Billionaire Flawed 1(176)

He looked middle aged, younger than most Bishop’s and younger than the last one. John knew that probably wasn’t a good sign. A young Bishop would be afraid of bending any rules. He would want to assert his authority in order to keep order in the community.

“My name is Ezekiel,” said the Bishop. He seemed nice enough, as most Amish were, even in the face of grim circumstances. “And you must be John.”

“That is right, I have come here to…”

The Bishop cut him off. “I know why you have come here. Do you not think that your story is well known in this community?” The Bishop looked serious. But there was a hint of understanding behind his stern look.

“That is what I was afraid of,” replied John. “Afraid of my story being well known, that is to say, a bad example of how a person ought to be.”

The Bishop nodded in agreement. “You know your situation,” he said. “And so if I were to grant you back into this community, how do you think that would look. How do you think it would make me look?”

“I think that it would make you look forgiving, like a true Christian ought to be,” replied John.

“Do not talk to me about how a true Christian ought to act,” retorted the Bishop quickly. “I am not the one that abandoned his family and caused untold grief in this community.” The Bishop shook his head. “You are too young to understand. But the main reason we excommunicate is so that we do not build up false hope. Suppose that we didn’t forget about you? Suppose that we prayed for your return every single day?”

“Wouldn’t that be the right thing to do?” Asked John.

“No, we have our traditions for a reason. If we change them, if we bend them then we are liable to be taken advantage of and for our culture to fall apart. I am sorry, John. But you have to see it from my perspective. What I can say is that I will let you approach this as any outsider would. You may visit us, you may even stay the night with folks that will let you. But you cannot live here permanently, and you cannot become of a member of the church. That is, unless you show through your actions that you have changed and can be a valued member of our community. Is that understood?”

John nodded. “You have been fair in your judgment. I do want to move back, and be a member again. So look for me to be around, doing good works and honoring God once again. I will atone for my mistakes.” With that John shook the Bishop’s hand and left the room.

When he walked downstairs he noticed quite a large group gathered. First one person stared at him, and then another and another. It made him feel like an outsider. He made his way downstairs, trying not to make eye contact with anybody. Clearly they knew that he was the prodigal son. And clearly he was not welcome.

When he went outside, he noticed a girl crying. “Are you alright?”

Mary looked up. She did not recognize John, and she was embarrassed that a stranger saw her crying. “I am okay, there is nothing wrong here,” she said.

John was curious. She looked sad and hurt, like himself. He sat down beside her on the bench. “Why aren’t you inside with everyone else?”

“It is a long story. I thought that I was in love, and that I was going to be engaged soon. But that looks like it will never happen…” She began to cry too hard to continue.

“I have time for a long story,” said John. “But I think that we should go for a walk. This place has a few too many judging eyes for my liking.

Mary nodded. When her eyes cleared up, she noticed that John was extremely well built and handsome. He didn’t have a beard, meaning that he was single. And his hair was styled, not plain like the rest of her kin. He talked differently too. He wasn’t so reserved and afraid to come across as being confident. “Who are you?”

“You mean you haven’t heard of me?”

Mary shook her head. “Should I have?”

“Oh I don’t really know what to think anymore. Some people have heard of me here, I know that for sure. And a lot of them don’t want me back.” John played with the dirt with his shoe, annoyed at his situation. “It was a long time ago, but the past cannot be changed.”

Mary thought about his words. She knew them to be true. What was his pain? “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, it means a lot?”

John smiled. “It means alot that you would take the time to talk to me,” he replied.

Mary laughed to herself. “Well clearly neither of us are on top of the world right now. Tell me what troubles you. I am here to listen. I won’t judge.”

Something about the way that Mary said those words made him believe that she was telling the truth. He looked closer into her eyes. “I am lost.”