The Minster and The Model (Complete)

THE MINISTER AND THE MODEL  (All Parts Complete)

THIS POST IS FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PERSONS LIVING OR DEAD IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.

                     THE MINISTER AND THE MODEL

                                       

It took Mark Robertson two weeks to pray up enough courage to tell her.

It took Susan McElroy two weeks to stop crying after he told her.

In less than 60 seconds, Mark brought a four-year, white-hot relationship with Susan to a complete halt. Friends and family were equally stunned by the out-of-the-blue announcement by Mark. How could he do that?

Both had just graduated from State College, with highest honors. Mark was Mister Everything in baseball. He batted .407 for four years, led his conference three years in RBIs, Slugging Percentage, and Stolen Bases. He covered center field with gliding ease and had a powerful laser like arm. He led the nation for two straight, years in Put Out Assists from the outfield. 

He was a handsome specimen of very high intelligence and sound body, articulate, and steady boyfriend of the most beautiful girl on campus---Susan McElroy

Susan won so many beauty contests her father had to build a larger glass door cabinet to hold them all. In college she was elected Homecoming Queen, the

 Sweetheart of Sigma Chi, and a sure fire bet to win the State Miss America contest---the death of both grandparents on her mother’s side in a three car accident took her out of competition. She was a talented singer, tap dancer, and the top student in her professional modeling and fashion design class. She and Mark had it all figured out: His almost certain baseball career and her frequent out of town modeling appearances would fit together nearly perfectly. 

However, all of those plans evaporated when Mark announced he no longer could deny nor ignore the unmistakable Call from Almighty God to be a minister. After all he was a frequent speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes,  assistant Youth Director in both his local church and campus church, and a much sought after speaker at high schools throughout the state. His affirmative answer  to the Call of God meant his T-Ball through college dreams  to play in the major leagues was now a thing of the past.

Dreams can die in an instant but memories never die.

Susan now had a very difficult decision to make concerning her plans to be a professional model or forget about her altar-bound relationship with Mark. Mark was unmovable about his decision to enter seminary as soon as possible. He and Susan seemed destined to spend their lives together---what was she now to do ?  

Susan did not immediately know what to do; but she knew her life long dream, from her first Barbie Doll to her graduation, to become a professional model was totally incompatible with being a pastor's wife.

The next 10 days for both Mark and Susan seemed trance like, neither believed in Zombies, yet they both seem to walk and talk in an numbed state of mind and body. They would briefly see each other when CDs and other items were located that belonged to the other. Both hated these necessary, but awkward, meetings. Neither mentioned the reason for the breakup.

Mark called baseball scouts from the Angels, Cubs, Giants, and Cards and told them of his decision to enter the ministry. Two of the scouts used language he had never heard before and probably never hear again. All expressed major disappointment. Only one wished him well in his career in the ministry. 

Susan had a job offer in Chicago at the Front Cover Modeling Agency even before she graduated. A phone call and a couple of emails later and the position was officially hers. 


Mark, on the other hand, was starting from scratch. His pastor in his hometown church made a couple of calls on his behalf. The necessary seminary paperwork arrived in an Overnight Delivery the next day.  It was completed that night and faxed back to the Gateway Seminary in San Francisco the next day.

In spite of the mental hygiene that comes with positive work, both had a dull pain that felt like a headache that would not go away: Perhaps it never would.

Susan and and Mark had a finally meeting in their favorite sit down sandwich place. Each ordered only a Coke. Neither said much. Their tearful eyes said everything for them. Outside, a third grade kiss on the lips and an embrace that seemed like minutes served as the official and  final good-bye. Driving was very difficult for both.

Someone has wisely observed that about 10 percent of our lives is what actually happens to us. The remaining 90 percent is how we react to the 10 percent. Would the hurt ever subside for both Mark and Susan?

It was only the Grace of God and Time that enabled Mark and Susan to keep pursuing their respective careers in spite of the pain. Mark would often remember the admonition of his college baseball coach, "Gents, sometimes you have to play through pain."

Following graduation from seminary, Mark was called as an associate pastor at a small church in Redlands, CA. When the senior pastor retired, Mark was the unanimous choice to succeed him.

In two years, under Mark's leadership, a new worship center, daycare, gym, and education space was completed and the 200 members soon became 1,500 members.  

A staff of 15 helped Mark and the church to meet the spiritual needs of the local population, minister to the ballooning Hispanic community and to work with the many international students at the nearby Loma Linda University.

The phenomenal growth of the Mountain View Church made Mark a frequent speaker at church growth conferences. A hectic schedule of three preaching services on Sunday Morning, endless staff meetings, weddings, funerals, counseling, and hospital visitation ruined his feeble attempts at staying in shape. He was no longer the fleet footed center fielder that once seemed destined to be in the major leagues. He was paying the price of sacrificial service.

During this entire journey he never stopped missing Susan, but he did occasionally ask God if it was right for him to serve others yet hurt her and him so much.

Alone on his bed at night he often recalled the softness of her skin, her clear and cheery eyes, and the captivating fragrance of her flowing blond hair. He could almost hear her reassuring sweet voice that seemed coated with love and desire. He longed to see her again, smell her again, hear her again, and yes, kiss her and draw her close to him.

Mark was unaware that Susan's modeling career was on the fast track and getting faster. She was featured in the last two Sears summer catalogs, appeared in a ton of fashion shows, traveled to Rome, Paris, and London to judge several design contests, and she appeared in a half dozen info commercials. It was the info commercials that caught the eye of a production company's casting executive who would later invite her and her agent to Hollywood for a screen test.  

Susan worked very hard to win and maintain her ascent to the top. She went through three hard workouts each week; counted calories at each meal; and tried with modest success, to be in bed by 11 pm each night. Her skin remained flawless, even without makeup. Her posture was West Point correct and her eyes had the dual feature of compassion and competition glowing within them. Her toned figure remained a major selling point in the cut throat world of international class modeling.

She could model an evening gown to open a fashion show; change a dozen times; and bring the house down with the latest in the new line of fashionable beach wear. Susan was a genuine, smoke free, drug free, silicon free, head turner, both on the runway and the sidewalk.

After firing her first two agents who each had substance abuse issues, she found a tireless, likable  and reliable agent that located all of the modeling work she could handle. Good help has always been hard to find. 

Like Mark, she often reflected on their storybook romance together. Would she ever see him again? Wonder if he ever married?

Only those who believe in the Divine Providence of a thrice Holy God or those who kept the novels of Charles Dickens near their bedside, appreciate the hardly believable events that were about to unfold in the lives of Susan and Mark.

Mark was scheduled to be the featured speaker at the National Church Growth Conference in LA. All of the platform personalities for the conference were staying at the Weston Regency on Wilshire Blvd. The conference paid all of their expenses.

The day before the conference was to begin, Mark had a late afternoon sandwich and took the elevator to the entrance of the upscale shops connected to the hotel. He planned a short walk before reviewing his sermon notes for tomorrow.

Just as he came to the entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue he bumped into a woman wearing sunglasses and she had a Saks shopping bag in each hand. 

Mark apologized for the collision and the woman removed her sunglasses and for a few seconds Mark and Susan stood speechless. What do you say after five years?

Both spoke at once and asked the same question, "What are you doing here?"

"Suzie Mac (Mark's pet name for Susan) you look great! Really great."

"Mark, I'm her in LA for a screen test tomorrow. It could be my ticket to Hollywood. What about you?"

"I am here for the National Church Growth Conference which  starts tomorrow in a church near here."

Again each spoke at the same time with the same question? "Are you married?" 

Susan replied, "No."

Mark echoed the negative.

"Say Suzie Mac, how about having dinner with me
 tonight?"

"Mark, I can't. I'm having dinner with my agent to review the schedule for tomorrow. What say you join us at 8pm?"

Mark replied, "Suzie Mac, you have a date. I'll be in the lobby waiting for you."

This chance encounter, if it was chance, had an immediate effect on Mark. He felt ten feet tall and all of the good times with Susan came flooding back.

Mark offered verbal thanks to the Lord as he showered and shaved. All of the insurmountable issues that caused their separation did not seem to matter tonight. He was going to have dinner with the only girl he ever loved. 

At 7:30 pm Mark sank into one of the overstuffed, leather covered easy chairs in the hotel lobby. He tried to look through the current newspapers from LA, San Francisco, and New York. He turned the sheets of newsprint without reading anything but the cut lines below some of the photos. His mind was on Suzie Mac.  

Prompt as always, Susan and her agent came into the lobby exactly at 8 pm. She was wearing the always stylish LBD, with a diamond necklace.

Mark struggled to free himself from the grasp of the large chair and stood with his gaze centered on Susan. (She is as beautiful as I remember her thought Mark)

Susan spoke first, "Mark, this is Charlie Newton my manger and, as of this afternoon, my fiancee. Charlie, this a long time friend, a very good friend,
Mark Robertson

Mark was dumbfounded. He bravely shook Charlie's hand and knew it was useless to speak at that moment. He nodded as Charlie said, "Mark, I am happy to meet you."

Susan turned her ring so Mark could admire it. "While I was shopping in Saks, Charlie was picking out this gorgeous engagement diamond at Tiffany's. I knew Charlie was serious about me, but this ring is unreal. What a surprise?"

The diamond was so big it looked like a joke ring a junior high boy would buy at a novelty store---the ring that shoots a stream of water in an unsuspecting admirer's face . Mark's annual compensation package at his church had just recently been raised to 84k. That mammoth piece of former coal probably cost three or four times that much. Susan and Charlie were definitely in the financial big leagues.

Mark somehow regained some semblance of composure and said, "I hope you both will be happy. I will not be able to dine with you; I have last minute points to incorporate into my sermon."

Mark shook Charlie's hand and gave Susan a politically correct peck on the cheek and headed for the elevator door. (Dear God in Heaven, please do not let me cry or collapse on the floor.) God answered Mark's silent request.   

As Mark prepared to step into the elevator, he turned and saw Susan and Charlie walking out of the front door, holding hands.

It took three attempts for Mark to get the magnetic card strip key to open the door to 1407. He swiftly walked to his bed and fell on his knees, "God, please let me know why I am required to carry this burden of total love for Susan." Now the tears came.

Mark washed his face and dried it. He walked to the sliding windows and opened them and stepped out onto the small wrought iron porch that was attached to each room.

He looked down and saw the continuously busy traffic of honking, sometimes speeding, cars. Perhaps all of them were happy. He was very sad.

At 11:45 pm Susan called Mark's phone and there was no answer. Same at 12 am and same at 12:15 am.

Mark was not in his room when Susan called because his afternoon light sandwich did not hold him through the night. He went to the Night Hawk Diner for a midnight snack and missed her call.

The following evening when he returned from the conference he was given a note by the desk clerk. It read:

        My Dear Mark,

        I called you at midnight last night to
        let you know I returned Charlie's ring
       at dinner. He was more in love with the money 
      a movie star would make and less in love with me.

        Also, the screen test was less than overwhelming. The double out was
        to  too much for Charlie---he flew back to Chicago
          alone ----- and looking for work.
         
        Hope your speech went well.

        Love always,
        Suzie Mac

        PS: Please call me @ 555-555-5555.
              I would like to come back to LA
              very soon to keep that dinner date
              you invited me to. In addition I
              have some questions about the
              expectations of a minister's wife.

Mark tossed the note into the air and yelled,
 "Praise the Lord!!" and everyone in the lobby
looked at him. Under his breath he prayed,"Thank you Lord for making me afraid of heights!"

The next day he called Susan and urged her to
come the very next weekend. She said, "I'll be
there." 

In addition, he told her he had been asked at the conference by the President of Pacific World Outreach University to prayerfully consider joining his staff as the Director of Church Growth Research and to coach the university baseball team.

Home runs often come late in the game!
                         THE END

Glenn C. Peck <><
Just West of Yesterday