The Parting: Getting Closer

Bob spent his whole life doing the right thing.  Since he was a little boy, he tried to please people.  At a very early age, he understood that he could watch what other people did.  If bad things, like a spanking or being yelled at, happened to them when they did something wrong, he wasn't going to do it.

He accepted Jesus as his savior when he was at a church camp the summer he turned 13. He never regretted it for a moment. Having God as a part of his life was fantastic. He enjoyed going to church. He loved to sing in the choir. In some ways, being in church was his drug. Life can beat down on a person sometimes. Church is the ultimate pick me up.


Bob remembers the first time he met Charlotte. A bunch of people decided to go to the local Olive Garden after church one Sunday. She was visiting church for the first time and her friend, Vicky, asked her to go out to eat also. At the big table where they all sat, Vicky introduced Charlotte to Bob and the group. Though Bob was nearly on the opposite side of the table, he felt his heart jump. Charlotte's eyes moved around the table as Vicky called out the names of the individuals there. Electricity shot through Bob's body when Charlotte's eyes met his when his name was called.

Bob had seen pretty ladies before but there was something special about Charlotte. Nevertheless, Bob never acted on his feelings. He didn't want to make a fool of himself. While he was well liked in the community and especially at the church, he personally felt awkward around women. At least those he felt were special.

He never really spoke to Charlotte after that until the church pot luck. He knew Charlotte and Jack were committed to each other. Still, something compelled him to sit next to her that day and start a conversation. Talking about Jack was easy. It would be a nonthreatening topic. What better way to get to know such a special lady than to choose a subject that she loves?

Since that day, Bob's thoughts were constantly filled with Charlotte. He was on a high for the whole week. Still, he didn't dare call her or anything. The whole town knew Jack, Charlotte, and Bob. If Bob started to pursue Charlotte, it was bound to get back to Jack one way or another. He didn't want to be part of a scandal. Nevertheless, in his heart of hearts, Bob sent a small but deeply felt prayer to heaven. "God, can it please be Your will that I can get closer to Charlotte?" He couldn't bring himself to ask that he would have Charlotte. For now, he would be satisfied with being closer.