Preaching at the Carnival!

I hadn't seen him for a few days, so when my BF, Steve came in for the week-end, I was elated. Of course, he's tired, dirty, hungry and mentally exhausted from preaching on the streets. So his first night here is usually filled with eating, showering and sleeping while watching TV. So it truly surprised me that when I mentioned Catfish Days going on this week-end in Wilmington, Steven mentioned the yummy,corn dogs and funnel cakes. "Oh, yes!" I agreed that they have those at every carnival and they taste so good there. "Well, why don't we take a ride down there?", Steve suggested. "Sure!" I didn't have to be asked twice. Anyway, my daughter and three grandsons were going and we could meet up with them. So, sure enough, we took off for corn dogs and bright lights.

The carnival was in full swing. Crowds, traffic, rides, food, games, all types of carnivalalities (I made that word up!) This July evening's weather was perfect and I was feeling wonderful, almost like a kid again. I hadn't been to a carnival since last fall and it just seemed so perfect. We waved at some friends and walked over by the corn dog stand. "Smells wonderful." I was thanking God for my rich, full life. Taking into account all the wonderful blessings that I have. All the many friends and family that I can say are sure a big part of my life. I don't feel like I lack for anything. Steve said "I'll buy you 'dinner'. Corn dog and lemonade?" "Yes.", I said. I'll admit I had to grin inside because I thought, "Hmmm, I wonder how many women can say that they are taken out for 'dinner' by a homeless man to a carnival?"

So we ate out dinner sitting on a bench in a dugout. The seat was close to the hot dog wagon and we didn't have to walk far. As we ate, we just people watched. We love doing that and could do it for hours. As we sat there we noticed a young, blond boy passing out Bible tracks. He must have been about ten years old. It was fun to watch people reacting to what he was passing out. Some people took the circular, while others refused it. Some noticed just what it was and gave it back to him. While we were sitting there, the boy's Pastor came by and encouraged him to continue to be a witness for Christ. Steve began a conversation very easily with the man and they talked briefly. I just watched and observed them, trying to take it all in. The noises, the sights and the beautiful sunset on the river near the porta-potties were beyond words. Unless you're a writer, of course, and then the sights were shining, luminous, romantic, and breathtaking all in one. It made me yearn for my youth. The water glistened, the sun streamed through the rain clouds on the horizon and I wondered if all this was not available to the senses of the younger crowd. I often find myself soaking things up like a sponge. I put them into my mind's memory bank for future writing or fond recollections when I can no longer physically get around. "Let's go find Kerry and the boys." I suggested.

I thought my daughter and grandsons should be here by now. Where could they be? Steve and I aren't that hard to find. We decided to play a few of the carnival games just for fun. "What are you good at, Steve?" "I'm pretty good at darts!" Darts it was, until the carnival attendant decided if we "slipped" her $15.00, she would "slip" us a prize. "Let's go down to the beer garden and see what band is playing," Steve said. Well, I doubt Kerry and the boys are down there, I thought. She didn't say for sure she'd be here, but I sure don't see her around here. Kerry can be unpredictable at times. So as we walked out of the carnival ride area, we couldn't help but notice some of the hand-outs had been discarded and were laying on the ground. There was a spot where someone had eaten part of a enchilada and dropped it on the ground right next to one of the Bible Tracks. It hit me hard that there was God's Word just tossed down and trampled on like garbage. It just seemed so disrespectful and, yet, so tragically typical of today's carnal world.

As we began to leave the area, we came upon a group of Christians who were preaching and reading from the Bible. There were men and women with young children standing near the entrance. They were oddly dressed in long dresses, hair pulled up and covered. They seemed almost Amish to me. Standing on a two-step step stool, they were taking turns reading out of the Bible. As we approached, I could hear the young woman reading out of Genesis. The minute we came near, I got goose bumps. I knew this is right up our alley and things are going to get interesting. As we watched it was amazing to watch the little boy whom we had seen before preach.. People did stop, but most of them grabbed their children and hurried by. It is funny to watch people come face to face with Godly things. They are either wanting to get involved or they want to try to ignore it altogether. Well, you probably know what Steve wanted to do. So, as I hurried to the car to phone my daughter, Steve stayed there to give encouragement to those speaking and I ran to make a call. I knew then that Steve's feet were going to make it to that two-step, step stool. Now, how did I know that?

When I called home, my daughter answered immediately. "Where are you?" she asked. "I'm at the carnival??? Where are you?" Kerry then told me that it was pouring down rain in Elwood. "Well, it's certainly not raining here, I assured her. It did look threatening to the North, but rain was the farthest thing from my mind. "I've got to get back to the carnival, because I think Steve is about to preach." "What? Mom are you alright?" I assured her indeed, I was just fine. "Gotta go, can't miss it. See you later. Wish you were here, bye." Back to the carnival with a couple of Rollingaround in the light of the Son books in my wheelchair pocket. Just in case I might want to bless the pastor.

When I made my way back through the traffic and crowds, I arrived just in time to hear the pastor preach from the Bible. As he ended, I could see Steve approach the man and encourage him to keep on witnessing. Steven then asked permission to step up to the stand. "You want to preach? Sure, Brother, be my guest." As Steve got himself on the stool, I knew that this would be one for the books. He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

It was at this time that time stood still and things became surreal for me. As I watched Steve begin preaching to the crowd, all my senses became acutely aware of everything at once. Steve looked like a giant! He is a very tall man as it is. On the step-stool he just took on a huge presence. It was dusk, so the carnival lights were bright and blinking. As I looked at my friend with the colorful lights in the background, it seemed like a dream. His camos couldn't hide his passion as he preached redemption to the crowd. He was animated, his beard bouncing , his arms waving, his voice ringing out with warning of the End Time. "Wow", I thought. "Steve is grabbing people's attention." I looked around and watched the group grow larger by the second. I even heard the other pastor say, "He preaches like John the Baptist!" I wanted to say, "Yes, but he doesn't eat locusts." Since I couldn't say that for sure, I decided not to mention something that I wasn't 100% sure of.

"Repent, before it is too late. For soon, He will come. In the twinkling of an eye. We know that the time is near. We need to prepare! The sky will rip from East to West and the trumpet will blow. We need to be ready." The crowd gathered. Some were in agreement, while others tried to walk by as quickly as possible. Before too long, it was evident that Steve was making an impact. Some nodded, smiled, clapped, while others mocked him. A wide variety of reactions were present, including my own. It was my own reactions that surprised me. I didn't expect the surreal feelings that came like a wave over me. I only wanted to be part of the crowd. I certainly didn't expect my friend to be preaching at the carnival. I usually enjoy just being in the background, while Steve is well versed in public speaking. I was faced with the feelings of being a definite part of a minority. We were doing God's work, preaching God's Word and in the most unlikely place. Part of me wanted to run, but another part of me wanted to stand firm and be encouraging to those bold enough to be jeered at, ridiculed and scorned.

When the other pastor asked me if that was my husband, I just smiled and said "No, but he is a great friend." When one of the other witnesses asked Steve, "Did you ever do this before?" Steven didn't have to even answer. "Of course, he has!" said the pastor. I smiled knowing that the carnival crowd had received just a small peek into the passion that some people have for the Lord. They may have come for the corn dogs and the funnel cakes; but they were given food for thought and Words that could bring them eternal life. They may long remember the sight of the tall, bearded man giving a message. Most importantly, they will hear his words ring true in their hearts.