Reminiscences18

True Church

Ben was awoken from this vivid recollection by Ovidiu’s voice.

'Are you ok?'

The sickness and faintness had passed and so Ben was able to give an affirmative response.

 'I’m fine.'

Ovidiu helped him to his feet. Ben dusted himself off as if it had been nothing and set his face to move onwards, spurred on by the memory of this strange forgiveness that he wanted to get to the bottom of.

They wound their way through a series of back streets until a definitive right turn into a little road, a bit further up which they arrived at the church building. Once again it wasn’t quite what Ben had been expecting. The church was wedged in between other buildings. There was a gate, not much of a courtyard in contrast to the spacious area before the Orthodox church and then steps, somewhat steeper than those of the Orthodox church, which led up to the church’s entrance. Ben readily ascended them, this time without the reluctant uncertainty that he had felt at the other Church. This time he sensed that he was in the right place.

Ovidiu was obviously on home ground and quickly darted in through the door, then sharp right and into the church sanctuary, but taking after this another left turn up a few steps to a raised seating platform at the back of the church. Ben hadn’t seen anything like this before and thought that maybe it was so that the church leaders could see better who was sleeping or otherwise not paying attention at the back of the church. In any case, it didn’t deter Ovidiu and he quickly found what was presumably his usual seat. Ben sat down next to him.

The church was large. Ben pondered how many people would fit in. It was hard to tell. He was tempted to do a quick estimate, but his attention was quickly drawn by something unexpected. Either his Romanian had fast improved or a miracle had taken place, but Ben realised that the person speaking from the front was intelligible. Ben did a double-take and then it occurred to him why. The man was American!

'And so today I want to speak to you about the Prodigal son,' said the preacher in a noticeable southern American drawl.

'Și azi vreau să vă vorbesc despre fiul risipitor,' came the translation.

Could it be a double piece of divine providence? Ben had not only entered the church at the precise moment when the sermon was starting, but it was also a sermon being delivered in a language he could understand. Maybe Ovidiu knew about this and had planned it all along or, perhaps, it was just the way it was meant to be.  

The American preacher skilfully and beautifully told the story of the Prodigal son, a boy who left home with his share of his Father’s wealth and squandered it in wild living. Once the money had run out, he lost his friends and ended up taking care of some pigs. As so many do, when he got into trouble and suffering he then started to think about the deeper things of life. He realised that it was much better back at his Father’s home. Even if he had behaved in such a bad way, he decided to return, expecting that he might just be allowed back, but not as a son anymore, instead as a hired worker. Maybe that way he could repay some of what he had wasted.

However, to his surprise, as he is approaching his home village, his father sees him from a distance and runs to him, embracing him and fully accepting him back as a son. He offers gifts and even throws a party that the whole village can come to!

In the same way, explained the preacher, we too have all separated from God to live our lives as we please, but with his wealth. However, if we realise our mistake, come to our senses and get up and return to Him, he will receive us back and make us a child of His, and all this is a free gift. We don’t have to do anything to earn it or repay our sins.

Towards the end of the sermon, as captivating as it was, Ben’s mind began to wonder. He pictured the last moment when he had seen Alexandra. It was at their graduation ceremony. She had gotten a first-class degree and was off to Cambridge to become a researcher. Ben hadn’t quite hit those heights. He had got an upper second, also respectable, but he felt like he could have done better, if it wasn’t for all the turbulent thoughts that had been going through his mind. He’d started to wonder what the point of everything was. Even if he got a good degree and then a good job and then a family and so on, it was still going to end one day, and then what? And what did any of these things mean, as pleasant and nice as they were, if ultimately one day he would be gone and forgotten. Indeed, when he was gone where would he be? He couldn’t contemplate not existing anymore.

Such weighty thoughts, had greatly distracted him from his studies. He’d read some books and watched some films, but hadn’t yet found any answers. One day, just before the graduation ceremony, it had occurred to him that maybe he should just ask Alexandra. She seemed to have it all worked out and whatever she had he wanted. Graduation after all might be the last time he saw her and so he didn’t want to miss this last chance.

The moment came then. Both with degree certificates in hand and wearing flowing black gowns and funny square topped hats, he approached her to say goodbye.

‘Alexandra, I just wanted to congratulate you on your first and wish you all the best at Cambridge.’

‘Thanks. You too for whatever you now do.’

‘Thanks. There was one thing I wanted to ask.’

‘Yes, what?’

Ben poised himself, not quite sure how to say it, in spite of a number of rehearsals.

‘I’ve noticed there is something different about you and I would like to know what?’

She looked kind of embarrassed and reluctant to speak. After a few moments though, she gathered herself. ‘When I was little, I met Jesus at my church in Romania. He gave me life and now I live for Him!’ was her bold affirmation.

Ben was taken a back. Jesus had died more than 2000 years ago, so what was He doing walking around Romania and visiting churches there?

Ben would have liked to have asked more questions to examine Alexandra’s statement, but he was denied the chance. She seemed a little hesitant to speak anyway, but, some older people who were presumably her parents, called her over to have some photos taken. She said bye and wished Ben all the best and she was gone.

Ben considered trying to follow up later, but decided that he’d heard what he needed. He was left with lingering thoughts in his mind about Romania. Little did he know that he would also meet Jesus there one day.

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