It was mid-morning on September 15, almost exactly one year from the day that Josh had first put forth to the congregation his invitation and challenge to live a year as Jesus would.
Josh, Ev, Mike, and Karen shared the front room of their Seattle home with Paul, Jenny, Donna, Pete, Harry, and Beverly. Mike was helping Pete set up two tape recorders.
"Why two?" asked Harry. "Are we going for stereo?"
"Nothing so fancy," Pete replied. "We just thought it would be easier to have two set up, so that when one tape runs out, we can go right on to the next one."
"Or in case one breaks down," added Mike, practically.
"That sounds like good thinking," Bev commented. "So, what exactly are we going to do? We're each going to tell our story about the past year, but... " Her expression invited clarification. °
"Well, this is the idea," explained Josh. "We thought that, since everybody couldn't be here, we'd tape the whole thing, word for word, and then get tapes made for everyone. That way, no one misses out."
"And we have letters from the others," Evalyn added. "So we'll read those aloud, as well."
"Sounds fun," said Bev.
"Oh, I think it's going to be great!" rejoined Ev.
"All right," announced Pete. "We're ready to go, I think. Everybody has a drink, everybody's been to the bathroom... "
"Pete!" Donna slapped him, but not hard.
"Just being practical, dear. Ev, do you have all the letters?"
"Check."
"Mike, tape recorders synchronized?"
"Check."
" Okay, roll 'em!"
They all looked at him in anticipation, but no one said anything. The tape rolled for thirty seconds or so as they glanced around, waiting for someone to start. Finally, Bev began to laugh, and soon everyone was close to hysterics. It took a while to calm down.
When they did, Harry had a practical suggestion. "Why don't we decide what we're going to do, first?"
At least several of those present thought that was a brilliant idea, and said so. They turned to Josh for guidance. "Okay, what I thought we'd do is just take turns and talk about what's happened to each of us personally this past year, and what things we've learned that are especially important to us. We asked the letter writers to do the same, so maybe we can take turns: a speaker, then a letter, then a speaker, then a letter, then..."
"We get the idea, Dad," interrupted Mike.
"Well, you get the idea. So, who wants to go first?"
Nobody volunteered. "Let's read a letter first," suggested Donna.
"Brilliant idea," seconded Pete. "Then we can all chicken out."
“But we can't do it that way," Harry responded, seriously.
"Why not?"
"Well, because it would foul up Josh's sequence. Instead of a speaker, then a letter, then a speaker, it would be a letter, then a speaker, then... "
"Harry," Bev warned.
"Well, you get the idea. But maybe it's not so important, after all."
"Maybe not," Bev agreed.
"Do you all realize that the tape has been running through all of this?" asked Jenny.
Some had the class to look sheepish; most didn't.
"Shall I run it back, Dad?" Mike asked.
Josh shrugged. "No, let's leave it. Then everyone will remember how it really is with this group!"
"Okay," said Evalyn. "Before we get diverted again, I'll start. This letter is from the college kids. '
***
Dear Evalyn, Pastor Josh, Karrie, Mike, and whoever else is around,
Well, here it is - a whole year gone by since THE EXPERIMENT began. Sorry we can’t be there for the GREAT REUNION, but we're just starting school and it's not a good time to get away. I hope you have a good time, anyway. Say hello to everybody for us.
I keep saying "we". Maybe you know already from THE MAGNIFICENT NEWSOMS (a.k.a. Donna and Pete) that Bobby (Deveaux, of course!) and I are currently a hot number (oops, can I say that to a pastor??). Anyway, he's right here leaning over my shoulder, breathing heavily as I write, so really you're hearing from both of us.
Like I said, you probably know a lot about what's been going on here, so I won't spend a lot of time on the "news of the day." I had a good summer - worked retail, mostly, and made a little money, and - of course! - Bobby was around quite a bit. That was good! Otherwise, our folks are all okay, and we're just getting back into THE OLD SCHOOL SPIRIT.
You asked us to share how the year went for us - what we learned, anything special that happened as a result of THE EXPERIMENT, etc. I guess for me the thing I really learned was about God as a real person - well, maybe not a PERSON, but definitely REAL. You know what I mean. I mean, I always believed in God, but just like He was up there, or around everywhere, or something. When Pete and Donna started talking about a personal relationship with God, I really didn't know what they meant.
But then I learned that I could pray and ask about real things - I mean, not just "now I lay me down to sleep," but about real stuff that was really happening. I do that a lot now, and! REALLY GET ANSWERS!
What else? Oh, I know. This is especially for Pete. You know how I always say that I'm "just a kid"? Well, I found out that I'm not "just a kid." Well, I am a kid, but what I mean is I'm GOD'S KID! How about that?
Well, I guess that's all. We miss you, and hope to see you soon. Love from Charley and Bobby.
(Here, there was a change in the handwriting.)
Hey, wait a minute. I can sign my own name!
(Charlie's scrawl) Sorry. That was Bobby, folks. (The new pen, again)
It STILL IS Bobby. Besides, I have something to say. Charlene (if I'm Bobby, she's Charlene) gets a little pushy, sometimes. I need to assert myself.
Anyway, I can sure second what she said about getting to know God a lot better over this past year. Along with that, I'm finding that I can really TRUST the Holy Spirit to make decisions for me/with me. I don't have to stop and specifically pray about something; I just turn the day over to Him first thing in the morning, and feel confident that He is in control. I don't worry half as much as I used to about whether or not I'm doing the right thing. It's great!
I should say something about Greg. I think he's doing really well, too. Well, you know Greg - he doesn't give much away, but I think all this business made a real impression on him. We talk a lot about a lot of things now, that we never would have before - he would've been too cynical!
(Charley's scrawl reappeared)
! wish I could say the same about Ricky. I mean, she's still my best friend (except for Bobby!), but she’s such a flake! She can't get serious about ANYTHING. Sometimes, I think we're pretty far apart on certain things we like and don't like.
(Another penmanship change)
This is Bob, again. It's worse with Tony DeNello. We hardly ever see him, anymore. He doesn't come to church much. Well, don't get me wrong - he's still our friend, and he hasn't joined a street gang or anything - but like Charley (oops, CHARLENE) says about Ricky, we just don't seem to have much in common.
Well, I guess that really is all, now. We'll see you all later. Bob (=Bobby) and Charley (=Charlene).
***
"That was fun!" exclaimed Jenny. "They're nice kids."
Donna laughed. "Nice, yes, but I still can't imagine how those two got together. They've always been as different as day and night. Charley is a human steamroller, and Bob is the quiet, intellectual type."
"Never underestimate the power of love, wifey," rejoined Pete. "What about us? I was suave and debonair, and you were... "
"Pete, you were a geek! And you're right, we have absolutely nothing in common... "
"Now, now, children; don't fight," interrupted Evalyn. "And let's not get personal. Let's just give God the credit for being smarter than we could be, and getting us together when opposites might not really have attracted."
Josh changed the subject. "It's interesting about Greg. He's played a fairly large part in everything that's happened, and yet he really hasn't been a part of it."
"As I recall, he told you that you couldn't write," needled Paul.
Josh grinned. "Yes, a year ago I couldn't hardly spell ‘writer,’ and now I are one!"
"Enough of this," interrupted Donna. "Let's talk about the kids. What they say about Ricky and Tony is true. Tony rarely comes to church, and I think it’s mostly because of his parents. They don't come to church much, either, but they've always had a lot to say about what was going on there. Most of it wasn't very good. When we started into our controversies, they just automatically took the 'no good will come of it’ posture. They're a close family in a lot of ways, and Tony is just a younger version of Mr. DeNello."
"I don't think Tony ever had an original thought of his own," agreed Pete. "So, naturally he's down on everything, too."
"What about Ricky, then?" asked Evalyn.
"Oh, Ricky is just Ricky," replied Donna. "She doesn't want to take anything seriously, or care enough about anything to have it hurt her. She's cute, and loud, and nutty, and popular, but I don't think there's much of a real person there, yet."
"There may be more than we think," mused Pete.
"Yes, I guess I didn't really say it very well," agreed Donna. "What I meant is that she just isn't ready to believe anything yet. But I personally think it's because she's scared of any serious commitment."
"Read another letter," prompted Paul.
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