Free From – Chapter 16 – July 16th

I hope you will join me this month as we JOURNEY each day through our short story. It is about finding FREEDOM in the midst of all the captivating pieces in life that steal our peace which we need FREE FROM!

FREE FROM
July 16, 2021

Isaiah 54:16-17, ‘”See, I am the One Who created the craftsman who fans the coals into a fire and forges a weapon fit for its purpose, and I am the One Who create the destroyer to destroy. But I promise you, no weapon meant to hurt you will succeed, and you will refute every accusing word spoken against you. This promise is the inheritance of Yahweh’s servants and their vindication is from Me,” says Yahweh.’ (TPT)

Chapter 16

     Sometimes there are compilations of disasters which compound everything. As if life isn’t enough on its own. Maybe you are moseying along, minding your own business, unable to smell the coffee. You inhale it instead…out of habit or need; you tell yourself you’re much too busy to indulge and enjoy a cup o’joe. The coffee is for a purpose, for the properties it offers, not the fact coffee is a treat, bliss—hands wrapped around the mug, steam playing with your face, the sharp intake when it slides down your throat, too hot and unexpected, but amazing all the same. One thing detonates, and before you know it, you are bombarded with catastrophes and challenges and mysteries, like ‘How did we get here?’ and ‘Where are we going from here?’ and ‘When?’
     “You know fame and fortune costs, don’t you?” Legend’s boss shared that with him, but he didn’t much like hearing it. It had been so long since Legend and Annie had paused and plugged in to one another and their family. It seemed everyone was doing their own thing; the frustration levels had mounted beyond reason. Legend arrived at work, more often than not, hung over and late, with a huge attitude weighing his shoulders down.
     He didn’t want any of it. “Nah, Buck,” Legend refuted, “You don’t understand. That’s not it; we’re just in a rough patch. Yeah, you got me; I’m sorry for being late. Again. It was my turn to get the kids to school, and they both had projects due, which required help carrying each project in respectively. Man, I’m sorry,” he wiped his brow, sweating profusely which smelled like he had bathed in a brewery. His boss knew him too well, respect being balanced between friendship and business on a very thin tightrope of awkwardness.
Buck looked him over. “You look like dung, brother. You stink like you slept in a whiskey bottle, like you just crawled out of it before walking in this door. I don’t think you took your kids to school this morning; I think you slept in your truck a half-mile down the road and walked the rest of the way here when it got too hot in your cab to sleep any longer.” Buck sighed. He was on to him.
     “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, mate, but something has got to give or I’m looking for a new foreman. And, oh, by the way, a new friend.” He shook his head, sadness glinted from his eyes. All two hundred and twenty-five pounds of Australian flesh admonishing him. Legend felt terrible. He added, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk, friends don’t lie to friends. I won’t stick around to watch you destroy yourself, mate, and your family. You and Annie get it together. You have two kids that are counting on you.
     “Now, get out of here,” he growled, “Go home, sleep it off, get a sitter. Heck I’ll even have the kids over. Take that gorgeous wife of yours somewhere, and you two work it out, mate. Got it? I want to see a new man on my shift Monday morning. Or don’t bother coming in.”
     “Yessir,” Legend’s head hung like it had years before, prior to when Annie made him spectacular, a man of valor. Buck didn’t get it; something was going on with Annie. He didn’t know what it was, but something was wrong. Different. She didn’t want anything to do with him. He’d give anything to take her away, but she’d never go. She had a new life, one that didn’t include him. Or the kids, even. She was gone all the time, taking any extra shift available, staying out to all hours, coming home with something else on her mind, someone else on her lips, beside he and the kids. Legend couldn’t handle it; he buried his head in the sand and drowned his heart in a bottle. That’s how he was making it these days, plain and simple.
     “By the way, mate,” Buck tossed over his shoulder as he walked away from Legend, “Haven’t seen you and Annie in church for—well, I don’t even know when the last time was when you came. See, we seek other things apart from God, and He’ll let us catch what we chase. But it’s never without a price, mate. You are paying a mighty high price, in my opinion, to catch something you may not in the long run want, or know what to do with once you get. Be cautious, mate. Sometimes, the things that appear most free bear the highest pricetag.” Buck turned around, purposefully stared at Legend then shook his head. “Ya’ll take care now, ya hear?”
     “Yessir,” was all that Legend could think to mutter in response.

To Be Continued…