Chris made it less than two blocks when his cell phone chirped. He turned right, into a convenience store, pulled to a stop, and picked up the phone. The display showed John’s name.
Chris accepted the call on its third ring, “Forget something?”
“I’m still at work with a few of the guys who want to join. They’re asking me a bunch of questions I don’t feel qualified to answer. I need your help man.”
“But I’m already on my way home. I told my wife I’d be there before 5:30.”
“I seriously can’t do this alone. Can’t you call her?”
Chris and his wife had already talked about this kind of thing. She made it clear she supported him, and encouraged him in his efforts, but she would not tolerate the sacrifice of their family.
“Are you there?” John said.
“We need to take a breath, slow down, and pray this through before jumping in too fast. I’d like twenty-four hours before we take any action. Can you do me a favor? Ask the group if they’d spread the word, and we’ll meet right after work tomorrow. I’ll delay talking with Steve until we’ve hashed this out.”
“I think they’ll buy that. But where can this many people get together?”
“Let’s plan on the sitting down at the picnic tables behind the factory.”
“Easy enough.”
“When you pray tonight and in the morning, be specific and ask for wisdom. This is bigger than we are, and we need all the help we can get.” A crumpled wad of anxiety expanded in Chris’ belly. “When we….” A beep signaled another call. Chris pulled the phone back from his ear. His wife was on the other line. “I’ve gotta go, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Are you almost home?” his wife sounded frustrated.
“On the way. I pulled over to take a call from John.”
“How long before you get here?”
Chris detected a tremor in his wife’s voice that he missed when she first spoke. “I’ll be there in a few minutes, is everything okay?”
“Someone called. A man, anonymous. It was weird and scary. He said if you didn’t stop stirring up trouble he’d trash the car permanently. What’s going on?”
Chris ran his free hand through his hair and glimpsed the worried expression on his face when he glanced in the rearview mirror. He hadn’t gotten the chance to tell her what happened today. Earlier, he’d thought Steve might shut things down, but now it looked like his wife might wield that power.
Chris prayed her heart would soften while he drove. The last thing he needed was conflict at home putting a stop to positive progress at work. At least that was the way he saw it, his wife would probably look at things differently though.
Anita FreshFaith @ Work
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business Coach, Certified Personality Trainer, Communications Specialist, speaker, and writer. She lives in Missouri.
Contact her via www.freshstartfreshfaith.org or anita.freshfaith@gmail.com
FreshFaith @ Work 