A Soft Conversion (long... but read anyway)

The door bell rang. She scrunched up her face in a scowl but went to answer it anyway. At least the tv show was on a commercial. Without bothering to glance out the window, she opened the door and let it swing in, knocking softly against the wall. Aidan stood smiling stiffly, hands in pockets, straight backed, and rigid as though he was bracing for something. “Hey Kara.” She smiled slightly and pushed the screen door open.

“Aidan.” He grabbed the black metal of the door and prepared to step inside. Kara shook her head. “My parents aren’t home. We can go for a walk if you want. But you can’t come inside.”

“Sure,” he said holding the door open for her so she could step down onto the small patio. “Let’s go for a walk.” The rounded the corner at the end of the street and headed down a small hill to the neighborhood park.

“So,” she asked, as they passed through the shade of a tall oak, “why’d you come?”

“I heard about your parents.” She laughed slightly and shook her head with a roll of her eyes.

“You don’t have to worry about me so much Aidan. I’m going to be just fine.”

“I don’t believe you.” He said it so simply that Kara had to stop and look at him. His eyes were gray and soft, running off to far away places. There was forever in his eyes and worlds beyond the turmoil she found herself in now. Peace and gentleness, an eternal stillness that reached out to her.

“Of course you don’t believe me, no one ever does,” she said with a sardonic smile. Turning away from him she went on walking. “But really, I’ll be just fine in a little while. I just need some time.” She turned back to where he still stood just beyond the protective shadow of the oak, “You worry too much Aidan. I just need to sort some things out,” Kara smiled again, trying to be encouraging. “I promise Aidan, I’ll be okay.” He sighed but stretched his legs out into long strides to catch up with her.
They walked in silence for a long time. Finally Aidan slowed to a stop in the shade of the wall surrounding the tennis courts. He stared at the ground for a while as he began, afraid to look up for the expression on her face.

“You play a pretty convincing role. You’re a good actress. You act like you don’t need anyone. But I see through it, Kara. I see through all the lies and the masks,” he looked up and caught her eyes, “you’re hurting. You’re hurting really bad too. I have something to tell you, but before I start, I want you to know I care about you.”

“You going to tell me what’s wrong with me?”

“Something like that,” he said with a playful smile that she hadn’t expected. Kara leaned back on her right leg and waited. He started slowly, weaving a tale of a garden. Beautiful and luscious, beyond anything that she could ever imagine. But something went drastically wrong in the garden and the keepers were thrown out to make a way for themselves in the world. Years passed, they died, their children died, generations flew by and the world grew wicked. They parted ways with the perfect beauty of the old garden. A great flood was sent to wipe the earth clean and only one man and his family survived, along with enough animals to repopulate the world. Kara listened in silence, much to Aidan’s surprise.

Again the evil crept back into the world. God chose one man to make a special promis to. His descendants would be blessed if only they would follow the laws of the one who had given them this promise. Several times the people had to be brought back to their righteous ways, often by drastic measures. A savior was promised, one who would wipe away all the evil that seemed so inherent in men. He would provide access to God if only one would accept his gift of love and sacrifice. “He provides peace to, and is a friend like no other. His love is unconditional,” he spread his arms out, “and it is as wide as the ocean. He can heal any hurt, Kara. Even your heart can be made new again.” Kara looked doubtful, with her arms folded across her chest. “He offers eternal life and joy. You only have to say yes.”

“You offer me eternity, but why should I believe you?” her hands exploded into the air as she threw her arms up in frustration, “don’t you see? Nothing is eternal! My parents are divorcing! They had a great marriage and it is over now. Look!” she pointed behind him towards the setting sun ablaze in orange and yellow, “the sun is going down! Not even time is eternal! It goes on and on, but it ends. The day is over, night is starting! See, Aidan? You offer me eternity but why should I buy that?” Her arms lowered to her sides. Aidan’s eyes were bright. He caught her hands in his.

“Don’t you see? That was not how it was intended to be! But we became imperfect and live in a cursed world. Come on Kara! You are offered eternity and love, love beyond reason!”

“I can see it in your eyes,” she said slowly, turning to watch the toe of her sandal trace circles in the dirt. She wanted to look anywhere but at his eyes.

“See what?” he asked, dropping her hands in muted astonishment.

“I see forever stretching out beyond time. Does that make sense? I see what you are talking about. You have this obvious hope and belief in something that goes far past us, you believe in eternity. But there is so much in this world, so much that is ending and beginning all at the same time,” she sighed, “so much turmoil and uncertainty. Belief in forever, it seems so impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible with God.”

“So you say.”

“The fact that we are even having this conversation, that is proof enough for me.” Kara looked up and met Aidan’s hopeful eyes. Forever lay beyond the gray mists of time, she could see it stretch wide and far. But the next day was full of it’s own worries, how could she even think to consider eternity? A concept she could not even begin to grasp. “Come on Kara,” he said softly. “What do you say?”

“Unconditional love?” she asked slowly.

“And everlasting peace.”

“I’ll start with the love. And we’ll have to deal with eternity in a few days. I can’t quite grasp it somehow.”

“Neither can I.”

“So, it’s really unconditional?” She asked one more time, as she turned to walk again. He walked beside her and sighed happily.

“Pretty hard to believe huh?” He stopped suddenly and grinned widely.

“What?” she asked suspiciously. Instead of answering, he caught her around the waist
and swung her around in a circle. Her legs flew out behind her as she held on to his shoulders with wide eyed surprise.

“I’m so happy Kara! I’m so happy you said yes!” he cried out loudly and then put her down. “I could dance and jump up and down and scream and laugh and cry, I’m so happy.” She took his hands in hers and pulled him along the sidewalk laughing hard as tears streamed down her face.

“I know Aidan!” she said between gusts of laughter, “I feel the same way! Come on, let’s run as fast as we can!” He laughed and sprinted after her.

Yatahay,
Sara