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We may
72 Romans 1:18-25.
184 Acts of God not know his name but we know his nature, we know his call,
and we can witness his power throughout the universe. But it's up to each of
us individually to decide whether we will answer
God's call.
"If a person loves God and loves his neighbor as he loves himself, then in his
own time God will reveal himself more and more to that person until finally he
will realize that the God he serves is in fact the God of the Bible; and the
one who has paid the price for the forgiveness of his sins is God's son,
Jesus.
"As for who goes to hell, in the final analysis no one has to go to hell. In
fact, the only ones who go to hell are those who refuse to go to heaven.
Damnation is a sentence we impose upon ourself. If anyone truly seeks God,
then God will provide that person with sufficient knowledge to be saved. The
bottom line, Mr. Hawthorne, is this: God is, God loves, and God can be found."
Rhoda was obviously finished but Decker remained silent, not wanting to argue
the subject further.
"I have some other patients I need to visit," Rhoda said when it became
apparent that Decker was not going to respond. "If you'd like, you and Decker
can continue to explore. We'll be having dinner just after sunset."
"Sure," Decker responded. "We'll be fine."
"Okay," she said, and then addressing the younger Decker. "Take it easy. Don't
wear Mr. Hawthorne out."
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"Yes, ma'am," Decker Donafin answered politely as his mother gave him a kiss
and then turned to leave.
"So, it's just you and me," Decker said after Rhoda had gone. "Where do you
want to go first?"
"Can we go to the Lion Monument?" the younger asked.
"You bet!" Decker responded with great enthusiasm, unaware of the climb that
awaited them.
The two Deckers walked and climbed and explored for the rest of the afternoon.
Inside one of the carved-out tunnels which connected two adjacent facades,
they had to feel their
Rescue 185
way along through nearly pitch black. The elder Decker felt the younger take
his hand. It was now so dark it was impossible to see at all. "Are you afraid
of the dark?" the elder asked as he felt the younger's hand tighten.
"My mom says there's no reason to be afraid because Yeshua is always with me,"
the younger answered. "Are you afraid?"
"A little," the elder answered.
"Yeah, me too," Decker Donafin admitted. "A little."
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"Let's go somewhere else, then."
Decker Donafin nodded but of course Decker Hawthorne could not see it.
After visiting a few more sites, the elder Decker finally insisted that they
stop to take a break.
Half sitting, half leaning, they rested against an outcropping of stone below
AdDier (the
Monastery). For a few moments neither spoke  the elder because he was
catching his breath, the younger because he had something on his mind  and
then Decker Donafin broke the silence.
"I think I remember my dad pretty well," he said. "But sometimes my mom or Tom
or Rachael will talk about him and it will be about something I don't remember
at all." At last it had come to the surface  the one thing that had never
left either of their minds throughout their time together:
their memories of Tom Donafin. In everything they had done that day the
memories had floated and wafted through their thoughts. And yet, neither had
mentioned him. Everything the younger Decker did or said had either reminded
the elder of his old friend or caused him to note how the father and son
differed. With equal attention the younger had observed the elder and wondered
how much this man for whom he had been named was like the father he now
struggled to remember.
"I miss him a lot."
"I miss him, too," the elder said.
"My mom says he was a good man and that he loved God. She says we'll see him
again soon when
Yeshua returns."
186 Acts of God
Decker wasn't sure how to respond. "He was a good friend," he managed after a
moment.
"Mom said you were with my dad when he died." "Yes," Decker answered. It was a
gruesome memory and
Decker hoped the boy would not ask him more about it. He need not have
worried; Decker Donafin had no intention of asking for the details. After a
moment's silence, Decker looked down to see tears in the boy's eyes. He
hesitated for a moment and then leaned down to hug him. Decker Donafin put his
arms around him as the tears flowed.
That evening after supper, Decker again entertained the Donafin children with
old stories of nearly forgotten adventures and misadventures he had with Tom
during their days in the news business. A few of the stories Rhoda had heard
before from Tom, but Decker's slightly different telling made her wonder if
either men remembered the events as they had actually occurred. Decker
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had been captured and taken to Lebanon, though he left out details of the
torture they had endured. The Donafin children knew that their father had once
been a hostage but they had not realized that his captivity had lasted almost
three years. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]