I ended the 6th installment of “A Faraway State of Mind” with the following line:
Then, one night, in the middle of the night, explosions were heard over Northeast Point. The Continent was at war…
I’m not sure I like ending this installment this way. But, as the author, I have to learn to live with it. I made my bed and now I have to sleep in it. The world is crazy to a point that, even ten years ago it still felt reasonably sane. Prior to the “A Faraway State of Mind” series, I wrote a few short stories regarding doomsday scenarios. I’ve even had dreams and visions about different such scenarios from time to time. Considering all this, the above line set the stage for what someday will be the 7th installment of this series. For now, though, here is an excerpt from what I feel comfortable enough to share:
Pastor Charlie Jarvis: Well, are you guys ready to get this started?
April Mae York: Absolutely!
Thomas More: [looking around] Might as well. No reason to wait any longer.
John More: Go ahead.
Pastor Charlie: All right, then. … Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together to celebrate the union of April Mae York and Thomas More. Especially in this time, when the future of our Continent is uncertain, what is still certain is that we have a God who is still on the throne, and a God who still honors marriage, especially the marriages of those who honor Him.
Thomas: Amen!
Pastor Charlie: [winks at Thomas] So let us pray… [bows head, along with Thomas, April Mae, John, and Erin and Daniel York] … Heavenly Father, we gather here together because You have promised that wherever three or more are gathered in Your name, You will be in the midst of them. We ask for Your presence here, as we join April Mae and Thomas in marriage. We ask Your blessings over this ceremony as April Mae and Thomas make their vows to each other. Stand by them throughout their marriage and fill them with Your perfect love so that they may grow in their love for You and for each other throughout their marriage and their lives. We also ask You to protect them – and to protect all of us – in this unprecedented time in our Continent’s history, that You will strengthen them, and strengthen their marriage, no matter where they go. All of these things we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thomas / April Mae / John / Erin / Daniel: [almost in unison] Amen.
Pastor Charlie: All right. Our Scripture passage for today is one I know you’ve all heard countless times at weddings, and there’s a reason for it: it’s because it is a charge for how we need to choose to love, at all times, so as to keep the marriage strong, no matter what comes your way. The passage is from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, in the thirteenth chapter:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
In this passage, we don’t get the mushy-gushy type of love, although that is certainly more than acceptable in a marriage. Apostle Paul, as I think you all know, was not a “mushy-gushy” type of guy, generally focusing more about faith and truth than love in his messages overall. But what we do get is how to love rightly. Love – patient, kind. Both Thomas and April Mae waited. Sure, it was hard…
[Thomas and April Mae exchange knowing glances at each other]
Pastor Charlie: … but they stayed true to God, waiting on Him first, and getting themselves prepared to receive one another. They were patient, so that when they met, they knew how to be kind to one another, no matter what issues that they had to face. … There are many things true love doesn’t do: it doesn’t boast, isn’t proud, doesn’t dishonor others, and isn’t self-seeking. … We can look to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins as a perfect example of this as well. Jesus never boasted in Himself, only in His heavenly Father. He never gave into temptation of pride. He honored his Father and He honored others. And even though Jesus had all the glory – for He is God the Son – He never sought glory for Himself, only for His Father in heaven. And it is through Jesus, and specifically His love for us that drove His obedience to everything He ever did in His life here on earth, that we can do the same.
I could go through all the bullet points from the rest of this passage and spend all day dissecting it, but in the interest of time, I’ll say just one last thing to April Mae and Thomas: God’s love will never fail, and it will never fail you. Tomorrow, who knows where you guys will be… But like the passage closes out: love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. God will do – and is doing – these things for you. Never lose your trust or your hope in God and for each other, and always persevere.
Thomas / April Mae: [mumbling, while still looking at each other, smiling] Amen.
Pastor Charlie: OK, now for the vows…
The story cuts away from the wedding scene to a rather tense and anxious conversation between Thomas More and his father, John More. As developments across the Continent ensue, the two men find themselves making opposite decisions based on contrasting information they’ve been provided about the situation and part from one another. Then the story cuts back to the wedding scene:
Pastor Charlie: …By the power vested in me by Almighty God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Thomas, you may now kiss your bride. [Thomas and April Mae kiss] And now, may I present to you this day, Thomas and April Mae More!
John, Erin and Daniel applauded and gave cheers. Thomas and April Mae said their thank-yous and embraced each of the family members present. After a few minutes of this, Pastor Charlie reminded Thomas and April Mae of the sensitivity of time, and the urgency for them to get on the road. The newly-wedded couple said their goodbyes to Pastor Charlie and their family members and began running off toward their car in the parking lot.
Pastor Charlie: [calling distantly as Thomas and April Mae leave] Maybe when this all blows over, we can have that reception!
Thomas and April Mae approached their getaway car and got in.
April Mae: I hope and pray that the others are able to make it back to where they’re staying.
Thomas: I hope so, too. [Turns on the car and starts driving]
April Mae: So, how soon do you think we can make it to Mount Prospect National Park?
Thomas: Oh, I don’t know… I guess about six or seven hours. It’s a long drive.
April Mae: [grimacing slightly] I know…
Thomas: But it is because we found a route that should… should… keep us safe while on the road.
April Mae: I’m praying for it! Believing for it!
Someday in the future when I have time on my hands, I’d love to recreate the map of the Continent. About 6 or 7 years ago I bought a very large sketching pad and began sketches on the city of Centropolis, where many of the main characters live. Centropolis has never really been drawn before, which makes for both an exciting and daunting prospect of creating a place to fit as many features as possible of the city as it pertains to all the stories I’ve written that have been set there.
There is however an existing, primitive sketch of the Continent that I drew when I was a child. Let me know if you notice anything missing:
