We all stopped gossiping when Ellen entered the lounge, only because she was our main topic. Several of us had been discussing her appearance lately; clothes that looked slept in, hair that needed washing and an apparent weight loss that seemed non intentional. We were having difficulties feeling sorry for her since she had such an air of superiority. We'd all been to her house at one time or another for wedding and baby showers, not because we liked her, but because we loved the guests of honor. Ellen was always more than eager to show off her latest home improvements and designer touches, therefore with every pregnancy and engagement she quickly offered her services for hosting the inevitable parties, before anyone else could speak up. She did indeed have a magnificent home, well decorated and roomy enough for all of us to gather in for festivities. And she did indeed love to flaunt it.
I'm sure Ellen knew we were discussing her since the air changed rapidly in the room. After all, she'd sat at the same table when someone else was the target of loose tongues, inspired by her observations. Come on, we all do it, talk about those not present, don't we? She poured a cup of coffee and sat at another table, appearing interested in the magazine on the table top. What an act, I knew she wasn't really interested in a Field and Stream periodical; they didn't have ads for home décor!
I had just made myself another cup of tea when the familiar roll call sounded over the intercom. We were being asked to go home early, again. Hospital census was down due to the recent recession. Lost jobs meant lost insurance, which meant no elective surgeries, which meant no postings, which meant not enough cases to go around which meant we could go home early occasionally (i.e everyday.)For me that was fine, I'd succeeded in paying off my house and car. I had only one mouth to feed, well, actually, one human mouth and four canine mouths, but they were little canines, they hardly ate much. Throw in some shoes, books and furniture legs and they did fantastic.
My first stop on my way home was at the book store, I'd been eyeing a new devotional book there for some time and decided I'd procrastinated long enough. While there I meandered to the back of the store where a group was gathered around some counters demonstrating tarot cards. Just see if christians could gt permission to demonstrate the Lord's Supper!
"Want a reading?" I was asked by a wacky looking man with long hair, scars, piercings and demonic tattoos ( literally; tattoos of demons)..
"No, thanks," I politely declined.
"Why not? It won't hurt," he responded. "You might have an interesting future." He said enticingly.
"Hey, I guess you're pretty rich then," I suggested.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well if this helps you predict the future you should have been real prepared for this recession." I explained, I then got a sour look as he turned his attention to some more willing participant.
Lots of young impressionable kids and spellbound adults were all hovering around getting readings. Some of the tarot card practioners looked like people I would meet in Sunday school. . I didn't need a reading from some cards to know my future, as a Christian I was positive where I was going by reading the book. I clutched my devotional book and scurried out, praying for the lost souls behind me. I could feel the presence of Satan's minions suspended in the air causing my blood to curdle. Oops, I almost forgot to pay for my book! Silly me, but it would have been the devil's fault.
Next I headed to the grocery store where I loaded up my shopping cart with over priced delectable's trying to remember the current list of off limit products. Let's see, I don't need contaminated baby formula, strawberries, peanut butter, spinach, mercury saturated tuna fish, recalled dog food, meat tainted with mad cow disease, hell, I'd be mad too if I was the primary protein source for the globe, like the add says, let them eat chicken! Then again, chicken has had its' day of bad publicity. I selected produce with a prayer upwards that God would protect me from unwise choices in this age of pollution and uncertainty.
My last stop before heading home was the gas station. As my car guzzled in its life giving fluid I caught sight of someone....No, it must have been a look alike. Casting my eyes about the parking lot I saw it; Ellen's van. That must have been her going into the rest room....with a towel and toiletry bag. Returning the nozzle to its resting place I decided I needed a pit stop myself.
Inside the bathroom I found Ellen and her daughter at the sink, washing their faces and brushing their teeth. It was a rather awkward moment....for them, not me. I was puzzled not embarrassed. Ellen stuttered something about the plumbing in her house being repaired and they were just here for a fix up. I wasn't fooled. When I casually went out of my way to walk past her van I noticed...after pressing my face to the tinted windows...that the car was crammed with personal possessions . An air mattress covered the back end under rumpled blankets and clothes, a portable grill was on the front seat and sacks of canned and boxed groceries lined the back seats.
I just drilled Ellen with the look; you know what I mean, the universal look that has so many different meanings for every occasion.
Ellen lowered her head and confessed, "Without the over time I'd gotten used to at work I couldn't make my house payments anymore. Janice and I have been living out of our car for the past few weeks."
I was shocked. That lovely house we had all been so jealous of, that Ellen had been so proud of, had gone back to the bank. Well, now I was sure there was a God in heaven. This was wonderful. I could barely keep from gloating. I chivalrously murmured my hypocritical condolences and hastily retreated back to my car where my cell phone was. I had calls to make, people to update, gossip to proliferate. Reputations to ruin. My evening was looking up. Unfortunately for me my cell phone was next to the bag I had gotten at the book store. You know, the bag with the devotional book I'd wanted. The book that honed your attention on God and his will. Drat it all. I returned to the restroom , slower the second time around as my feet were weighted down with upcoming regrets, and offered to take Ellen and her daughter into my humble home. They would still need the air mattress, I informed them, and we would be a little cramped, but it was better than living on the streets in a car. Ellen was definitely taken aback and I could see hope cross Janice's strained sixteen year old face.
Ellen must have suspected what we girls at work had thought of her superior airs and just requested that I take her daughter in till she could get on her feet again.
"Nope," I answered, "This is a package deal, I either take the both of you or none at all."
To Janice's relief Ellen agreed to the "temporary offer". She insisted it wouldn't take long to get herself sorted out. It was a happy duo that trotted back to their van and followed me home. I on the other hand prayed for a quick release from my momentary insanity. God, please make this short-term. Why did you let me do this? I can't believe I'm so impulsive, what was I thinking? If I was flexible I'd kick myself in the ....where ever I could swing my foot.
We worked out a routine over the subsequent weeks. No one at work suspected we were co habituating, I agreed to keep Ellen's confidence and she agreed (nonverbally) to be free slave labor. I didn't have to cook or clean. (Actually that wasn't much of a change from my regular custom but this time my house was really getting cleaned and I was eating home cooking.) My expenses went up somewhat but Ellen was contributing to the kitty, and I grew to love Janice. It was fun having a teenager in the house again. Did I really say that? Oh, my gosh, don't let my daughter ever get wind of that! And Ellen provided some wonderful touches to my home. She filled in my dirt yard with a concrete patio, added some solar lights, potted plants and poof , a nice little garden of Eden sprang up before my eyes, minus the snakes. I was definitely getting my money's worth and receiving more than I was giving. This was working out pretty good for me. It was my turn to flaunt my little habitat, now I can see how easy it is to feel pride in your home.
Ellen and Janice came with me to bible studies where I tended to feel a little hypocritical since I had slandered Ellen's name at work in the past. But thank heavens we have a God that causes us to eat our words and actions and teaches us the meaning of repentance. Ellen genuinely forgave me and apologized herself for her foolishness in submitting to the demons of boast and pride.
Meanwhile the recession wasn't abating. Things were getting tougher in the world at large and I was glad to not be alone. People were getting laid off, crime was going up, (I couldn't believe that was possible) food prices were soaring, elderly retired people were job hunting with the twenty year old college grads to supplement their vanishing retirement accounts. And Ellen, Janice and I grew into an odd family.
The temporary living conditions had become a relative term. My den had been transformed into Ellen and Janice's bedroom with furniture they had taken out of storage and she had stopped apartment hunting. And at work we were hearing the roll call more and more often. We all feared lay offs were pending. Oh the sweet aroma of fear. I still clung to my believes that God would not let me down, me or any other believer, despite the discouraging news reports from worldly announcers and predictors. The words coming from the lips of our new president were pleasant to hear, but as of yet we weren't seeing much progress.
One afternoon in October as we gathered in the break room (as a part of my self improvement project I had given up gossip, and no it wasn't easy) I heard a loud noise and glanced at Ellen. She had heard it also, but it didn't seem anyone else had so we shook our shoulders and went back to our discussions. Then we, Ellen and I, heard it again. There was unquestionably something going on somewhere.
Something that only Ellen and I heard......Roll call. We were being called to go home...again. No finally. "Ellen. Marcy. Come on over." A loud thundering voice from somewhere above invited, mimicking Bob Barker in the Price is Right. I didn't even have a chance to blink my eye before it happened, I was answering roll call up yonder, on the other side of eternity singing When The Roll is Called up Yonder I'll be There!; with more than just blind faith but total devotion and conviction, in a giant crowd of recession survivalists who were all in line before a great white throne being handed their non perishable and uncontaminated rewards.
Duet. 28
Pro. 11:25
Pro. 26:20
Psalm 68:6
Gal. 5:16-25
1 Thes. 4:15-18
1 pet 1:22-25
