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partied a lot while I was in college. I made a lot of bad choices. It’s a miracle, especially when I was drinking, that I didn’t kill myself or somebody else in my recklessness. But somehow, by the grace of God, I didn’t. Somehow I managed to keep my grades up, hang onto my scholarship, and graduate.”
    Wyatt paused and took another sip of water while wondering if he was saying enough or too much.
    “Romans 8:28 says that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called accord- ing to His purpose. I can’t say that I’ve worked out all the questions I have regarding predestination and free will, about how God’s in control but I’m still free to choose. I’m sure I won’t understand all the theology until I’m in heaven. What I do know is that somehow God takes my mistakes, my stupid choices, my failures, and even my successes and the pride that can go with them, and when I trust Him with it all, He turns it into good results in my life. I don’t mean that makes my life easy or that I don’t have to suffer the consequences when I do dumb things. I mean God uses those things for His purposes.”
    He raked the fingers of his right hand through his hair. “Long before I understood the ways God led me to Him, I was
    changing. I quit drinking for one. I was kinder to my mom and my
    sister. After passing the bar, I worked hard in the firm where I was employed. And I kept looking at the Christians who’d entered my life and realized they had something I didn’t have.”
    He continued speaking, telling his audience about the Sunday morning when understanding dawned, causing all that had been spoken from the pulpit to make sense. Words he’d heard in his head were suddenly heard in his heart too.
    “Everything changed for me in that moment,” he said, feeling the wonder anew. “The scales that blinded me fell off my eyes. I fell in love with God and His Word. And I fell in love with God’s people.”
    He’d thought he was in love with Roxy Burke. Not the crazy, mixed-up, lustful relationship they had going for so long, but the kind of love a guy could build a life on. Only the last thing she’d wanted was “a Bible-thumping boyfriend who’s as much of a stuffed shirt as my dad.” She left for Nashville not long after that.
    Once again he looked at Elena, marveling at the hand of God in his life. He didn’t deserve Elena’s love, and it amazed him that she gave it to him anyway, knowing all she did about him.
    “The Bible says God created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we could do the good things He planned for us from the begin- ning of time. And you don’t have to be called to the pastorate or to full-time missionary work in a Third World country to do the good things He planned for you. You can be a Jonathan and Elena Burke in someone’s life. It’s easier than you think to share the love of God with somebody who doesn’t know Him. That person could end up like me, changed forever.” He gave a quick nod. “Thanks for listening.”
    He left the platform and returned to sit beside Elena.
    There were tears in her eyes as she leaned close to him. “That was wonderful, Wyatt. I’m so proud of you.”
    No, he didn’t deserve her, but he was glad God brought them together all the same.
    =

    It was raining cats and dogs outside the Greyhound terminal.
    Roxy stood near the windows, staring into the darkness of night, watching rain splatter against the glass. Her bus wouldn’t depart until 11:00 P . M .
    Anxiety clawed at her belly. She wished they were on their way already. She was afraid she would change her mind. That she would cash in her ticket and stay in Nashville rather than go home a failure.
    She almost laughed. Stay and do what? She no longer had an apartment to live in. Dump though it was, it had provided a roof over her head, and the landlord was a halfway decent sort. Besides, even with her new clothes, she looked awful. Who would hire her? Her