Shelton Family Saga

Chapter 32

Redemption 

The gnarly monster standing behind the pulpit preached with phenomenal passion and didn't let up. There wasn't a dry eye in the Lords house, across the radio airwaves or in front of television sets; yet he refused to let up. He bore down fiercely toward the floor stopping close by his ankles, and stilled himself as he deeply drew his breath in, before slowly rising all the way up a complete one hundred eighty degrees from his contorted stance. Forcefully snatching the microphone into his bosom and up to his lips, he began preaching to his global congregation about the ultimate deliverance. A deliverance so magnanimous, there was no recompense for it. As gnarly as he was, this monster was the epitome of truth. Even with his body so badly disfigured, he was still a recognized and well liked pastor throughout the United States and his sermons were of such great depth that they reached millions of people around the globe making him world renowned. He had a connection to the almighty that went beyond just reading the Bible. He had met the Lord his God personally. He had spoken with God, or rather God with him. It was right after learning the devastating circumstances of his mothers disappearance, that things had taken a drastic turn. Forensic evidence revealed she was no longer considered a missing person and her demise came from being burned alive the same night she went missing. He had laughed at her demise as he watched from a cabin in the distance unaware of the travesty taking place. Twenty five years later, upon discovering the truth about his mothers disappearance, he'd taken off in his Cadillac driving nowhere in particular. A State Trooper found him in the wee hours of the morning passed out in his car which had ran off the road, crashed through a pasture gate and mangled itself around a tree out in a field. It took two fire trucks, an ambulance, the jaws of life and relentless prayer to bring him back to the land of the living as he sat unconscious and slouched down behind the steering wheel with a needle stuck in his arm. It was while all this was taking place that Anthony "Big Star" Givens was in a meeting with the Lord. Even unconscious, he could feel the fire burning his flesh. He thought he was in hell, and expected to see the devil show up at any given moment; but, in the midst of it all, there had come a whisper in his ear asking, "Can you hear me now?"

Anthony, not sure who the voice belonged to had responded with, "Daddy is that you?"

"Yes my child. I see you. I love you. And, I want you to know you are more purposeful than your problems."

"Daddy, I'm a big star now. Your son is a big star!"

The voice, filled with loving disappointment, again responded, "Anthony my son, you are more purposeful than your problems."

"I can't see you daddy. Where are you? Is momma with you? Are y'all proud of me?"

The voice started to fade and all he could hear was, "I created you for a purpose, Anthony. You are more purposeful than your problems."

So many things had taken place between the night his life was restored and today, but he was grateful for it all. In his former life, he had been a nationally known bona fide pimp. A life he had lived for many years prospering heavily by making tons of money and living the good life. He'd always been on the road, from city to city and state to state, in his big fancy Cadillac, wearing the nicest clothes and eating the finest meals, until somewhere in that timespan, his mother died leaving him to face the world all on his own. From there, his life had taken a downward turn. He'd went from fine dining at five star steakhouses to eating brown bags of greasy fried chicken and stale french fries from local mom and pop shops. He'd also lost interest in going to his favorite barber shop where he was both widely respected and feared to letting his hair dry out and eventually all fall out. He lost control of the string of whorehouses under his management as well, which was the only tangible thing his momma had left him. Things had gotten so bad for him, he became heavily reliant on drugs with a horrible reputation for doing people dirty. His top four front teeth had gotten knocked out; and, on top of all of that, he had been badly burned on over 40% of his body leaving it massively scarred. A plastic surgeon had used skin grafts to reconstruct him as best as possible back to his original appearance, but he was still noticeably disfigured. He had been lost, confused and without hope; but, it was the Lord that turned him around to a righteous life of good deeds. Once he'd heard the call of his creator, he knew he'd been chosen. He couldn't pull away no matter how hard he tried. At first he'd been scared and tried to run away from his calling, but it appeared no matter where he ran or in which direction, he just couldn't escape it. It's not that he even wanted to. It was just scary to be feeling some kind of way that was different from all that he'd ever known. The last time he tried escaping it was by running down the highway like something was chasing him. He'd looked so crazy if even in his own mind. No one had witnessed it taking place, except himself. It was a one witness ordeal, and he was the witness. A living testimony, so he'd set out sharing the news with anyone and everyone. He felt each one should teach one, and his speech was good, but his spirit was greater. Although his appearance was as gnarly as it was, people were instantly drawn to him. Not snooty, self righteous, judgmental people; but, poor, broken, lost souls that were captivated by the truth that he spoke. People who were like lost sheep who needed a Shepherd. They needed someone willing to leave the ninety nine for the one. These were people who were in search of their salvation and yearning for saving grace. Pastor Givens fit that mold as neatly as a piece of clay that had been molded from nothing but ash and dust, then shaped into a beautiful piece of artwork. It's like there was something that resided deep within him that went beyond any cash or flash, money or honey, clothes or hoes, fancy cars or battle scars. He authentically possessed a desire to replace condemnation with salvation, and felt a duty to reveal people's inner beauty. To empower earthly souls and show them their purpose, for his own had been revealed to him in surplus. His cup runneth over in abundance, cause his testimony was his life story, which had all worked out  for his creator's glory. And so, he possessed something like a living being that gave him a fresh new breath to go into the world and preach the gospel to all of creation. Now standing behind the pulpit, he raised his hand as high as it would go to deliver the message and asked the congregation to lift theirs just as high to receive it. Pastor Anthony Givens was living proof there was a God. He truly was an authentic living testimony. And, today Anthony Givens had resurrected his life as a big star, except this time it was by letting his light shine so the world could see his good deeds.