Nomads

Chapter 35

Naomi was paralyzed with shock.

Doing what she always did when she was feeling restless, she went on a run shortly after dinner to get out of her house and quiet her racing mind. As she ran through the park, she spotted Luca and Amir sitting on a bench in deep conversation. Curiously, she headed over to them to butt in, but they were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice her approaching. But she heard the things they were saying. So she stopped next to a tree right behind them, and just listened. They were so deep in their conversation that they had no idea she was there.

And she heard everything. Her heart swelled 4 times its size just like the grinch, because she heard a few things that she needed to hear.

Of course he loved her. She knew he loved her; but when he said it then, the way he said it to his friend without knowing she was there, she could hear how his voice dripped with sincerity and admiration. He told Amir things that she didn't know about, things she didn't know mattered to him. She saw herself the way he saw her, and she felt God's whisper in her heart, this is not even one drop of the love I have for you.

And then,  Amir, he–he wanted to know God. And Luca, he rose to the occasion. Because she was 'unapologetically herself,' as Luca had put it, she got to see Luca fall in love with God. And because Luca fell in love with God, Amir did too! In America, where the people are so bitter and lukewarm and it's so hard to love God because it's just so easy. In America, someone encountered God. Someone she knew and prayed for, someone she cared about. He met God, and chose God. She heard Luca pray with him and talk with him, and she knew that Amir was now her brother in Christ.

In America. It hit her in that moment; the moment when Amir said "Will you help me to know your God?" she realized, with her stomach sinking, that she had been so foolish to think that God was not moving in America too. She realized, shamefully, that she doubted God's ability to reach the people here, and she had so little faith that people could really encounter God in America. She realized how selfishly she was thinking when she wanted nothing more than to stay where it was easy to love God, where people were more receptive to the gospel. There was work to be done here, work that He wanted her to do, and all she needed to do was open her eyes, ears, and heart, and obey.

I need you here right now. I have a plan for you here, now.

Her eyes watered and tears spilled over. 'Yes, God,' she whispered in her heart. 'I understand now. You are big enough to use me even here, and You intend to use me, even here.'

Hearing the sound of her boyfriend's laughter, she tuned back into the conversation and heard him say, "Welcome to the family. We're brothers now."

Naomi peeked out from where she was sort-of-but-not-really hiding and saw them conversing amicably. Her heart swelled. She sighed, wishing she could have been included in their conversation so she could celebrate with them. But because she chose to remain hidden, she knew she had to sneak away or be faced with trying to explain why she was hiding in the first place.

Begrudgingly, she glanced around before silently stepping back onto the path and continuing her run home. Her heart was so full, and yet so light. As she ran, the peace about her identity and God's love for her sank deep into her bones. Peace along with a purpose: He wanted to use her here. Even in America.

***

The next morning when Luca came to her door to pick her up for school, Naomi tackled him unexpectedly into a long, tight hug.

"Woah, you haven't even heard the news yet and already you're jumping for joy?"

She grinned, hiding her face in the crook of his neck. "There's news?" she questioned, attempting unconvincingly to appear none the wiser.