JUST JERRY
"How'd you get so good at guessing puzzles?" Peter asked Jerry. They were sitting next to each other at the big round table known at Lazy Days Retirement Home as "The Puzzle Place". Across the table sat Sue and Bill's wheelchair was rolled up to their far left.
"Practice", Jerry answered, "and a few secret strategies."
"I knew it!" Peter responded. "Will you teach me?"
Jerry leaned back, stroked his long beard and eyed Peter thoughtfully. "Alright, meet me in my room right after lunch - room 143."
"Yes!" Peter shouted. The others looked up from the puzzle, questioning looks on their faces. Jerry leaned toward Peter.
"Shh...I told you, it's secret!" Peter nodded and glanced at the clock, willing the time to pass quickly.
Peter barely tasted the pot roast and roasted carrots at lunch. He slammed down his lunch and nearly ran to Jerry's room. Jerry wasn't there yet, but the door was open so Peter went in and looked around. It looked like his room but with a few small differences. Jerry had a card table set up in one corner with a puzzle dumped upon it and a floor lamp angled so the light fell evenly over the table. Above his bed were some framed photos and one on his nightstand. A dusty Bible and two worn hymnals sat on a shelf above the puzzle table.Just then, Jerry walked in. "Ho..hope you don't mind," Peter stammered, "it was open."
"Make yourself at home", Jerry replied with a sweep of his arm.
"Yeah", Jerry said, turning red.
"And that's the famous TV preacher - what was his name? Oh yeah, is that Billy Graham?" Jerry nodded. Now that he thought about it, the younger Jerry looked like someone Peter should recognize - someone famous for something more than guessing puzzle pictures. "What's your last name, Jerry?" Peter inquired.
Jerry shrugged. "Just Jerry. Now, are we here to gawk at photos or learn the secrets of puzzle guessing?"
"Teach away", Peter said as they both approached the puzzle table.
That night after supper, Peter sat ouside on a
bench with Dolly watching the sky turn brilliant shades of orange and pink as the sun began to set. "What do you know about Jerry?" Peter asked her.
"He's a very private man", Dolly replied.
"Yeah, he wouldn't even tell me his last name", Peter said, shaking his head.
"He doesn't want to be recognized. Jerry was quite well-known back in the day, but that past brings him too much pain to talk about now. He can't bring himself to put the photos away, but other than Holly and myself on one occasion, he never lets anyone into his room who might see them. I'm really surprised he asked you in", she explained.
"What could be so bad about being famous? He got to shake hands with a president! Why wouldn't you want to remember that?"
"It's the rest he doesn't want to remember", Dolly began with a faraway look in her eyes, as if she was watching the story she was telling unfold. "Do you remember about 40 years ago the story that made news headlines about the lone missionary and his family that befriended a tribe deep in the Congo bringing them not only the Gospel but civilization as well?"
"Yeah, yeah I do recall that. That was Jerry?"
"Yes," Dolly continued, her voice taking on a sad tone. "Billy Graham touted him as the single man who had done the most to further Christianity in the farthest reaches of the world. The New York Times took that photo in his room." That's where I'd seen him before, Peter thought. Dolly continued, "President Carter invited him to the White House and gave him a plaque for his humanitarian efforts."
"I don't understand", Peter questioned. "Why would these memories bring Jerry pain?"
"Did you see the photo beside his bed?" He had. It was the younger Jerry kissing a beautiful white woman, each of them holding a child. The boy was probably 3 or 4 years old, the girl looked to be a little older.
"His wife, Marianne, had started a school and was teaching there in the Congo when Jerry was asked to Washington to be recognized. He turned the invitation down, of course. It wasn't safe to leave a white woman and two small children alone in the jungle. Jerry wanted to take them with him, but Marianne protested. She said she was making such great strides that she couldn't leave now, but Jerry needed to go. The school needed the funds his recognition was sure to generate. It would only be a week or two, and the Lord would protect them, she assured him. Reluctantly he went.""Oh no," Peter moaned. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
Dolly seemed not to have heard him. She heaved a sigh and went on, her voice thick with tears, her words falling heavily on Peter's ears. "Jerry returned a week later excited to show
Marianne the photos and the money he was bringing back, only to find his home and the school burned to the ground and the remains of his beloved wife and children left in the very spot where they'd been tortured and killed."
"No!" Peter cried, snapping Dolly out of her reverie. "How could Jerry endure that? It's too much!"
"So it was," Dolly replied. "Angry at God for not protecting his family and feeling incredible guilt for leaving them, Jerry lost his faith and any desire to live. He wandered the streets homeless for years until he was spotted in a shelter by a veteran reporter for the Times, who incidentally had snapped the photo with Billy Graham. The reporter brought him here to Lazy Days and a fund was established to pay his way as long as he's here."
By now the sun had set and it was getting cold out. Peter shivered, though from the night air or Dolly's story, he couldn't tell. He escorted Dolly inside. They said their "goodnights" and went to their rooms. Peter lay awake a long time. Though he wasn't a religious man, Peter thought maybe he should try talking to God on Jerry's behalf. Hi God, he began awkwardly. It's me, Peter. You probably don't know me, but you know Jerry. He did good things for you. I know he's been mad at you for a long time - heck, I woulda been too, but could you please forgive him and maybe give him his faith back too? He's a good guy and my friend. Uh...thanks for listening. Amen." Peter snuggled down and with a clear mind and heart drifted off to sleep.
Peter wasn't the only one interceding for Jerry he discovered at breakfast the next morning. Dolly had done some prying and found out that the only reason the chapel at Lazy Days wasn't being used was because they couldn't afford to hire a chaplain.
"I'd love a Sunday morning service", Dolly exclaimed, " and we've got our very own missionary who could lead it!"
"I did see a Bible and some hymnals in his room", Peter answered, warming up to the idea.
"I've got a plan", Dolly whispered conspiratorially. She put her head to Peter's and proceeded to fill him in.
Later that day, Dolly sat next to Jerry at the Puzzle Place. "Darn shame", Dolly sighed as she started assembling the frame to the newest puzzle.
"What's that?" Jerry asked.
"Nice guy like Peter - doesn't seem right."
"What? What about Peter?" Jerry asked, giving Dolly his full attention.
"It breaks my heart to think he's going to die and go to Hell. Oh, I pray for him, but...well, I've never led anyone to the Lord. I wouldn't know where to start and it's not like we've got a preacher in this place..."
Jerry wriggled uncomfortably in his chair. "Now, Dolly, you don't know he's going to go...there."
"I know he doesn't know Jesus. He's admitted as much. And you're a Christian, Jerry. You know there is only one way to Heaven. Poor, poor Peter. There is no hope for him."
"Well, maybe I could talk to him", Jerry offered.
"Oh, would you?" Dolly pleaded. "I hear they keep the little chapel unlocked if you'd like some privacy", she mentioned casually as Jerry started to rise from his chair.
That night at dinner, Jerry asked Peter if he'd accompany him to the chapel afterward. "What for?" Peter asked.
"I've never been in there", Jerry replied. "I thought we could check it out."
"Sure", Peter replied off-handedly. Good, Peter thought. Dolly's plan is working. He'll get in the chapel and remember how much he's missed that part of his life. He couldn't wait for dinner to end!
The two men approached the chapel door, the short bald man looking eager, the tall black man looking frightened. Neither knew what lay in store on the other side of the doors. The room was quiet and low-lit, the thick plush carpet absorbing their footsteps. There were four cushioned pews, an altar, a podium, and a large back-lit cross which hung on the wall behind the podium. Peter looked around in awe. He'd never been in any kind of church in his entire life. He didn't expect it to feel so peaceful. He sat soaking in the feeling.
Jerry felt it too. But he recognized the feeling
as the presence of God. Glancing at Peter sitting with his eyes closed, Jerry proceeded to the altar - and began weeping. Oh, my Lord, he silently prayed.
How could I have forsaken you all these years? Please forgive me. He continued until he'd repented of each offense incurred in the past 40 years. When his heart was at peace, he walked up and sat down next to Peter.
"Have you found your faith again?" Peter asked.
"Yes, Peter, I have. But I've found so much more than that." Jerry replied.
Peter looked confused. "What else did you find?"
"My calling", Jerry smiled. Peter still looked confused. "Many years ago the Lord called me to seek out and lead to salvation those who are lost. He meant you, Peter."
"Me?" Peter listened as Jerry explained God's plan of salvation for mankind and specifically for Peter, himself.
Jerry led Peter to the altar where Peter gave his heart to Jesus. "And now you need to go to church, read the Bible and learn all about your new Savior and His plans for your life", Jerry explained. "I'm going to talk to Ms. Winters and see if I can start a Sunday morning service right here in this chapel." Both men left the chapel, faces glowing, hearts filled with joy and minds at peace.
The next day Peter caught up with Dolly. "It worked!" he exclaimed. "Our plan for Jerry worked! He found his faith and is going to start a church service in the chapel on Sundays!"
"That's nice, Peter." Dolly replied.
"Thats NICE???" Peter looked at Dolly like she'd lost her mind. "That was the plan, remember?"
"No, Peter," Dolly corrected, "that was the by-product. The plan was for you to accept Jesus as your Savior."
"It was?"
"Um hm".
"Well, then it worked! The plan worked! I did accept Jesus as my Savior."
"Oh, Peter, I am so glad!" Dolly exulted. "Welcome to the family of God!"
The next Sunday saw its first service in the Lazy Days chapel. Helper Holly had photocopied songs from the hymnals and passed them out to the dozen or so residents that attended. Jerry shared his testimony of his time as a missionary, his tragedy and the loss and recovery of his faith. Peter shared the testimony of his salvation and the plan that wasn't his and Dolly's after all, but God's.
After service Peter said to Dolly, "Now that he's found his faith, maybe Jerry will tell us his last name." Dolly pointed to the sign above the chapel door. It read: The Just shall live by Faith.
"No", Dolly replied. "I think Just Jerry fits him perfectly."
Peter chuckled and said, "I have to agree".
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