The Man on the Ladder 3: A Great Opportunity
The Man on the Ladder 4: Over the Threshold
The Man on the Ladder 5: Labors of Love
The Man on the Ladder 4: Over the Threshold
The Man on the Ladder 5: Labors of Love
“Valentine is a nice town, Father Grant. I see rapid growth in the future here. Are you prepared for what that brings,” asked
the Leader. He was planting seeds of
doubt and anxiety, but his inflection betrayed none of this.
“God will not charge me with duties I cannot fulfill. I am sure any changes will be incremental and
I intend to remain vigilant. What brings
you to Valentine Mr. Winston?”
“Just call me Thom.
If I were concerned with being formal I would not have come to your
home, Father Grant. And, by the way,
this coffee is much better than that abomination served at the hotel,” The Leader
said.
“Thank you, I have heard they reuse surplus coffee, simply
reheating it. Mine is always fresh. You did not hear that from me though. Gossip is not a thing I traffic in,” laughed
the Pastor.
That earned a grin, a nod, and a wink. With his hat on his knee and a hot cup in his
hand, The Leader told him, “I am here to enrich your flock and in turn grow
your church. We can make your rock even
stronger.”
Alarmed, Otis said, “Our foundation is solid, sir. Nothing is stronger than our Lord.”
“Begging your pardon, sir.
I meant no offense. I was
inarticulate. I mean the congregation
will benefit from the expansion of the Middle Pacific Railroad. That will surely fill the coffers here at Bethlehem
Lutheran. I am certain there are a great
many deeds and services a large windfall could help finance. A prosperous laity, a prosperous church. A growing church. More souls touched. Does that sound palatable?”
It was not greed or pride that motivated Otis. He wanted for courtesy and counsel. He wanted recognition and to feel like he was
helping his community. He wanted
relationships. It was a vanity for
certain, but he wanted to really feel purposeful. He answered the leader, who had previously introduced
himself as Thom Winston, “This sounds excellent, but what exactly is it of me
that you are seeking?”
“Your endorsement. We
wish to have your blessing. We want your
sanctuary to host a meeting where my associates and I will present an
opportunity to your parishioners. And
should any have reservations, it may be asked of you to sort of nudge them to
make the correct decision. Yes, selling
some property to MPR will profit each seller, but each in the community stands
to be rewarded peripherally."
“I can only provide council, sir. These families bled for their land. The decisions are theirs alone. I can give advice, but I do not think my
voice will be strong enough to sway strong opposition, perhaps I can shift a
wavering soul into your direction, but I do not believe I could shove a staunch
opponent your way.” Otis genuinely felt
this way. While he did not have to be
devoutly neutral, he felt uncomfortable overtly sponsoring a business proposal.
Especially one at this point that was beneath the surface mysterious.
“I understand this.
But surely you grasp the concept here.
And do not question the gravity of your voice. It can be a powerful agent. These folk will receive more than what their
property is valued at. My associates are
presenting Mr. Perryman with excellent terms.
I ask you, please advocate for me.
Not for me, no. For the good
people of Valentine.” The Leader was
measured and knew how to push men without overwhelming them.
“We will host this meeting.
I will attend and hear you out. I
will pray on it. If I am called to
advise my flock to accept your terms, I will do so,” said Otis.
This sounded good, and he wanted to subscribe to it, but he would wait
and listen. The two men shook hands and
The Leader set down his cup, put his hat on, and headed back to the hotel.
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