The Boy from Christiana
by John Cosper

1

Another mug of steaming, hot Love-the-Lord a' latte slid across the counter toward the young woman who ordered the drink. Jeremiah collected her tab, then watched the girl lift the mug. She took a cautious first sip, then out of habit she turned the mug around to read the scripture verse inscribed upon its side. She smiled, exhaled in relief. "Just what I needed today."

Jeremiah nodded. Yes, he had a gift. Years ago, a spiritual gifts assessment test showed Jeremiah had the gifts of hospitality, encouragement, administration, and a touch of prophecy. Everyone knew that when they ordered a cup at Higher Ground coffeehouse, they got more than delicious, Spirit-filled beverage. Jeremiah had hundreds of mugspirations, as he liked to call them, handcrafted by his cousin Daniel at his potter's wheel. And Jeremiah had a gift for handing each customer just the mug they needed.

That was the way of things here in Christiana, the small but blessed Christian village at the edge of the big woods. Everyone knew their gifts from an early age, and sought the Lord's will in using them to serve others. From the screen printer at the Minis-T-Shirt Shop to the loan officer at the First Bank of the Lord, this community behaved much as the early church in Acts: everyone gave as they could, and everyone was blessed.

To Jeremiah's mind no one had more to give - and consequently, no one gave more - than his nephew. Not that it was a competition; not in this town. But while most people here had gifts, David himself was a gift.

Thirty feet from his uncle, the twenty-one years old with soft brown eyes and dark brown hair strummed his handcrafted Christian guitar and sang like a modern day psalmist to a packed room. No superfluous cheers or hoots interrupted the music in this holy place. Every female soul in the room turned their lust-free eyes upon their brother in the Lord, and drank in the Spirit flowing from his music.

The song built to a magnificent climax, with one last power chord ripping thw air like a knife. "Amens" and applause rose up in the room as people praised the Lord for David's music. Five encores tonight, Jeremiah noted. Not that encores were unusual for David, but it was three more than he usually did. He expected nothing less on this extraordinary occasion. This would be David's final performance in the coffeehouse for a long time.

Jeremiah always knew David was destined for bigger things than Christiana. Much as he would miss the boy, Jeremiah knew it was selfishness that wanted to keep him here. Selfishness that would be unfair to the most gifted child of this small village. He placed a hand on the glass jar sitting on the counter, filled to overflowing with love offerings. It was all for David, and it would be his passage to the big Christian town of Agape City.

Jeremiah believed, as everyone else did, that David's destiny lied in the big city. Only there would he find performing halls big enough for his talent. Only in the city would he be able to record albums and receive exposure on JesusTV, thus spreading his music ministry far beyond the borders of Christiana.

As the praise session began to die down, Jeremiah pulled the jar off the counter and began sorting the money. Even removing the jar did not stop the donations, as people kept dropping cash on the counter while filing out.

It took nearly half an hour to sort all the money, and even then, David's ministry was not over. He sat at the edge of the stage, clasping hands with a young boy named Timmy, praying for him. A lot of kids in town saw David as a hero, and would miss him greatly. David hugged the boy, then sent him on his way as the next person in line, David's best friend Carrie, stepped forward.

"Wish I could be going with you," she said.

"Don't say that," said David. "We've been through this. Your gifts are teaching and counseling. Agape City has an abundance of school teachers, and the children of Christiana need you here."

Carrie hung her head in shame. "Selfish, I'm so selfish."

David placed a gentle hand under her chin, lifting her face so their eyes met. "I'm the selfish one for ever suggesting we should be together. God has different roads for the both of us."

They shared a quiet, platonic embrace, and then Carrie left, not glancing back; she remembered the lesson of Lot's wife well.

David sauntered over to the counter and sat down, just as Jeremiah poured him a cup of his favorite: Iced Mo' Love Frappuccino.

"Well, kid," Jeremiah began, "You did good tonight."

"The Lord did a good work here," said David. "I'm just the microphone."

"The microphone, the instrument, the speakers, the whole package."

"Uncle Jer, stop," said David. "You know how I feel about praise. It belongs to the Lord, not me."

"And that's exactly why you were chosen to move to Agape City," said Jeremiah. "I'm so proud of you. This whole town is proud of you." Proving that point, he slid the sorted money across the counter. David smiled, then closed his eyes to thank the Lord for such a huge blessing.

"I'll drop this by the bank at eight," Jeremiah said. "Matthew promised all funds would be available for you by the time you reach the bus station."

"Sounds good to me," said David. He glanced around the room. So many memories in this place. He remembered a time when it was smaller. Half of this joint was once called Simon's Spirit-Filled Calzones. That was before David... before the music. He was barely twelve when he began singing. When David was seventeen, it was Simon who approached Jeremiah with the offer to sell, citing David's growing ministry as a reason to give Jeremiah a very reasonable offer to expand his coffeehouse, and David's ministry.

So many lives changed in this place... how many more would be touched when David reached the big city?

"So, David, last night in Christiana. How will you spend it?"

David sipped at his drink. "Probably just take a stroll. Get one last look at the place."

Jeremiah smiled. "You're going to forget all about this town when you're living on Gold Street."

David laughed. "If I live on a penthouse on Gold Street, or some loft apartment on Emmaus Road, I will never forget the town that raised me."

Jeremiah pat David on the wrist. The young minstrel slung his guitar over his shoulder, picked up his Iced Mo' Love Cappuccino, and walked out into the street.

To call Christiana quaint would be an understatement. The streets were small, and unclogged by automobiles. Everything was so close an accessible, most people walked from place to place. The little storefronts along Main Street had the appearance of an old Western town. Life did not change here. It was safe, predictable, and most important of all, Christian. Across the street was The Lord's Table Buffet, where half the town gathers for Sunday lunch. Bethlehem Inn stood beside it, "Where there's ALWAYS one more room," boasted the owner. The Minis-T-Shirt Shop, Scrolls bookstore, Peter's Fish House, Ezekiel's Tire Shop, Noah's Arcade... how could he ever forget this place?

David climbed the steps up the alley behind the arcade to his little apartment. Noah had let him live here rent free the last two years, since his parents died. He had been like another uncle to David. Everyone in this town had been family to him. No doubt everyone would be there to wave goodbye when he stepped onto the bus in the morning... if they knew that was when he was leaving. The official word said he would leave at night, but David was far too humble to allow a mob scene to praise him when they should be praising God.

His apartment was very sparse now. Most of his belongings were sent on to the city days ago, placed in his apartment by a man called Joseph. Joseph was once a small town boy like David, who went on to the big city to work in the Christian music industry. He had already arranged a week of performances for David, plus some workshops with Agape City's best song writers. David would also get the benefit of vocal training and guitar lessons, something he never had in Christiana. Ministry was about to explode, and God's people would be truly blessed.

David worried about the ride, though. Agape City was right on the edge of Christian territory, and the bus to the City went on into other lands... "The World", as it was known. Joseph jokingly warned David not to fall asleep on the bus, or else he might wake up in a very frightening place.

That was another reason to turn in so early. Joke or not, David wanted to be WELL rested so as not to miss his destiny in Agape City.

He took a quick shower, cleansing himself once last time in the holy waters from the Christiana water company. Then he climbed in bed between pure, white Christian sheets and closed his eyes.

2

The first sign that something was wrong was the large picture of the half-naked woman just outside the bus window.

Since the night before David had been fighting sleep. Something in the pit of his stomach refused to give him the peaceful sleep he desired. So he prayed. Oh, how he prayed! Perhaps the Lord had it on his heart to pray over his new ministry. Perhaps it was a call to pray and be certain he was doing the right thing in leaving. He prayed against the idea that the Lord was telling him something bad would happen to him... or perhaps someone he loved. He prayed for Uncle Jeremiah, and Carrie, and Timmy, and a dozen more.

Peaceful slumber finally came around six AM. The alarm rang at seven.

David had enough strength to get to the bus depot, buy his ticket, and board the 316 to Agape City. Soon as he found his seat, he was out, without giving a second's thought to the idea of over-sleeping his destination.

And now, he was eyeballing a woman showing more flesh than he'd ever seen, beckoning him to smoke Dagon cigarettes. David had no clue what a cigarette was, much less how to smoke him. But his concern for this misguided, half-naked woman drove him to pray for her.

"Hey!" A hostile voice like David had never heard forced his eyes to open. The bus driver sneered at him with yellow, rotten teeth. "No more dozin', Sleepin' Beauty! End of the line."

David looked out the window again. "This is Agape City?"

The bus driver laughed. "Get outta here, kid!"

David found himself hurled down the steps of the bus before he could compose an argument. His bag lay on top of the guitar case, cast out of the bus like lepers from ancient Jerusalem. He picked them up with a yawn, still trying to puzzle out if he was dreaming.

Joseph! That was who he needed to find. The man with all the connections here in Agape City... if that is indeed where he arrived.

It was nothing like he was told, if so. In fact this was clearly not a godly place, where ever he had set foot. A small booth near the bus was practically covered with magazines, each one with a woman wearing as little - or less! - than the one on the giant billboard. And as for the subject matters enscribed on the front of each... well, David hadn't a clue what half of it meant, but he was sure it was highly immoral.

"Where am I?"

"In my way!!" shouted a short, elderly fellow who barreled past David. David stuttered out an apology, which was met by a singular gesture of the hand from the old man.

Every step made David realize just how far from Christiana he was. The ground was filthy, littered with every manner of trash. The people were colorless, scowling. No one lifted their heads to make eye contact. His mind raced in a stream of prayer: "God, where am I? God, is this a dream? God, how did I get here?"

He decided he had to risk contact. He reached out for the next person to come by, a man in a dark colored suit. "Excuse me, sir?"

The man jerked away, instructing David to go... well, to do something to himself David had never heard of. Sounded highly unpleasant, though. Not knowing how (or why) David made his way outside the bus depot, onto the busiest street he had ever seen. The sun was creeping down, as if it was ashamed to look on all that lay before David's eyes: millions of lights; cars speeding at a reckless pace; people moving shoulder to shoulder in a meaningless mob to no where; and hundreds of billboards promoting products David had never conceived could exist.

"Sodom," he whispered under his breath. There was no other explanation for it. This had to be what the damned city of Sodom looked like, right before burning sulfur rained down upon it.

Good sense told David to walk right back into the bus station, but curiosity - God directed? he wasn't sure - led him to step further into this Hell on Earth. He could feel the impatience in the mob, as he was swept up in its pace. He glanced around, trying to get his bearings so he could return to the bus depot. Street signs! He looked, eager to remember where he--

"Get that outta my way!" A woman in a suit and sneakers - what an odd combination! - hit his Christian guitar, knocking it into another man who screamed at the woman and David with more angry words he had never heard in his life.

He started to decipher what was in each of the shops he passed, and in a strange way, he was reminded of his safe home back in Christiana. There were restaurants, clothing shops, a movie theater, a video store, naked women--

No, this was nothing like Christiana. And there was no way this could be Agape City. His desire to know where he was gave rise to another desire: he had to get out. The only problem was he was caught up in the midst of a swiftly moving herd with no way to turn back.

He saw an intersection ahead, and, deciding the best course of action would be to do a loop, he maneuvered to the left with the intent of crossing the street. He tried to keep pace with the other pedestrians in their zombie-like speed walk, not wanting to incite the wrath of the car drivers and their horns. Wow, they loved those horns!

He started back the way he came, now on the opposite side of the street. He strained to look over the crowd, eyes shifted left, trying to get his bearings and find the bus depot. He slowed just enough to provoke another pedestrian to order him sent directly to

Hell?? Did he just say I should go there? Doesn't he realize how impossible that is, what with me being a Christian? Now as for the people around me...

It was a sad thought. There could be thousands, even millions of people just in this brightly lit region of whatever city he had found. All of them wandering the wilderness of lights like lost sheep, with no shepherd to be found.

A sound tickled his ear, and David instinctively moved right. It came through open doors, drifting out like light in utter darkness. It was a guitar, being played by a master. David stepped up to the doors of the establishment, peering inside at the man playing. His fingers moved with all the grace of a trained dancer, but the music, far from the Spirit-filled sounds David made, was desperate, pained, hurting. Like a cry for help.

"Five dollar cover!"

David didn't notice the large, muscled man standing guard at the door until his hand was on his chest, preventing him from entering further. He looked weakly up at the man. "I just wanted to hear him play."

"You wanna hear him? Five dollars!"

David thought about paying, even pulling out his wallet. But his desire to leave this city returned as he saw the people getting wildly drunk at the bar inside. He backed away and rejoined the flow of traffic.

The sound of the guitar haunted him as he tried to maneuver into position for another left turn. His heart went out to the young musician, and he wondered what painful experiences had led him to write such a gut-wrenching song.

"Spare change? Spare change?"

A man in tattered rags suddenly appeared beside David, pointing at the wallet in his hand. David felt frightened at first, but thought immediately of the kinds of people Jesus helped. Figuring he might as well do some good while he was trapped here, he pulled some bills from his wallet.

Then he felt a powerful hand pulling him right.

He didn't even see the alley coming, but he remembered the moment his wallet left his hand. Why hadn't he put it back in his pocket where it belonged??

"Thank you," said the panhandler who had flanked him on the street, just before he dropped David with a sucker punch. Lying on the ground, David saw the another fellow going through his bag. Dazed, he muttered the words, "That's my bag."

The beggar fellow kicked him again, then opened his guitar case.

"Please!" David groaned. "Please leave it."

Inflamed by David's pleas, the man pulled the guitar out, and smashed it on the ground. Splinters scattered all across the alley, into David's face. Laughing, he gave one more kick to David's gut, shouting one of the new, strange phrases David had never heard before today that were now becoming quite familiar.

And then they were gone.

3

"Please clear the line, sir."

"Ma'am, I would love to, but I really need to get out of here," David pleaded. "I wasn't supposed to end up here. My ticket was for Agape City."

"I can't do anything for you! You have no money!"

"But my ticket was for Agape City, not--"

"Consider yourself lucky we don't turn you over to the cops. Technically, you stole from us when you stayed on the bus. Next?"

David's attempt to argue more was cut off as the next passenger shoved him aside. He felt the aching rib, now aggravated by an irate bus customer, and limped back into the street.

The sky was dark now, and David had no clue where to go. He decided just to follow the flow of traffic for a bit. The load on his shoulders as now considerably lighter. His beautiful, Christian-crafted guitar was destroyed, and half his belongings from his bag lie in the muck back in the alley.

The smell started to get to him. Far from the open, fresh scents of home, this place reeked of decay. His eyes opened further to see even more beggars, some going with the flow of traffic, others off to the side. One had a sign in front of him: "Cuss me out, $2." David wondered what cussing was, and if that was a good price.

"Hey, big boy," said a woman dressed in red. She had an ample bosom practically bursting from her too-small shirt. "Looking for a good time?" David may have been young and naive in the ways of the world, but he knew a prostitute when he saw one. At least, he thought so. She looked like the woman from the picture book, about whom Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." The difference being while that woman was repentant, this one was clearly enjoying her life of debauchery.

Ignoring her calls, David moved along. He saw another musician, playing a sad saxophone with a hat turned upside down beside him filled with change. If only he had his guitar, he could do the same, maybe even afford a nice meal.

His hand rubbed his growling belly as he passed a place cooking something called Buffalo Wings. David grew up with a great curiosity about animals, but never in his life had he heard of buffalo that could fly.

"Smell good, don't they?"

David turned around to see the first truly lovely sight in this wicked city. She was about seven inches shorter than he, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. And her smile was like a warm beam of light.

"They do," said David. "Too bad I don't have any money."

The young woman looked David over. "Oh dear. Looks like someone stepped off the bus from Podunk this morning and wasn't ready for what he found."

"Actually, I'm from a village called Christiana."

"Same thing," the girl answered. "Spend all your money getting here, or was it forcibly removed from you?"

"The second one," David stammered. Wow, she was beautiful.

The girl sighed. "I'll probably regret this, but being where you are, I can't help myself. You want me to get you something to eat?"

David shook his head. "Oh no. A gentleman can't allow a lady to do that!"

An eyebrow lifted over the girl's face. "A wise man knows when he should say 'Thank you,' and accept a little friendly help. Don't worry, you want to pay me back some day, I'll let you."

"Okay," said David. "Should we put that in writing?I promise I--"

"I'll take your word on it." The girl opened the door to the restaurant. "You country boys are always good at keeping that."

David stepped into the restaurant. The smell baked his nostrils. It was quite strong, spicy, moreso than anything he had ever encountered in his life. His new companion directed him to a booth, and they sat down.

"By the way, the name is Josalin," she said.
"My name is David." And they shook hands.

"So, Christiana. Where abouts is that?"

David sighed. "Far from this place."

Josalin smiled. "The look in your eyes told me that. The city can be a bit overwhelming."

"What city is this anyway?"

Josalin laughed at him. "You're joking, right?" Once again, the look in his eyes gave him away. "This is Sin City."

David's heart sank; of all the places he could have ended up! Sodom and Gomorrah would have been safer, from what people in Christiana told him. "The heart of evil. Great."

"Heart of evil?" Josalin echoed. "Well, depends how you look at it. There are good people and bad people here just like every place else."

"No, not like every place else!" said David. "Not like Christiana."

"Town full of saints, huh?" asked Josalin.

"Town full of Christians," David answered.

Josalin rolled her eyes. "I think I prefer a town of sinners like this one."

David was confused at her response. It was unthinkable! "Why do you say that?"
The waitress interrupted the dialogue, asking if they were ready to order. Josalin knew what she wanted without even looking, but David started scrambling through the menu. Not a single thing looked familiar, or even sounded appetizing.

"Something you're looking for, sweetie?"
"Do you have any Christian food?"

The waitress looked at him as if lobsters were crawling out of his hears.

"Spirit and Ricotta-filled Calzones? Or Give to Caesar Salads?"

The woman looked at Josalin. "Weekend furlough from the looney bin?"

"Bring him a dozen wings," she said. "Mildest you got. I don't think my baby can handle much more." Josalin smiled, patting her new companion on the hand. David felt a bit awkward being touched so casually by a woman.

"You really have a lot to learn, David," she said.

The mere suggestion felt like an insult to the young Christian. "What do I have to learn about?"

"Well," she began, "It's obviously you've lived in a sheltered world up til now. If you want to adapt to life in the big city, you're gonna have to develop a larger world view."

"Oh no," said David. "I think my world view is fine. Besides, I don't plan to stay in the city. Not this one any how. I was supposed to move to Agape City."

"And you ended up here, how?"

"I missed my stop on the bus," said David.

Josalin smiled. "I can believe that."

4

"So Buffalo tastes like chicken."

Josalin laughed, which allowed David a chance to smile. She liked that he was loosening up. He was quite handsome, and so much more genuine than most of the men in this town. Too bad he'd probably never go for a girl like her.

"No," she said, "As I explained earlier, the wings are chicken wings. They call them Buffalo because they were created in a old town called Buffalo."

"Never heard of it," said David.

"Ancient history," said Josalin. "Kind of like your Give to Caesar Salad."

The mention of David's favorite green dish sent his thoughts floating back to home. His mom made the best Give to Caesar Salad.

"So what do you do, David?" Josalin asked.

"I'm a music minister," said David. "I write songs, I perform, I lead people to God through music."

Josalin nodded. "You play any instruments?"

"I had a Christian guitar," said David. "Same guys who took my money smashed it up."

"That's a shame," she said. "I'm a guitar fan, you know. Love guitar music, and guitar players."

"Oh, well, I don't play it to be loved. I play it for the love of the Lord." He was beginning to sound like a broken record, but he was too cute for Josalin to get too upset about that... yet.

They arrived at a metal gate, and Josalin pulled out a set of keys. She unlocked the padlock, and held the gate open for David. She followed him through, then locked the gate behind them.

"Up the stairs," she instructed.

They climbed up the stairs, with David letting Josalin take the lead. He was at her mercy here in this strange land, and while he prayed for deliverance, he was thankful to have such pleasant company. Josalin unlocked a door three stories up and held it open for David. They entered a hallway, with white walls, brown doors, and dismal brown carpet. She stopped before a door with the number 314.

"This is the place," she said, unlocking another door. She led him into a quaint, sparsely furnished apartment.

"Back here," she said. He followed her down a short hall, past a messy bathroom, into a tiny bedroom with a small bed in the center, unmade.

"You can drop your things anywhere you find room," she said.

"Who lives here?" David asked.

"I do," she said.

David froze up. Warning bells were going off in his head. He remembered the prostitute on the street, the warnings not to sleep on the bus... he was in a lair of adultery!!

"I should go," he said, bolting for the front door.

Josalin chased him down, blocking the door. "Where are you going to go?"

"Some place where the sins of the flesh cannot get me!"

Josalin cocked and eyebrow, then proceeded to laugh. David felt the condescention in her voice. "Please, you think I brought you here to sleep with me?"

"No! I don't think so at all!" he said. "You want to have intercourse with me!"

Josalin rolled her eyes and sat on the couch. "You're a handsome devil, I do admit. But I have no illusions about getting you in the sack."

David stared back, confused. "I don't know what that means."

"Of course not," she said. "Look, I know your kind. You're sweet, gentle, respectful with the ladies, and quite virgin. You're set in your ways, and there's no changing that."

"Right!" said David. "So... why did you bring me here?"
"To help you," she said. "You can't sleep on the streets, and where else are you going to get a room without money?"

David stood in silence, still processing this information. Josalin rose and took his bag, carrying it back to her bedroom. He followed. "So, you brought me here to help me, no other reason?"

Josalin shrugged. "I enjoyed your company. It'd be nice to spend more time getting to know you."

"And you don't want to have sex with me?"

She grinned. "I never said that. Only that I know you won't, so it's not even worth my trying. You'll sleep in here alone. Too much to home we could share."

David nodded, then his sense of chivalry kicked in. "Where will you sleep?"

Josalin started gathering up a few pillows and a blanket. "It's supposed to be a nice night. I have a little air mattress, thought I might sleep under the stars."

"No," said David, shaking his head. "I can't allow that."

"Why not?"
"It's not right, the woman sleeping outside while the man--"

Josalin silenced his speech with a gentle finger pressed to his lips. "I was gonna sleep outside anyway. And it's just for one night. So say thank you."

She moved her finger. "Thank you," he said.

"And thank your God for a place to stay." With that, Josalin hopped out the window.

David was alone, and more confused than ever. He took a few moments to ready himself for bed. Dirty as he felt, he did not feel right undressing in this non-Christian woman's apartment.

So many thoughts danced in his head as he lay down to sleep. Twenty-four hours earlier, he had been in the safe confines of Christiana, surrounded by friends and family, dreaming of the big city. Now he was in a big city - a big immoral city - far from the safety of Christian territory, staying in the apartment of a very nice, charming woman who preferred the company of sinners to Christians??? It did not make sense.

It made even less sense, as he drifted off to sleep, that despite his surroundings, he felt a strange peace just being here.

5

"There is nothing we can do for you sir. Goodbye."

David hung up in frustration. Half an hour, he had struggled to get a line through to Christiana. How could it be that he was completely cut off from the world he knew and loved?" You would think there would be a way," he said.

"You would think that," Josalin answered. "I tried to tell you. There's no way to reach anyone on the other side."

"It makes no sense," he said.

"Makes sense to someone," she replied. "Matter of fact, I think the people who wanted to break the communication line were on your side of the fence. They wanted to keep out the unholy influences that might pollute their perfect little society.

David half-ignored her attacks on his people. "Consider it pure joy," he thought, remembering the New Testament admonition to endure persecution in His name.

"Well, I do know one way you can reach them," said Josalin. "Down in the arts district, there's a man with a telegraph link. Goes into Agape City, I believe. If you know anyone there, perhaps he can contact them."

David fished in his pocket and pulled out the information Uncle Jeremiah gave him: Joseph's name, phone number, and address. He handed it over to Josalin.

"This'll work."

"How much will it cost?" David wondered.

Josalin smiled. "Nothing you can't or won't want to pay back one day."

The sun was warm, and the sky a perfect blue over Sin City that morning. A much more pleasant experience than the day before to the young traveler. Josalin had her hair up, and a colorful outfit that reflected her upbeat personality. It was slinkier than he was used to in Christiana, but modest enough, David supposed.

She led him further away from the frightening center of town where David first experienced a world of sin, to an older section. There were no flashing lights here, and much less frantic pace in the traffic, both pedestrian and automotive. It was more relaxing, and calm. He got the sense that this community was less concerned with where they were going, and more interested to know why they were here. He felt right at home in that regard.

"It's just one block ahead from here," Josalin called out to the straggler. She liked that he was giving the environment a chance to touch him, though she wondered just what kind of observations were being recorded in his head.

She reached the corner, and stopped, waiting for the signal to cross. But when she turned, David was not there. In fact, he was fifty feet back up the sidewalk, his eyes transfixed on something inside one of the many shops. She walked back, curious to know what had caught his attention, then not at all surprised when she saw.

"Look at that!!"

It was a beautiful guitar, Josalin noted, brand new and shiny from the last coat of varnish. She glanced up and saw that, yes, it was indeed hey cousin Rick's Shop.

"He handcrafts them all himself," she informed David. He replied with a look of amazement, and Josalin couldn't help but smile back. "You want to try it out?"

David did want to try the guitar. But before he could do so, he had to know one thing. "Are they... are they Christian guitars?"

"Wow," was Josalin's reply. "People can be Christian, David. Guitars... well, it all depends on whose hand touches them, what they stand for.

Josalin walked into the shop, beckoning David to follow. He slowly set foot inside the shop, seeing Josalin talk to a man with long hair and an earring in the back. He nodded approval of some kind, then walked to the front, extending a hand to David. "David? I'm Rick."

"Hello," replied.

"You wanna take it for a spin?" Rick nodded to the guitar in the window.

All David could do was nod in reply. Rick took the guitar down from its stand, and placed it in David's hands. He turned it over, examining every part. It was the work of a true master, the finest he had ever seen... and build by non-Christian hands!

Rick handed David a pick, and plugged the guitar into an amplifier. Josalin found a stool, and sat, staring up into David's brown eyes.

"Well?" she said. "Minister to me."

David closed his eyes. He whispered a prayer that the Lord would forgive him; he had to play this ungodly instrument. The left fingers found their place, the right hand dropped...

It was beautiful. The sound of the guitar was remarkable, and soon David forgot the pagan origin of the instrument. He felt the spirit swelling in his heart, and he began to sing. It was an old song of his, but it breathed out with new life and passion. Far from the lovely abode of Christiana, he made that music store a sanctuary, where the spirit of the Lord entered. By the time he was finished, everyone in the store was listening. Passersby had formed a crowd outside, and cheers erupted as the song ended.

Rick urged David to play another. He obliged, and the crowd grew even more. Like hungry orphans in a soup line, they gathered to take in his music. The response for the second song was greater than that for the first.

Josalin wiped a tear from her eye. She never would have imagined the gift this boy from far away possessed, nor the impact his music AND his words would have on her. It was breathtaking.

David played for another hour, and it wasn't until police insisted that Rick disburse the crowd that the concert came to an end. David surrendered the guitar, which Rick was reluctant to take back. "This is more your instrument than it was ever mine."

"I can't take it from you," David insisted.

"Then let me give you a deal."

"Maybe if I had some money," David said. "I'm afraid I'm broke."

"Then perhaps I can help." A short man, one of the early admirers to step in off the street, produced a business card. "The name is Carlos. I run a club, Cafe Blue. And it just so happens my regular act has the flu tonight. How would you like to play his set?"

David was stunned by the offer, but it was simply out of the question. "Sir, I am trying to get home, which is a long way from here. I don't know if I'm your man."

"One night, just try one night," Carlos insisted. "I'll even pay you what I pay my regular guy, one thou."

"One... thou?" said David.

"A thousand dollars," Josalin filled in the blanks.

"And I'll buy the guitar for you," said Carlos.

David nodded. It was a lot of money. It was one night. What harm could it do?

"Sure. I'll be there."

6

The trip to send a telegraph was on hold for now. With the promise of a thousand dollars, David figured there was no longer need. Besides, he wanted nothing more than to go some place and practice. Rick had said the guitar was now his, and David was determined to give the guitar up to God, a sacrifice that he hoped would please his Master.

For her part, Josalin called in sick to work that day. She needed the money, especially with all the cash she had spent on her houseguest, but she just couldn't leave David. Not as long as he insisted on playing and singing that guitar. It was a gift; that was how he described it. If that were so, Josalin wanted to know the person who gave it.

David would introduce each song, just as he always did back home. Josalin learned so much about the man and his faith in that afternoon. Had such a story come any other way, she would easily have shut it out. But she was simply compelled to listen to David. She knew others in Cafe Blue would feel the same.

As dusk approached, David and Josalin set out from the apartment. The made their way back through the artsy section of town until finally they reached their destination. It was a red brick building, a converted warehouse, that now housed a number of shops, restaurants, and clubs. Club Blue was right in the center. Josalin gave hers and David's name to the man at the door, and they were escorted into an artist's dressing room.

David was alarmed, but not surprised to find the temptation of alcohol before him, in an assortment of shapes and sizes. All of it was free, and a young blonde in a low cut shirt stood ready to serve and pour for David and Josalin. Josalin ordered a drink - margarine, was it? - while David unpacked the guitar.

He began to go into his own world as he tuned that guitar. Then he began warming up both voice and hands. With eyes closed, he began to play and sing, reaching out for the God he knew was so far away. One song later, he whispered a prayer: "Bless this night, Father. Get me through this trial, and bless me financially that I can leave this place, and return to where you called me."

Opening his eyes, he saw Josalin and the waitress, arm in arm, watching him. Both were completely enchanted. "Wow," said the new girl. "Carlos was right. You are amazing!"

It was twenty minutes later that David got the call to go on stage. Josalin walked with him to the stage entrance. People fluttered about, making sure that Carlos's new discovery had everything that he needed, from water on stage to towels that could mop sweat from his forehead.

As Carlos began the introduction, Josalin turned David to face her. "So, young Christian, I suppose you've never had a real kiss?"
A deer-in-the-headlights look was the only answer she needed. With a smile she hugged David, and placed a platonic kiss on his cheek.

"For luck," she said.

Luck? In his experience, there was no such thing as luck! "All I need is the Lord."

Cheers went up in the club. Carlos motioned David on stage. He strolled out and adjusted his mic as a group of girls whistled their approval at him. He plugged into the house system, fiddled with his guitar pick--

And then he saw them. Dozens and dozens of people, dimly lit, but lit well enough David could see what was going on.

Every person in the place was drinking.

And not just drinking, but drinking a lot! Some tables were completely cluttered empty glasses, and no one was without something in their hand. People were loud. They were being very rude. Girls continued to whistle and shout at him in inappropriate ways.

A voice inside David told him, quite clearly, "GET OUT!"
"I'm sorry," he said. He unplugged, and he walked off stage.

Boos went up in the club, but David ignored them in his holy flight. He handed the guitar to the waitress, who had followed him and Josalin on stage. "Please tell Carlos I said thank you."

David headed out into the street. Josalin burst through the door behind him. "David!!"

He turned to her. "What?"
"What was all that about?"
"You wouldn't understand," said David.

"Try me!" Josalin demanded.

David shook his head. "I can't do what I was called to do in that place. There was so much drinking, so much immorality in there."

Josalin looked at him incredulously. "Yes, and?"

"I don't belong there!"

"Why not?"

"God doesn't want me in there."

Josalin shook her head. "What do you know about what God wants?"

David bristled at her insinuation. "I was raised in the village of Christiana. I have been educated in the ways of the Lord from birth!"

"And yet you've learned nothing!" Josalin's eyes burned into David's heart. "None of you Christians know a thing about who Jesus is!"

"What do you know about it?"

She smiled in a way that threatened David. "You think people don't read the Bible outside your safe little village?"

David stepped back. "When did you read the Bible?"

"You're not the first Christian I've met," said Josalin. "But you are the weakest."

David wanted to fight back, but the tears welling up in Josalin's eyes pushed a lump into his throat, silencing his objection.

"It was a year ago that I met a boy named Paul. He came here from Agape City as a missionary. Most people just ignored the crazy street preacher, but me? I thought he was cute. Kind of a weakness of mine."

David thought about his first encounter with Josalin, barely a day ago. Had it really been that short a time?

She went on. "When he spoke, it was like he knew what was in my heart. I was searching for something. I wanted to be loved. Real love, not like my father who was only happy when I did what he wanted for my life. He gave me a Bible, and I read it cover to cover. I fell in love with Jesus. With everything he stood for. When I read about him speaking to the woman at the well... I wanted him to speak to me like that. So I told Paul that I wanted to be saved. And that's when I discovered how wrong you all are."

Resistance began to grow in David. "And what's so wrong with us?"

"Paul began to tell me all the things I had to change before I could be saved. And then he told me that I had to move to Agape City."

"What's so wrong in that?" said David. "It's far nicer there, and safer."

"And so far from who Jesus was," said Josalin. "The Jesus I know sought out sinners. He met people where they were, and accepted them as they were!"

David shook his head. "Jesus was without sin. He had no tolerance for sin!"

"But he had all the love in the world for sinners!" Josalin fired back. "Don't you see? Jesus would not have run out of that club. He would have seen a room full of lost sheep, and loved them. But you... all you want to do is to get back to your safe little Christian world, far from the harvest field."

David was silenced once again, as Josalin used familiar Christian imagery against him.

"When I read that Bible, I wanted more than anything to know that Jesus, who would accept me as I am." She wiped tears from her eyes. "I'm still waiting."

With that, Josalin turned and ran off.

David stood there a long time, pondering her words. He wanted more than anything to shrug it off and go back to the business of returning home. So how come he couldn't erase her words?

He prayed that God would help him forget; and yet it seemed God wanted him to remember. He slowly became aware of the environment around him. The people passing by in their daily rituals, drifting from one day to the next without any hope. He thought of the people in the club, turning to alcohol because they had no Savior to lean on. He thought about Jesus, and for the first time, with utter honesty, asked what Jesus would do in a city like this?

He found a bench on the street, sat down, and cried.

7

David seemed as surprised to see Josalin as she was to see him. He stood on the other side of the metal gate, bags under his eyes, holding a few flowers.

"Hi," he said quietly.

"Where did you get those?" she asked.

"Guy at a flower shop," he answered. "I sang for his customers, and he agreed to give me a few."

Josalin nodded. "So singing at a flower shop is okay for Christians?"

David smiled. "I think so."

Josalin opened the gate. Once on the other side, she took the flowers and smelled them. "Is this your only reason for stopping by?"

"I went back and talked to Carlos last night," he said.

"So?"

"I want you to come hear me tonight."

8

The club was just as crowded as the night before Sitting in the rehearsal room, Josalin could tell David was much more nervous than last night. And yet, he seemed more focused, determined, and not at all bothered that Carlos had barely stocked the room with any food or drink.

How did David convinced Carlos to give him a second chance? She didn't know the man well, except by reputation. He did not take kindly to people who let him down, and he was not known for giving second chances. David had enormous talent, and despite his flaky performance the night before, he was a man of integrity. She was sure that hd a lot to do with Carlos's decision.

For his part, David said it was simply God's will. Josalin was sure that had something to do with it as well.

Despite the lack of accomodations, the waitress from the night before was back. Not only her, but two other girls who worked in the club peeked their heads in the room. Apparently the word was out as to how talented and cute David was. Josalin caught a few jealous glances from the girls, who must have assumed she and David were together. Not an unpleasant thought, if things could be different...

Daivd opened his eyes, coming out of whatever wondrous place he entered when he played, and looked at Josalin. "Thank you," he said.

She sat up, surprised by the remark. "For what?"

He never got a chance to answer. One of the girls knocked on the door, announcing that two men were here to talk to David about a music deal. Josalin looked at David with surprise. "A concert in a guitar shop and a flower shop, and you've got record deals to consider? Word travels pretty quick!"

"Yeah," David said. He wondered just how these men had heard of him. Then the wonder vanished at his Uncle Jeremiah and his friend, Joseph.

"David, thank God!" Jeremiah exclaimed.

David stood. "Uncle Jer?"

"We've been worried sick, David. The whole town of Christiana has been on a fast!"

"I fell asleep on the bus," David admitted.

Joseph laughed. "Didn't I warn you to get a good night's sleep?"

"Hey, I went to bed early," said David. "But for some reason..." David paused, pondering just who might be behind that reason.

"The good news is, we found you," said Joseph. "And now we can get you safely back home."

"But how did you..." David's eyes fell to Josalin.

"After our fight last night, I contacted them," she said. "You left all the info with me."

"She left a message at her apartment to come here if we arrived," said Jeremiah.

"Quite a nice young lady you found here," said Joseph with a smile. "We can take her with us if you like... and if she's able."

David winced at how Joseph said the word "able." He knew what Joseph meant.