“Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin,” Darryl continued.
Her mouth dropped open. She couldn’t help it. She shut it, praying no one noticed her reaction. Was she imprisoned?
Isn’t that why you’ve been going crazy sorting through your emotions?
Was it why she was afraid to give her all to Guy? Or was it simply because he had left her in the first place?
Darryl looked up. “I chose this passage because I have a problem with the truth. Not that I tell lies even though that could be someone’s downfall. The reason this struck a chord in me, is because I try and run away from the truth staring me in the face.”
GUY SAT BACK IN HIS chair. He had run from the truth. He had minimalized Michelle’s feelings so he could move forward with his life. Only now the truth burned a hole in his pocket. Every time he fingered the love knot, he was reminded of what he’d done to her. Every time his girls said ‘good night,’ he was reminded of his brief hatred of them. The truth was all around him, and it was all he could do not to focus on it.
He ran a hand across his stubble. What a heady subject. He was surprised Darryl admitted to having a problem with truth. He peeked at the others wondering their thoughts. Holly looked contemplative. Tanya looked close to tears and Michelle...she looked shocked.
What was going on in her mind?
Too bad she wasn’t sitting next to him so he could ask her now. Now he would have to ask her later. Of course, the scent of her perfume would probably drive him crazy and distract him from the message. Like just the thought of her was messing with his focus. He tuned into Darryl.
“How many of us know a truth...whether it’s about us, our circumstances, or something we need to do? Do we do it or run?” Darryl ruffled his curly hair as he gathered his thoughts. “The more you run, the more it seems you run into reminders of that truth.” His friend gazed around the table. “I don’t know about you, but it’s like it hounds me. Let’s just take Christ for instance. After all, this is a Bible study.” He grinned cagily.
“Does everyone remember a moment when they questioned how God could possibly be real?” He looked around, but no one seemed to want to answer his question.
“I remember.”
Guy looked at Michelle. Lord, give her the words. He knew how much her parents’ death affected her.
“Care to share, Michelle?” Darryl asked.
“Yes. When my parents were killed. I had never thought too much about God before that. Sure I went to church but on holidays. On that day, I clearly remember thinking there was no way He existed. And if He did, why would I believe in Someone who had let my parents die?”
Grief covered her face. Guy tried to capture her gaze to offer her comfort, but she appeared lost in thought.
“I’ve had similar questions.” Darryl paused. “However, I know now God is real.”
He stared at his friend in shock. It wasn’t a revelation he expected Darryl to come to. His friend seemed so reticent about it.
“How do you know?” Tanya asked.
“Because He’s everywhere. I’ve tried to run from the truth of Christ’s existence, and I can’t escape it. The more I tried to ignore it, the more it followed me. Until, I took the plunge and came to the Bible study.”
“It’s true,” Guy stated. He leaned back as all the heads swung to his direction. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “For those of you who are new to the group, I lost my wife three years ago when she died giving birth to our twins.”
Jordan gasped. Tanya’s eyes watered. And Holly smiled in sympathy.
“I tried to escape God. I couldn’t believe He was good or He existed if my wife who loved Him faithfully could die. Yet, I couldn’t escape Him. He hounded me. Evan hounded me.” He let out a snort. “Even Darryl hounded me. Everywhere I turned, God’s truth was there.”
“Why would He seek us out?” Tanya asked. Her brow furrowed as she looked around the table.
He could only pray the stress from whatever she was going through would be eased in this study.
“Because another truth states He loves us.”
A hush fell over the group as the truth of Darryl’s words settled over them.
“But we do horrible things,” Tanya uttered.
“And His grace covers it,” Chloe remarked.
He watched as something passed between Chloe and Tanya. He didn’t know what it was, probably a chick thing, but he saw the relief that came across Tanya’s face. Whatever had just happened, helped.
He thought back to the times he tried to outrun God’s truth. Thank You for not giving up on me.
The study didn’t last much longer, but it didn’t matter. Darryl did a good job of leading and Guy had a lot to think of. He stood with the others, cleaning up the mess they had made over food and fellowship. After he placed the final cup in the dishwasher, he made his way over to Michelle, who was clustered in a group with Tanya, Holly, and Jo. He brushed her arm to get her attention.
She turned and her hazel eyes lit up. Heat pooled within him. If it weren’t for the audience, he’d kiss her senseless. “Hey, can you come over tomorrow?”
“What did you have in mind?”
He tugged her arm. “Excuse me ladies, I just need to talk to her, and then she’ll be right back.”
“I didn’t want them to hear.” He led her over to the couch. “This is a little embarrassing, but um...can you help me redecorate the girls’ room? My mom thought it would be a good idea, so I hoped we could go to the city and make a day of it.”
“Don’t you think your mom would want to do that? Especially if she made the suggestion.”
He grinned. “She told me to
