Redeeming Heart by Pat Simmons Page A

tell her, she’ll
hate me.”
    “Nah.” Rossi reached in his pocket for his
car keys. “Octavia’s going to kill you.”
    “Run for your life because the devil is on
your heels!” Pastor Washington’s shrieking jolted Landon back to
the present and sent shivers down his body. “This is your altar
call. Don’t look behind you because it will only slow you down.
Look ahead to Jesus who has His arms stretched out. As a matter of
fact, it’s been that way for a long time. Get up from your seats.
Make that change today.”
    It was time. Landon eradicated whatever
amount of pride he had left in his heart to stand. With no turning
back, he marched to the front of the church and confessed he wanted
to rededicate his life to Christ. Two ministers laid hands on his
head and shoulders and prayed. Closing his eyes, Landon saw a
vision of Christ nailed to a wooden cross. Rebellious tears sprung
from nowhere and flowed down Landon’s face.
    In spite of the activity going on around him,
Landon felt alone and stripped naked before God. Then voices seemed
to surround him. Landon realized the entire congregation was
rallying behind him. Shouts of “Deliver him from the devil’s
bondage,” “Make his way straight, Jesus,” “Give him a clean heart…”
The cries of help on his behalf became deafening.
    Finally, the Lord’s voice pierced through. Your slate is clean. Now serve Me.
    Everything was a blur after God spoke. The
hugs, handshakes and words of encouragement were overwhelming as
Landon tried to compose himself. The burdens of his deeds were
gone. He felt spiritually cleansed.
    “To celebrate new beginnings, let’s eat,”
Rossi offered and treated him to dinner.
    Hours later back at Mac’s Place, Landon was
relieved that he had the bedroom to himself. He even welcomed the
sight of Grady’s open Bible. Landon stood over his roommate’s bed
and peeked at the scripture Grady had underlined: Jeremiah 31:3: The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved
thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have
I drawn thee.
    Landon nodded with a smile. “Yes, You have,
Lord.”
    Stretching out on his own bed, Landon
fingered his new prepaid cell phone, pondering his next move. Rossi
had made sure he had it to make and receive business-related calls.
Slipping it out his pants pocket, he stared at the device. After a
sigh, he punched in one number he couldn’t forget. With every ring,
he choked. Finally, before the third one was complete, the familiar
voice answered.
    “Hi, Grandpa.” Tears returned and flooded
Landon’s face as if he was a lost child instead of a
thirty-three-year-old man. He never recalled crying this much as a
toddler. He was a man, yet surrendering to God had sucked the life
out of him.
    Your old life, God whispered. I’m
giving you new life.
    “Landon?” Moses Miller asked for
confirmation.
    “Yes, sir. It’s me.”
    Silence, so Landon waited to see if he would
receive or reject him. There were very few people in his family he
hadn’t crossed, but his maternal grandfather had been long
suffering with his antics. When he issued the ultimatum, Landon
realized he had lost his last ally.
    “I’ve repented.” It was a prodigal-son moment
that his entire family had been waiting for. They had warned him
continuously that he needed to repent, but he mocked them,
preferring his lifestyle of destruction and self-gratification. He
bowed his head. His elbows were anchored on his knees.
    “Landon, Landon, Landon,” his grandfather
said in a cautious tone. “God knows I want to believe you, but your
mockery of seven times seventy leaves me suspect. Why don’t you
tell me what’s going on with you?”
    “I deserve that,” Landon admitted, then began
to chronicle his life since being forced out of the condo his
family knew nothing about to roaming city to city: New York,
Chicago and now St. Louis as he was making his way to Texas.
    “Are you ready to come