The Arrows of Prescient Black

Prescient Black was not at all in a pleasant mood, and not because of the usual aviation traveling reasons, such as delays, turbulence, or overcrowding - in reality, Pres’ (or so his nickname came to be) dolefulness was linked  to an internal struggle, one that stemmed from his deep faith and initiated by his own doing. As he sat at the terminal gate waiting for his connecting flight to Philadelphia, he ruminated over the past few hours with grave disappointment, though the disappointment quickly ameliorated to opportunity as he espied the trickling throng filing into their seats adjacent to him.

Mr. Black was a minister of orthodox Christianity (not the erroneous sect which has widely spread throughout Eastern Europe, but in the true sense of the word). He was a Biblicist, using only the Bible for faith and practice. As a man assuredly of conviction, he, lifting the sword had fought many battles against the virulent philosophies that are persistent in every age and true to their nature, were prevalent in his. Knowing their contagion and tendency to lead astray the weakest of the flock, from a cordial heart he attacked these vices and saved many from their deadly deceits. Though he couldn’t save them all, and some went astray, leading to great ennui, for if any living epitaph could be inscribed for Pres, it would be penned that he truly loved and doted on his sheep which had so tenderly been placed under his protection by the hand of the Good Shepherd.

He had recently experienced another moral juncture (he called them “dark times”) over the issue of alternate lifestyles. Some of his congregation, had gone to the lengths of demanding he relinquish his office; but stalwart in defense, he proclaimed truth from the Holy Word, reminding them also his calling did not originate from them, and most definitely would not be terminated because of their public opinion. He had presided over their weddings and their children’s conjugal ceremonies, and had spent days and nights of all hours praying with them through sickness and death, but this seemed to be of no importance for those steeped in sin, for a sinful heart is an ungrateful heart, ultimately because its nature glorifies self and belittles God.  In truth, this battle was the most arduous the pastor had  faced, and Mr. Black in an intrapersonal manner, was unsure whether it was older age or the Christian acceptance of such a malignant ideology, clearly identified in Scripture as anathema, that had succumbed him to corporeal weariness, both physically and mentally. He could himself identify with the Davidic anthem, “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily…but in mine adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together.”

In the end, refusing to abdicate the pulpit had proved numerically costly; but as in every righteous persecution, the true body of Christ emerged engulfing him with prayers and accolades of thankfulness for Biblically rooted convictions. With these his ennui diminished and spiritual refreshment overtook his weariness and additionally his now wolf-eradicated flock fiscally encouraged him to embrace another opportunity, a week long Bible conference in Cleveland, which after some prodding (this time by the sheep) he accepted and started his journey. At the conference, he was deeply moved by the encouragement he received from both word and person, and full of renewed vigor anxiously anticipated his return to his parish.

Walking on the jet bridge to his flight operating from Cleveland to Detroit, he prayed for an opportunity to be a witness to another passenger. Shortly after being seated, the flight attendant announced a delay on the tarmac and as he waited dreariness started to become a reality.  After thirty minutes and with eyes half-open he glanced at the adjacent empty seat and muttered to himself, “I guess no one is coming today,” and drifted off to sleep. Being exhausted from the conference, he slept soundly not even waking to the jolt of turbulence or the bounce of the landing gear on the airstrip when the plane had arrived. It was only when one of the concerned flight attendants directly spoke to him that he awoke from his slumber and realized the plane had arrived, and furthermore that it was already emptied. Slightly embarrassed, Mr. Black gathered his belonging and begin to leave his row when he noticed a newspaper and a candy bar wrapper in the seat pocket of the seat next to him. With dismay, he asked the attendant, “Maam, was there someone sitting here. I need to know. It is very important to me.”

The attendant dressed in her business' colors replied, “Why yes, there was a lady who came. She wouldn’t have made the flight but because of the delay we were able to board her before we departed. Is she related to you?’

“Well…no. I just believed I missed out on a great opportunity,” Pres said sadly and continued his movements through the aisle and passed the bewildered airline worker. As a believer in a sovereign God, he believed every circumstance was ordained and not serendipitous, his disappointment evident by trail of splattered tear drops up the walkway to the promenade. He composed himself after a prayer of forgiveness. With even more determination to be a testimony of righteousness, when boarding was announced, he radiated resolve.

After perusing his ticket and finding his seat, he prayerfully waited for his counterpart to come, but as before ,one never came. Here we go again, he thought and after a short period, the plane departed for Philadelphia leaving him once again unaccompanied in his row. Settling down in his seat he began to meditate about Scripture only to be visually interrupted by an Arabic man, who was also unaccompanied, opening a Bible. Mr. Black smiled, this was his Phillip and Ethiopian Eunuch moment and he was purposed to not have it wasted. Forsaking his seat, he slid next to the seat of the stranger and when the Arabic man looked up they greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries.

“Well Sanheim,” Pres said with his contagious smile. “It is certainly good to meet-”

Sanheim cut him off, “I know you wonder why a man with my sort of name and ethnicity would be reading the Bible and not the Koran. I am fully aware some of my compatriots are negatively influencing the world but-“

This time Pres cut him off. “My friend, there’s no need for apologies. We will leave the judging to God, for he is alone is perfect and therefore has that righteous prerogative. And as for you name and heritage, God has children from all places and cultures, and most significantly for believers, he gives them a new name, ‘a child of God.’ Most gladly then I will rejoice in his salvation for all people, for the ground is level at the cross.” He then leaned in closer and whispered, “As for your name, I can’t condemn. My full name is Prescient.”

After an exchange of laugher, Sanheim said, “My friend, if I can call you that too, for I feel comfortable in your presence, it is a peculiar forename. Was it given to you by your parents?”

“It was and you may indeed call me friend. My parents foresaw the changing of times and how my country was drifting to godlessness. Thus my name was their embodied hope as in Ancient Israel, when a patriarch or an ensample would characterize their emotions through their posterity. Ironically, after my conversion as a child, I did wander from the Lord, but I ultimately surrendered to the Lord’s leading and calling for my life and am currently a minister of His Word and have been for many years.”

“I also perceive the guiding hand of God that I too serve. I was brought into this world as a Muslim, but the mercy and grace of God discovered me also. Though my life was full of hate and bitterness, I know possess a grateful soul emanating from my gratefulness of the salvation of my Father; which I am pleased to now call him because as a Muslim, I was not able to call Allah, ‘father.’ I am pleased you are a minister. If you don’t mind, may I press you for commentary on a portion of Scripture I am currently perusing? I am still a novice of the Scriptures, but am everyday I am making progress and transferring from the milk to the meat.”

“I have no delusion you will quickly apprehend, for eagerness is a significant part of learning. I would be honored to assist. Which passage troubles you?”

Sanheim opened up his Bible to the concordance (he was still learning all the books in order) and found the page number. “Here it is. Psalms 127:3-5, ‘Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.’ I deduce the reward from procreation, but I wonder if the passage is not temporal. The inscription says the passage was written for Solomon whose kingdom as his name signifies was peaceable and we live in precarious times.”

“You can be assured, Sanheim, the truth of heritage and the reward are relevant. God’s truths are timeless; in contrary, the history of mankind publishes the mercurialness of man. By logic, it is plausible to believe a constant supreme being’s words to be also constant. His words transcend time, culture, and language, for he is the Creator of them all. I have three children of my own and believe them to be arrows; my son and two daughters have snared the enemy often and my wife and I consider them more valuable than any pecuniary accumulation or life-long achievement.”

“My interest is peaked. I myself am a single man and will remain as Paul if God wills it, but my desire is to certainly one day to have children. However, I am confused by the response of others, even Christians, who argue it is not worthwhile to reproduce in this age. They deem this epoch too uncertain, too wavering, and conclude it is loving to not procreate.”

Pres silently prayed and asked God for wisdom to guide Sanheim. He knew all too well the most dangerous errors are ones Christians also propagate. “Hmmm. I perceive these times to be uncertain, but with this peril comes great opportunity. The absence of light is darkness; if Christians are commanded to be light in this world and they don’t reproduce, what would the horrid conclusion be? The Bible defines this as tribulation. Then, Christians have an opportunity to influence. The sun shines on the moon and not the moon on the sun. The moon gives no demands to the sun, it is the sun’s rays which influence the moon to reflect the sun’s image. Let us be clear; without believers in the world, though they be hated and deemed bigoted, this world would be resolved to utter destruction. Therefore, if a couple is able, I believe it is a Christian responsibility to reproduce to enlighten the future generations of the knowledge of Christ. It is short-sighted to think otherwise.”

“Your argument has validity and is rested on a Biblical foundation. Switching gears to a logistical argument, what about the opinion that this world will soon be overcrowded and therefore it is prudent to not have children because that will only relegate our sons and daughters to hunger, disease, and poverty. The only reason overcrowding has been suspended until now is because of genocide, war, and abortion. Otherwise we would be overrun.”

“To your point, the world is large enough but it ultimately goes back to believing in a sovereign God. An omniscient God knows the length of the earth and has allowed the waters to recede to an exact point. Being all-knowing, he would not allow an earth not to provide for its inhabitants or for its resources to be depleted. What depths of time passed before civilization even discovered the Western Hemisphere! In some areas, overcrowding is prevalent; but only because of the limitations government has placed upon its constituents. In recent research, it has been stated that just three percent of the earth is inhabited by urban areas and ninety-five percent of the world’s population live on ten percent of Earth’s land. Over population is intrinsically silly and only promoted by those who would make others suffer by selfish gains.”

Sanheim imbibed deeply the words presented to him. His pensive look shifted to uneasiness as it was announced over the intercom the flight was commencing its decent to Philadelphia. “I must ask you one more question and I must ask it quickly because we are arriving. This thought creates in me distress more than any other. Why have a child if you cannot predict he will return your affection? Is it plausible after many years of lavishing love it would not be reverberated?”

Pres took Sanheim’s trembling hand and looked directly at him as he spoke. “Sanheim, I will admit this thought gives many consternation. They wonder if it would be better to die a lonely person than to jeopardize the future. May I say to you simply two things: first, you are leaving one person out of the relationship – God. You, though redeemed, are a depraved creature. You were born into sin and as a Christian you are free from the judgment of sin, but will not be liberated from the presence of sin until Heaven. You will make mistakes; at times, you will not love as you should. However, your prime determination should be to direct your child to God, and in doing so they will also be not ignorant of God’s love, which is pure and unending. Secondly, God took the chance on you in the giving of his Son. Is this not love in its unadulterated form, where we love without any thought of return?  All other is selfishness.”

The plane landed and both men exchanged contact information and said their goodbyes. Whereas before Pres’s tears stained the walkway, now moved with compassion from their intercourse, Sanheim’s were descending from his face. He had much to ponder. Before he conversed with  Pres about children, he was unsure of desiring them, but now he had a much more hopeful worldview on the issue. Sanheim’s thoughts were interrupted by some cheering and when he looked about he saw Prescient Black’s family – wife, children, and grandchildren and as he found out later some church members surrounding and embracing him. He smiled and resolved that moment, if it was in God’s pathway for him to be married, he would have children. To him it didn’t matter, naturally, or through adoption – he was just purposed to have them and to have his quiver full.