A Christian Romance II

Chapter 28 - Damage

Michael tried to make sense of the religion of the woman he loved. At the end of the day, Christianity was like any other religion - in his thoughts, at least. However, the journey to learn more about Jesus had proved to be more eye opening than what he had expected. The confrontation was violent as well, and it had nothing to do with Moses' delivery, it was rather the weight of the truth that pierced profoundly.

Over morning coffee at Double Bay, Moses and Michael organized the final details of the birthday party happening in only a few days.

"It's unfortunate that we couldn't directly include Miriam in this plan." Michael declared, after a sip of his tea.

Moses smiled discreetly. "Most of the ideas are hers." He declared protestingly.

The young man held onto the mug in his hands. "She doesn't want anything to do with the restaurant." He couldn't hide his frustration. "I'm expecting a resignation letter soon." Michael admitted defeat and prepared for the worst. "If not today!"

Moses was well aware of the facts that had brought those concerns to Michael. It was all because Miriam had discovered that Michael was, after all, the rightful owner of the restaurant where she worked. Debora had been the one to warn them via video call.

"Maybe there'll be a chance to talk things over." Moses supposed.

Michael hoped Moses was right, but he couldn't hide his disappointment. He sighed, as he placed the mug on the high counter of his kitchen. "I've never been in such a hard position in my life." He conveyed. "Love is hard."

It wasn't like Moses believed that what Michael felt was love, but still he said, with a gentle smile. "Indeed." He spoke. "It's the highest calling." He was lost in thought.

"The highest calling?" Michael looked in Moses direction, intrigued.

"Yeah!" Moses looked at the void. "The highest calling; the highest truth, and yet there are so many of us Christians living Jesus as if it were just another religion." He ranted, for this was an attitude that annoyed him deeply. "Instead of following the simplicity of love, we somehow find a way to create rules to get into heaven." He shook his head. "Why would we care more about paradise than Jesus who is paradise all in himself? Why not care about our creator? Or we just wanna go to heaven because the alternative is too scary?" He sighed in impatience, incomprehension and frustration. He shook his head a few times too. "What we live today as Christians is not love, it's not freedom! We're just like the next person." He gulped on his water in the end of his rant.

Michael was slightly adamant even to ask Moses what had happened to him; The guy seemed very frustrated.

"Are you okay, Moses?"

Moses took a deep breath, and kept looking at the void. "Yes." His response was gentle, despite the rant. "You have nothing to do with this, in fact, I should have kept all of this to myself." He gulped some more water.

Michael was silent with many questions erupting in his mind. And Moses relished in the freedom he had after his rant.

"You know, Christianity is just like the next religion." Michael declared.

What Michael had said was all of Moses' frustration in one sentence. The latter lowered his shoulders in disappointment and frustration.

"It shouldn't be." Moses declared. "This was a movement that started with persecution, torture, death. Blood was shed for this truth to reach us today, and how do we treat it? Like another religion."

"I don't follow."

"Christianity is a path of selflessness. You live it because you die to this world."