven. What had she done since then? The town didn’t seem any closer to revival, or whatever you wanted to call it. What was she expecting? ‘Lord, I want to see you working in signs and wonders. I want everyone in town to be giving you praise for the amazing God you are. Lord, I want every man, woman and child to accept, you Jesus, as their personal Saviour. I want everyone to recognize you as Lord. I want to see all the churches working together as one. I want to see the churches overflowing with members, every one of them recognizing who you are.’

‘Now, you are talking,’ the Lord said inside Minnie’s spirit.

‘What should I be doing?’ asked Minnie.

‘Follow through.’

‘Like in golf?’

‘Exactly.’

Minnie Goes to Heaven (104)

(a novel continued)

“You followed me around when I was cleaning house. You for some reason especially wanted to help clean the toilet.”

“I loved watching the blue stuff swirl away,” Mary remembered.

“You didn’t seem to like the toilet when it was time for toilet training, though,” Minnie said.

“I was scared I might fall in.”

“You had a point there. You were just a little tyke,” John said.

“What is your favourite childhood memory?” Minnie asked.

Mary thought for a long while. “I liked when we all went out to the woods to pick the Christmas tree. Do you guys still do that?”

“No,” Minnie said, “It's not the same without little kids.”

“I just take one home from the nursery,” John said.

“We could do it this year,” Minnie said. “for old time’s sake. Maybe we could even convince George and Bill to join us. No, I guess that won't work. I wonder how Bill's wedding plans are coming?”

“Oh yesterday Treasa asked me to be a bridesmaid,” Mary said. “She phoned.”

“That’s wonderful,” Minnie said. 

“We’re supposed to go shopping right after Christmas.”

When the meal was over, John remembered to tip generously and the three headed for home. They noticed a police car parked in front of 33 Main Street. “I wonder what that’s about.” said John.

When they reached home, there was also a police car in their lane. “Now, I really wonder what that’s about.” Minnie said. Then she remembered what she had told Nan. “Oh puff. I hope they are not looking for us.”

Minnie Goes to Heaven (103)

(a novel continued)

Justin focused on Mary. “Today, I just want us to  become acquainted and then you can decide if you would like to continue with the counseling. No charge for today. And, your parents are welcome to join for this session.” He emphasized, 'this session.'

“Do you want us there?” John asked.

Mary shrugged. “I guess so.”

Minnie and John looked at each other. John nodded. Minnie agreed.

Justin took them to a smallish room with a round table surrounded by five padded boardroom chairs. He motioned them to be seated. “Now, tell me what you expect from a counselor?”

Mary told him a bit about life on the compound and her need to free herself of Brandon’s voice. “I’m not there anymore, but it colours everything I do. I’m always thinking, ‘What would Brandon say about this?’ Every time. Even though I don’t give a piece of crap what he thinks—excuse the language.”

Justin wrote something on his pad of paper. “Anything else?”

“No, that’s about it. Well, maybe one more thing, I’m a little paranoid about possibly meeting him somewhere. Like today, I thought you might be him.”

Justin wrote another short note on his pad.

“Anything else?” He looked at the three of them.

Minnie and John stayed quiet.

Mary looked Justin in the face. “Do you think you can help me? How long would it take and how much does it cost? I don’t have a whole lot to spare. Everything I earned at the compound in the last five years was all on paper. I never really saw any of it.”

“We can work something out,” John said.

Justin stood up. I’ll take you out to see Marilyn, she has the rates.”

John and Marilyn worked out a satisfactory payment plan and the three of them were on their way.
"Thanks dad." Mary said. "I'll pay you back when I can."
"Actually, I could use some help down at the greenhouses. You could pay it off that way."
"I'd like that."
They decided to walk over to Louie’s for dinner. They didn’t have a reservation, but it was midweek and the place probably wouldn’t be too crowded.

They were right. The place wasn’t the least bit crowded. They had the dining room to themselves.

When Minnie asked the waitress how she liked her job, she said she loved it during the tourist season, but this was her last week. She would be doing something else at least until the following spring. “I need the tips,” she admitted. “No customers, no tips.”

The family ordered the house wine, an appetizer to share, the house special for three followed by pecan pie. They sat and talked mostly about Mary’s childhood. “You were such a happy kid,” Minnie said.

“Yes, and always wanting to help out,” John added. 

Minnie Goes to Heaven (102)

(a novel continued)

Minnie brought the card inside and set it on the table. It said, ‘Salem. Professional Counseling, J. A. Stanfield, 333 Main Street West.’ There was a phone number.

When Mary came home later that evening, she examined the card. “I guess it’s worth a phone call, anyway.” Mary called the number the next morning before work and actually made an appointment for later that day.

“Do you want me to come along?” Minnie asked.

“Would you?” Mary said. “I mean what’s to say this isn’t a hoax of some kind? Who’s to say Brandon doesn’t have something to do with this?”

“Maybe Dad should come too,” Minnie said.

“I would feel better if he did,” Mary said. “Maybe this appointment wasn’t such a good idea. What if it is something Brandon cooked up.”

“I don’t think it is honey, but the three of us could go just in case. And, we won’t leave you alone. I’ll even tell Nan where we're going so she can call the police if we’re not home by a certain time.”

That afternoon John came home from work early and the three of them went to the downtown address on the card. Since they only lived a few blocks from downtown, they walked—Mary between her parents. “If I was shorter we could do the swingy thing.” Mary said.

“We could try,” John said.

“Maybe you two could swing me,” Minnie said, “I’m the shortest.”

At 333 Main Street West, they found a large brick house recently converted into offices. 
"I wondered what they were doing with this place," John said. 
According to the board in the entrance area, Salem offices were on the second floor. They took the stairs up. A smart-looking receptionist greeted them there. Mary let out a noticeable sigh of relief. While they sat on chairs in the reception area, she filled out the required forms.

Several minutes later the counselor came out to see them. He shook Mary’s hand. “Hello Mary, I am Justin. I hope to be your counselor. And these must be your parents?” John and Minnie stood to shake Justin’s hand. 

Minnie Goes to Heaven (101)

(a novel continued)

“Anybody can hear Him. You just have to listen.” Minnie said.

“I know, I know. You told me this before. The thing is I still hear Brandon’s voice a lot. I think I’m ready to see a counselor.”

“But how do you find a good counselor?” John asked.

“God knows,” Minnie said.

“Then He’ll have to tell us,” Mary said.

“Let’s ask him right now, Minnie said.

Mary surprised her mother by immediately praying, “Dear God, show us a good counselor.”

“Amen,” John said.

“Are you hearing anything?” Minnie asked.

“‘I am,’” Mary said.
"What are you hearing?"
"'I am,' that's what I'm hearing."

“Are you sure that wasn’t me saying, ‘amen’?” John said.

“You said ‘amen’?” Mary smiled. 

“Well God, the Holy Spirit is the best counselor of all,” Minnie said.

“But, Mary could use some human help as well, don’t you think?” John said.

“Then God, show us who that could be,” Minnie prayed.

Three days later they had the answer. A man knocked on the door. “Is this yours?” he said as he handed Minnie a business card. 

“I don't think so,” Minnie said. “What’s it for?”

“Some kind of counseling.”

Minnie studied the card. When she looked up the man was gone. She peered up and down the street and couldn’t see him anywhere. Hershal?