Salvation Stories:
Leo
The atmosphere in the city was growing steadily more unsettled; uneasy. People walked where they needed to go with nervous energy, eyes on their screens. Leo had always been sensitive. Perhaps he felt more; thought more. Perhaps that was a good thing, but he often doubted it. He couldn't just bury his head in cloud cuckoo land like most people did. He was like a dog with a bone: he'd lay his questions aside, only to pick them up again. Someone, he thought, must surely have the answers.
"Where are you headed?" His friend Zane lifted his eyes from his screen for a moment. "It must be important for you to walk so fast."
"The bookshop. I need a Bible."
Zane stopped abruptly. "You need a Bible?"
"I've been doing some research. The Bible may have some answers to my questions about where the world is headed."
Leo began walking again, and Zane kept pace. He shook his head. "Don't go down that route, man. Only dumb people and homophobes believe the Bible."
"I can't know for sure unless I read it Zane." Leo remained patient. He could relate to Zane's viewpoint. He'd seen enough news articles to make him dubious about Christianity. But still, he wanted to give the Bible a chance.
"Well, waste your money if you want to. Cheers." Zane headed for the nearest takeaway, whilst Leo entered the bookshop.
The Bibles were tucked away at the back, but there was quite a large selection. The assistant eyed him warily and wasn't any help. Eventually, Leo chose a cheap softcover edition. Why spend a bunch of money on something that might not help him?
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He jumped in at Genesis and waded doggedly on. He was looking for anything about Armageddon and the end of the world. Prophesies. That kind of thing. Leo drank cup after cup of coffee as he read, often deep into the night. He got a lot more than he'd been expecting. It was an astounding, extraordinary book. Nothing prepared him though, for Who he found in the New Testament: Jesus. Talk about extraordinary and astounding. Not to mention, revolutionary. He taught people to love their enemies and to give everything away. To forsake all and to follow Him before He Himself gave away His life on a cruel cross. A man who claimed to be God.
He spoke about the end too, and Leo saw his own world in the ancient book. As Leo turned page after page, a certainty grew in his heart: this Man, Jesus, was calling out to Him across the centuries with answers to his questions.
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Copyright: Alison Lawrence
Drawing by the author.
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Please feel welcome to stay awhile and explore the blog. There are many other short stories and poems, along with longer reads. My testimony is on the About Page.
You will find some new poems here:
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Love and prayers,
Alison
💜💜💜
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