Incredible Summer - Chapters 11, 12 and 13
CHAPTER #11
Talking with Pastor Sam and Talking with God
Early the next morning you might have seen Pastor Sam
making his way across the field behind the church, followed
not long afterward by a young boy. Barnaby was interested
in finding out more, and he wanted to talk to someone who
knew. Pastor Sam saw him coming and pulled up a log for
the boy to sit on, so Barnaby found he was more than
welcome even before he arrived. The pastor motioned for
him to sit down, and they talked for a while about general
things. Pastor Sam told him of some of the good fishing
spots in the river, and about the wildlife he sometimes saw in
the early morning. But after a few minutes the conversation
turned back in Barnaby's direction. Pastor Sam was a good
listener, and made you feel at ease, so Barnaby wasn't afraid
to share his thoughts.
"So what's on your mind?" Pastor asked.
"Well, it goes back a ways."
"I've got time," Pastor said. "Tell me."
"A few months ago I was suddenly all alone in the world.
I stayed with my Grandmother till school was out. Then she
sent me here because she thought I needed to get away. But
I knew I needed something more than that. I asked God if
somehow I could find a place where there's love."
"I think I understand," Pastor Sam said. "Go on."
"But then it seemed like everything this summer was going
wrong, and all the good things I was hoping for never quite
happened. And then yesterday, it was like my biggest dream
was about to come true, but again it didn't. So I did a lot of
thinking, and I couldn't help wondering about my prayer, and
where God was in all this."
"So you came looking for love, huh?"
"I hoped anyway, that I would find it."
Pastor Sam thought for a moment. "You know," he said
to Barnaby, "I've been a pastor for quite a few years now,
and I've listened to a lot of people. And pretty much they all
say the same thing. In one way or another, they're all looking
for love."
"Then I'm not alone, huh?"
"No, far from it."
"So what's the answer then?" Barnaby asked.
"Well, for most people, it comes in stages," Pastor Sam
explained. "First they try to find what they need in the world
around them - things and people... and experiences. After a
while they find it isn't there. I think that's what you've been
going through this summer."
"I sure tried hard enough."
"Yes," said the pastor. "Most people do. But after they're
done trying, they're ready for a new realization."
Barnaby was listening.
"There's a place in the Bible that says 'God is love,' which
means we never really find what we're looking for until we
find God."
"But why is it so painful then?"
"Because most of us have to lose ourselves before we
look around for help from someone else."
"I feel like I've been losing myself, " said Barnaby.
"I know, but that means you're ready for the next step,"
said Pastor Sam. "You see, God knows what it's like to
walk around down here, because he came himself."
"You mean Jesus."
"That's right. Jesus was God's expression of love for all
the world. And He loved the world so much, He died saying
so."
Barnaby was silent for a moment. "Then all the love I'll
ever need... is already mine?" he asked.
"Yes. It's all been given. You just have to reach out and
take it."
"How?" Barnaby asked.
"You just believe Him," Pastor Sam said. "And it helps if
you tell Him so yourself."
"I think I understand," said Barnaby.
"This is a good place," said Pastor Sam. "I've talked to
God many times right here. How about if I go for a walk,
and you can say whatever it is you're thinking."
So Pastor Sam walked away, and Barnaby sat there on
the log trying to sort through what he had just learned.
"God," he said at last, "I knew I needed love. I guess I just
didn't know how much I needed You. I want to believe You
now, like Pastor Sam says. I guess that's all, except... well,
thanks." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Amen."
After that there was silence. The river drifted slowly past,
and Barnaby's thoughts traced the route he had traveled
since the day he arrived. All the scenes from the summer
flashed across his mind like pictures from a story. Now here
at last, in the most unexpected place, the story was finally
complete. The long search was over. Somehow in his heart,
he knew he had come home.
Song 10 - This Way Is Better
I didn't know love would come this way
I didn't know all the things I dreamed of would be mine
but not quite the way I dreamed
If it comes to choosing, I guess I'd have to say
this way is better
I didn't know love could be so free
I tlought I'd somehow have to earn what came to me
but that's not the way it is
If it comes to choosing, I guess I'd have to say
this way is better
And if my heart could describe what I'm feeling inside
then the words would have to flow out of heaven
Cause that's where love is God's indescribable love
That takes you where you are
And sends you where you're going
I didn't know love had such a cost
I didn't know Jesus came to pay it at the cross
but you know that's what He did
If it comes to choosing, I guess I'd have to say
God's way is better
If it comes to choosing - God's way is better
CHAPTER #12
A Few Last Things
Although Barnaby expected Pastor Sam to come back
shortly, it was actually Robin who came walking across the
field with her little dog, Muffin.
"Hi, Robin," Barnaby said. "I didn't expect you to find me
here."
"Pastor Sam said I might," Robin answered. "I was
walking Muffin, but I was kind of hoping we would meet. I
have a couple things I need to tell you."
"You do?" Barnaby asked.
"Yes," Robin said. "One's kind of easy to say, and the
other's kind of hard. Which one do you want me to say
first?"
"Why don't you start with the easy one," Barnaby
suggested.
"Well, after yesterday's game my sister felt kind of bad for
you. We were talking about it at home, and you know, I
think she likes you. At least, she gave me permission to tell
you."
Barnaby didn't quite know what to say, but he didn't
really have time anyway, because Robin still had something
else she wanted to express.
"The harder thing is," she began, "that I've been feeling a
little bad about... just... how I treated you this summer.
Between the frog race and the dog costume... I could have
been a better friend, that's all. I'm sorry."
"It's alright," said Barnaby. "I forgive you. You found me
at a good time."
"Do you think," Robin asked, "that you could also... like...
well... hit me or something?"
"What?" Barnaby asked.
Robin explained. "When I was little, and I did something
wrong, my parents would sometimes give me a little extra...
well, you know where. I never looked forward to it, but
when it was over, I did feel better. I thought if you just... hit
me or something, maybe I'd feel better now." Barnaby
smiled. "I don't think I could do that," he said. "But if you
really want to feel good, Uncle Al has something in his
workshop that does marvelous things for people."
"He does?" Robin asked.
"Sure. Come with me and I'll show you."
So the two of them set off across the field and back
through town till they got to Uncle Al's workshop. There, in
the middle of the room, stood the amazing machine. Uncle
Al wasn't around, so Barnaby had to do the explaining.
"All you have to do is stand here," he said. "I'll go over
and spin the crank, but I won't spin it too hard, cause I've
already experienced it myself."
"No. I really want you to spin it hard," Robin said, "cause
I really want to feel good afterwards ."
"Oh you'll feel good," said Barnaby, "just maybe not
immediately."
"That's okay. I'm ready," said Robin, and she took her
position in the target zone.
Barnaby gave the crank the same spin he and Uncle Al
had experienced weeks before. It was a little scary for
Robin when she heard the noise building in intensity, but she
didn't flinch, and the delivery arm did its job just like the first
time. The next thing she knew, she'd been bumped clean off
her feet. She tumbled to the floor in speechless wonder.
Muffin looked at her with questioning eyes, not realizing how
magnificent a moment it was. Barnaby knew, but he didn't
want to interrupt the process, so he just knelt down on the
floor a couple feet away, waiting for what he knew was
about to happen.
First Robin looked up with a wordless expression that
needed no other description. But then slowly, magically, it
began to fade, and a tiny smile started to appear instead. In
a few seconds the smile turned into a hint of a laugh, and
then a real one that couldn't be mistaken. Then Barnaby
started to lose it. You should have seen them. Muffin was
jumping up and down and barking. Robin was laughing and
feeling better by the minute. And Barnaby - he just gave
himself away, and throwing his hands up over his head, fell
over backwards to the floor.
CHAPTER #13
A Few Last Words
The summer eventually came to an end, as all seasons do,
and it did so almost the same way it began - with a letter for
Grandma Brindle. It was delivered by John Wilshire on the
same exact front porch, and just like before, it was from
Uncle Al. He had been thinking that instead of sending
Barnaby back, it might be even better if Grandma came to
live in Benderburg, and would she consider such a move.
And you know? That's exactly what she decided to do.
So Barnaby took the train back to where his journey
started - for two reasons. One was to accompany Grandma
on the trip. The other was to visit a certain place that he
cherished.
The sun was shining bright on that beautiful September
morning. The air was warm, but hidden in it there was a hint
of cooler days and autumn colors. The wind swept softly
across the fields and up into the hills.
If you had been there, you might have seen a young boy
climbing a familiar hill outside of town. His thoughts were
perhaps his own, but this time he wasn't alone, for a young
companion had made the trip too, and now she climbed the
hill along with him. When they reached the cemetery, she
watched a little hesitantly while he knelt down at his
treasured place. She didn't want to intrude, but then her
heart reached out, so she came over and knelt down beside
him. It was one of those moments you never can forget.
Silence was their's on the way up, but laughter walked
with them on the way down. They talked, and skipped, and
ran across the fields back toward town. Sometimes they
would choose a tree or a particular fencepost and race to
see who got there first. But though they talked and skipped
and laughed together, Barnaby couldn't stay with her when
they raced. That girl could run like the wind.
So they went back to Grandma's house, and a little while
after there were three who stood at the country station. The
train came around the bend, and they climbed aboard.
Barnaby looked out the window, but he couldn't say
anything this time. There were too many memories at once.
What a summer it had been. What an Incredible Summer!
Reprise - Somewhere There's Love For Me
Say, is there love for everyone in the world
Or for just a few who happen to be lucky
Hey doesn't it seem like every boy and girl
Should have a place where it's easy to be happy
Somewhere a place... somewhere a home...
Somewhere a spot you can call your own
And no one to tell you that you don't belong
A pocketful of reasons to be singing a happy song
"Rusty River. Rusty River Junction.
Rapid Falls coming up. All aboard!"
I sure hope there's love for everyone in the world
I have my own kind of personal reason
Cause if there's love for everyone in the world
Then somewhere there's love for me
"Come on! Let's get a little life on this train."
Somewhere a place... somewhere a home...
Somewhere a spot you can call your own
And no one to tell you that you don't belong
A pocketful of reasons to be singing a happy song
"Rapid Falls. All passengers for Rapid Falls.
Next stop, Benderburg. All aboard!"
I sure hope there's love for everyone in the world
I have my own kind of personal reason
Cause if there's love for everyone in the world
Then somewhere there's love for me... for me!
Written for the 1994 Children's Show
Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Copyright 1994 Steve Mugglin