The Good Talker

“Who needs him, he’s such a loser.”  Roger responded to his friend Steven when the subject of Danny came up.

“That’s a pretty harsh thing to say about your brother.”  Steven responded.  Roger knew it was harsh.  He thought back when he and Danny were kids.  Danny, the older by a year and a half, was always the guy who could “fix anything”.  Oh, how mom and dad bragged on Danny when he fixed the washing machine or the lawnmower of unclogged a drain in the kitchen.  At first, Roger tried to learn to do what Danny did but it never worked out. 

Finally, in high school, Roger found his gift and like his own dad, it was the gift of gab.  He won competition after competition in speech, debate and other forms of speech giving.  He seemed to have a natural ability to talk to people, give speeches or just get people to see things his way or rally to his cause.  It served him well as he moved into a sales career whereas Danny built a very successful auto mechanics business around his skill. 

But sadly, for all the success the brothers had their dislike of each other kept them apart.  Danny never understood by talking was a good skill and Roger thought being able to tinker with machines or pipes or wires was a geeky way to be.  They fought about it endlessly until Danny moved out but holidays were always tense except when they went to see Grandma.  Everything stopped at Grandma’s house because she saw them as her sweet baby boys and for a while when they visited her, they were sweet and children again, innocent and always ready to play.

Steven left his friend Roger in his office thinking about his brother.  Roger wondered if there ever be a way to make things ok between them.  He didn’t know that over I his garage, while fixing a car, Danny was wondering the same thing.  Roger’s thoughts were broken by the phone ringing.  He answered it.  The sound of urgency in the voice was frightening. 

“Roger, the floods have his Pilger.”  Steven informed him.  Pilger was not far from the large city where his family grew up.  “The water is rising there and people are becoming trapped in their second floors.  The Red Cross is going in to try to get people out.”

At first, Roger didn’t get too alarmed but then he remembered, Pilger was where Grandma lived.  He picked up the phones and called her but no answer.  He knew she lived alone in that big house and probably could not get to the phone.  The thought of her alone facing that terror was more than he could stand.  Moving almost on instinct, Roger got moving.  He organized a rescue mission for the town of Pilger using his huge network of contacts at church, work, his clubs and his business contacts.  Within hours, Roger had an army of men and machinery gathered in the parking lot of the Church.  They were ready to invade Pilger and save those people.

“Folks,” he announced to the crowd of rescuers from his bullhorn.  “We need to pray.  My grandma is down there and you all have relatives there too.  Let’s pray that God help them until we can get there.”  And then he bowed his head and led them in prayer.

“Roger we have another area to pray about.”  Steve shouted out.  “Lots of these boats are broken.  We need mechanical help or getting all of us down there will be no good.  We need someone who can fix anything.”  Roger felt his face go hot with emotion because it was like God was telling him, “Get Danny.”  He had no time to wallow in self-pity or resentment at Danny.  He picked up his cell phone and called his brother’s number. 

All he had to say to Danny was “Danny, its Roger, grandma’s in danger.  Get down here.” And he knew Danny would fly to the scene.  And that is what happened.  Danny brought his tools and workers and in no time, they had the machines in tiptop shape.  Side by side, the brothers loaded the boats and together they got to Pilger and got every citizen out.  As the brothers sat side by side on the boat heading to grandma’s house they both suddenly knew why they were so different.  Danny knew that he could have never gotten such a huge response and organized the rescue so beautifully.  And Roger knew that Danny’s gift for fixing things was crucial to their success. 

As they got grandma into the boat, she hugged them both and kissed them and then she said what they both were thinking.  “God has given each of you boys a wonderful spiritual gift.  Working together you are a powerful tool for him.”  They knew it was right because that is how God blesses the church.  By giving everyone unique and wonderful gifts, we all can work together to do what God has for us to do.  Separate we are incomplete but together we are powerful tools for God to use for good.

The Broken Angel

Maggie liked watching big storms.  So when the rain was really pouring down that night, she sat in the front room with the lights off and watched it safely in her house.  Suddenly she saw a small figure walking into their cul-de-sac.  It was a girl.  She had no coat on and the rain was soaking her hair and dress completely.  It was clear she was crying. 

“Mommy come quick.”  Maggie cried out and when mommy saw the poor girl, she rushed out onto the porch.  Maggie came out with her and as she looked more closely, she suddenly recognized the girl.  “Oh Mommy, its Angie!”   Angie was Maggie’s best friend ever and they had been like sisters since kindergarten. 

“Go get her Maggie.”  Mommy said wisely knowing that if Angie was upset, seeing her dear friend first would be the best thing.  She watched her daughter rush to the street and embrace her friend and then lead her back to the porch.  As the girls approached, mommy went inside and got some blankets to dry Angie.

“I ran away Maggie.  I am so cold.”  Angie said as Maggie brought her to the house.

“Come in.  You will get sick out here.”  Maggie said in tears so afraid for her friend.  Angie came in and quickly mommy and daddy were there drying her hair and warming her.  Mommy gave her some of Maggie’s warmest things to wear for a while and daddy got some of the hot soup they had enjoyed at dinner and the whole family sat with her and made her feel safe and loved as she recovered.  Angie just looked at Maggie’s mom and dad in amazement as she sipped her soup and finally the shivering stopped.

“Why don’t you two girls go to Maggie’s room and play so you can settle down.”  Mommy said noticing that Angie wasn’t talking much with the adults around.

“Why did you run away?”  Maggie asked right away when they were in her room.

“I was so afraid.  My mom has a very expensive display of glass angel statues.  Well while they were out today, I took one down the play with it and I broke its wing.  I think it was her favorite and I knew she would be so mad so I ran away.  I was so upset, I didn’t know where else to go so I came to you.”  Angie said crying again.

“I am so glad you came here Angie.”  Maggie said hugging her friend.

“Your parents are so amazing.  They didn’t act mad that I messed up their carpet or anything. 

“Angie, parents are like that.  Your mom and dad are too.  Sure, they correct us.  We need that.  But your mom and dad love you no matter what.”  Maggie explained.

“Angie, your mom is on the phone.”  Maggie’s mommy called.  Right away Angie got scared.  Then Maggie’s mommy stepped into the room holding her hand over the speaker.  “She is crying Angie.  I told her you were safe but she wants to tell you how much she loves you.”

Maggie and her mom stepped out so she could take the call.  Finally, she came out sniffling.  She handed the phone to Maggie’s mom to talk to her parents and then turned to Maggie.  “She said nothing in the world was more important than me and she wanted me home in my own room where I can be safe and with her and daddy.”  Angie said looking confused. 

When Maggie’s mom finished on the phone she sat down with the girls and helped Angie dry her tears.  Maggie’s daddy came in and sat down too.  “I don’t understand why my mommy isn’t really mad I broke her angel.”  She told Maggie’s parents.

“Angie, you have to understand something about parents.”  Daddy said.  “Your dad and mom love you no matter what.  When they scold or try to teach you, that is part of love because they just want you to grow up to be all that God made you to be.  But their love is unconditional.  That means nothing you can do will make you deserve it and nothing bad you ever do will ever make them stop loving you.”

“But I don’t understand how they can do that” Angie said looking to Maggie’s dad for help.

“That’s easy Angie.” Mommy interrupted.  “It’s because that is how God loves us and how God loves you.  God is your heavenly father and he made moms and dad just like him.  In fact, God loved you and me so much, he was willing to let Jesus die on the cross so we can always be in heaven with him.  Your mom and dad would die rather than see you hurt sweetie.  That is the nature of God in them.” She said holding Angie’s hand.

“But I love them so much.  I don’t want them to die or sick or get old or even be sad.”  Angie said emotionally.

“Then let’s get you home to them and when you get there, you hug them and tell them how much you love them.”  Daddy instructed her.  “Then in the future if you do something wrong, you tell them right away and never ever run away again ok?”

“I promise.”  Angie said and then Maggie and her parents drove her home. 

As she ran up to the door and hugged her mom and then her dad.  Maggie said.  “It’s too bad about the broken angel.”

But mommy just smiled and hugged Maggie as she watched.  “It looks to me like the real little angel isn’t broken any more and will never get broken again.”

The Brand New Wizard

Sammy was a very impatient little wizard.  He had been studying under the great wizard Orzo for a year and still could only do the simple tricks.  How often he went to the base of the mountain and saw Orzo go to the top where the lightning flashed about him as he called out the great spells that sent healing and miracles into the villages below. 

Sammy knew there was one great spell that was so powerful; it would even defeat the great dragon Belial.  But the most powerful spell he knew was just the word “Ippidi Bippidi” which he could use to make fire come from the end of a stick.  And even that was hard to use because he kept burning up the stick, making the fire go into something wrong like his dog Ralph or it would shoot out the wrong end of the stick.  Plus most of the time when Sammy use the spell “Ippidi Bippidi”, his pants fell down.

“If you want to do great magic and such,” the great wizard laughed seeing his performance, “you will need to learn to keep your pants up each time.”

Sometimes Orzo took him on adventures as long as he promised to just mind the food and not try to battle the great dragon before he was ready.  And Sammy did as he was told because while he was impatient, he was obedient to his master.  In the last great battle, Sammy was able to get close and see the horrible dragon spewing hate and fire and lies and death at the villages and at Orzo.  Sammy crept closer and closer to learn as much as he could about how the great wizard defeated the evil one. 

Suddenly Orzo threw his hands into the air with his staff between them and looked up into the sky above the dragon, the battle, the village and all else and said the most powerful magic word of the universe. The powerful spell created an eruption of power from Orzo’s staff that sent the evil dragon flying in terror from the battle.  Sammy listened closely and learned the word but he dared not say it.  He hid it in his heart until it was his time.

Peace came to the land for a year and Sammy grew better at his duties.  “Look master,” he ran into the chambers with Ralph, his dog right behind him.  “I have gotten better at the spell.”  He said. 

He held out his tiny stick which was his staff.  Then squinting his eyes to concentrate he said the spell.  “IPPIDI BIPPIDI” he said and he held his breath.  Sure enough, a small pillar of fire shot from the proper end and did not hit the dog.  But the stick was a little burnt at the end so it needed work.  “See?” Sammy said thrusting out his chest proudly and his pride might have lifted him from the ground.  But then his pants fell down.

“We have to get you better pants little wizard.” His master laughed but it was clear Orzo was pleased at the progress.  “It takes great patience to become a great wizard but one day I will teach you the master spell, the word that is above all words and can even defeat the great dragon.”  Orzo promised and Sammy didn’t have the courage to tell him he had learned the word but never breathed it.

Belial struck without warning and this time on the home village of Sammy and Orzo.  Before they had a chance to counter attack, the great evil was up on the town spreading devastation and death.  Sammy and Orzo bolted from their beds hearing his terrible roars and seeing his fiery breath exploding out in the village everywhere.

“SAMMY, FIND MY STAFF!”  Orzo commanded frantically as he gathered his gear to take the battle to the dragon.  Together they shot out the door and out into the town.  As soon as they were into the courtyard, they stood at the feet of the great beast.  Sammy knew this was bad because Orzo did his best war from the mountaintop, not down in the valley where the village was. 

“HIDE SAMMY.”  Orzo commanded.  Sammy quickly found an overturned wagon to stay behind.  The flames flew form Belial and from the mighty staff of Orzo as the fierce war between good and evil took place right in the midst of mankind.  Suddenly, Sammy saw a baby waddling out from its home nearby.  The mommy was crying out in terror as she watched her baby walking directly toward Belial.

Sammy moved without thinking.  He dove and scooped up the baby and rolled with it back to the doorstep of the mommy.  She cried loudly and snatched his baby and pulled her inside.  Just then, Belial roared and fire shot out toward Sammy.  Sammy rolled out of the way just in time.  But when he turned over, he saw something that terrified him.  Orzo had turned to watch Sammy save the baby and that distracted was all the enemy needed.  Just as Orzo raised his staff to utter the word that is above all words, Belial’s claw slapped him to the ground.  Orzo rolled over and over and came to rest injured and moaning.

Sammy discovered courage inside him that he never knew was there.  He reached down and grabbed the staff of his master and stepped into the clearing directly in front of the demonic dragon.  Just then, Orzo woke up but could not move for his injuries.  “SAMMY NO!” he cried out.  But Sammy somehow found the strength in side him.  He lifted the staff into the air in one hand.

“IPPIDI BIPPIDI!” He spoke the only spell he had practiced.  A tiny flame shot from the staff and barely burnt the dragons toe.  Instead of hurting him, that only made Belial angry.  It rose up on its hind legs and roared in fierce fury rising high to bring his feet down to destroy the village once and for all.  Sammy decided he had to use the secret word he had learned, the word above every word.  There was no time to learn it or wait for Orzo to teach him.  He lifted his staff up high over his head and grasped it in both hands and then he shouted the words….

‘IN THE NAME OF JESUS!”  He spoke and the authority in his voice shattered the air and brought trembling to Sammy, the villagers and even to Orzo.  Suddenly there was silence.  Belial froze in mid attack, unable to move.  And then, as though he had been exploded from the inside, his form just turned to mist and disappeared.  The great evil was defeated.

“Am I in trouble for knowing the words?”  Sammy asked his master as he helped him back to their home.

“No, they are all words that all who serve our Lord should know.  For He is the greatest wizard, not I and not you.  And those words, well, that is the name that no evil can stand against.”  His master said reverently.  “Because at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, both on earth and under the earth and in heaven.”  He said giving his apprentice a loving squeeze.  “But you know what the best part is?”  Orzo said

“What master?”  Sammy asked as Ralph barked and ran ahead into their home. 

“Well you finally learned to cast your great spells,” Orzo said with a laugh, “without your pants falling down.”