A Spark of Hope

Chapter Six: Love Conquers All

A few months after Bible College was over, holidays come and gone, Gabriel and Carron were sent off as the church's missionaries. They did everything together and grew closer and closer as each day passed. One evening, walking down the village's main road, no moon in the sky, the only light way in the distance, Carron stumbled and fell. Gabriel had caught her before she hit the ground. He lifted her up, "Here take my arm and hold onto it. You won't fall again."

Carron was glad for the cover of darkness as her cheeks flushed red. Arms entwined turned into holding hands and hugging and soon they were going steady.

After Carron and Gabriel come back from the mission field, they both realized they had fallen madly in love. Pastor Blake didn't like this one bit and sort to put a stop to it.

Soon afterward, another man in the church started showing interest in her. Eddie would rock up when it was the end of business hours and would offer to take her home. Carron's bike was in the shop, so she accepted the lift grudgingly. Gab was living on the property at the time, and his dad was using his car for the time being, so she didn't have any other option, but to accept.

Eddie's advances infuriated Gabriel and no matter how much he protested, he was always told by Pastor Blake, it was for the best.

Carron and Gabriel were kept away from each other and always given tasks on the opposite side of the church grounds, far away from each other. Sundays, Pastor Blake made sure Eddie would sit next to Carron and kept Gabriel occupied with some task or other. This carried on for a few weeks. Weeks turned into months.

When at Carron's house, Eddie would invite himself in for supper each evening after he dropped her off and spent hours there, trying to work his way into her heart. He spent hours trying to convince her she was the one for him, but Carron knew her heart belonged to Gabriel. "Look, Eddie," Carron tried explaining things to Eddie for the umpteenth time, "my heart belongs to another. We can be friends but not anything else."

"Carron you are not getting it, God sent you into my life. Pastor Blake told me you are my soul mate. I intend on making you my bride someday."

One afternoon, Carron decided enough was enough, no more manipulation. This was her life, and she was sure God never intended for it to be run by someone else. She knew she had so much potential, and it wasn't fair she wasn't allowed to live her life as God wanted it, but as other humans wanted her to live.

She heard Eddie's car drive up and took to hide away in the sound booth at the back of the church. Eddie walked into the church and looked around. Carron could see him looking for her, but stayed hidden. Eddie walked out. From behind there Carron could hear arguing and people fighting in the office. The door was closed, but still it was loud enough. She strained to hear, but after a few moments had heard it was Gabriel and Pastor Blake.

"She's not good enough for you Gabriel! You cannot see that now, but you will thank me later."

"I don't care about her past; I love her!"

"You cannot love a whore!"

There was silence.

"Carron is not a whore. It was never her choice to be one!"

"How do you know; did she tell you that?"

"No."

"Well then." Pastor Blake took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, attempting to calm himself down. "Look, Gabriel, you have never been with a woman, she has been with many men. You deserve to be with someone who is as pure as you are. Take my daughter for instance. She is pure and will make a good companion. She will make you happy, given the chance."

Silence.

"Pastor Blake, John 3:17 says, God did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to forgive and save the world. Why then are you holding the sins of Carron's past against her? Forgive her and let it go. I don't see what you see-"

"That's the trouble, Gabriel. You don't see."

"She is pure Pastor Blake, as pure as I am. Jesus washed her sins away and made her clean and pure."

"Just let it go. Leave Eddie alone with her for a few more months. She will eventually come around and forget all about you."

Carron saw Gabriel storm out of the office, and slam the door behind him. He paced up and down in front of the sound desk rubbing his neck. 'This is not God's will for your life. It's His will for you to marry my daughter.' Pastor Blake's words were going backward and forwards in his mind. "No, I refuse to believe that!" he yelled into the air. 'She isn't good enough for you. Accept it, Gabriel; she is not worth your love.'

Eddie walked into the auditorium. Gabriel stopped pacing and glared at him. His eye caught something. His and Carron's eyes met. He walked towards Eddie, fists still in a ball. Carron leaned over, "Psssst. Please tell Eddie to leave me alone, I am not interested in him. Tell him he must stop coming to fetch me, that I can find my own way home."

Gabriel still fuming looked at Carron and nodded his head.

"Eddie, may I have a word with you outside."

Gabriel stormed passed Eddie and he followed reluctantly.

"Eddie, I have been in love with Carron for a while now, and you are interfering. I want you to leave her alone."

"I can't do that buddy. It's God's will for me to marry her. Pastor Blake told me so."

Gabriel sighed, "Wake up man, Pastor Blake has been yanking your chain. He has been pushing you two together because he has another agenda."

Eddie went white, "That isn't true!"

"Did God himself tell you Carron is your soul mate?"

Eddie thought for a bit, "No, but that's why God sends his prophets, to interpret His will."

"Prophet?"

"Prophet, Pastor, same thing."

"No, it isn't. Can't you see manipulation when it's staring you in the face?" Gabriel stared at Eddie for a bit, "Hmm, apparently not. Look, man, if a person comes to you and gives you a message from God without God telling you the same message first, it's not God. God is not in the manipulation business; he is a God of love and leaves the choice up to us."

Eddie had heard enough. He pushed passed Gabriel and went back inside.