Page 117 of Love in the Wild

Gage held up a hand. “I’m not judging. It’s just really generous of you.”

“I’d rather be generous than rich.”

Gage stared at the old man, trying to understand what a plot of land like that might go for in today’s time. It wasn’t chump change. What would it be like to have enough that you could give whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted?

“I want to be able to give like that one day,” Gage said.

Mr. Chambers looked up for a second before turning his attention back to the post. “What’s on your mind?”

Shoot. Gage hadn’t been hiding his thoughts as much as he’d hoped. He’d been going to church and Bible study with Hadley for a couple of weeks, and there was something on his mind. He couldn’t shake it no matter how hard he tried.

Gage put the machine down and propped his hands on his hips. The pressure in his chest built until there wasn’t any room left inside him. “I want to give my life to the Lord.”

Mr. Chambers stopped with his hands on the post and turned to study Gage. Whatever he saw must have been to his liking because he nodded. “All right.”

Gage waited for more, then held out his hands. “That’s it? You’re not gonna ask me if I’m sure or tell me I’m not ready?”

Mr. Chambers huffed. “You’re a grown man. You know when you’re ready.”

Surety swelled in his chest. “I do. I’m ready.”

Mr. Chambers’s wrinkled cheeks lifted with his grin. “I know you are. Do you know what to do now?”

“I think I’m supposed to pray and let Him know I want to follow Him.” After the terrible choices Gage had made in the past about who to follow and who to give his loyalty to, this decision was a no-brainer.

“He already knows, but confessing your sins and letting Him know you believe is a good place to start.”

“Right now?” Gage asked.

Mr. Chambers shrugged. “Now’s as good a time as any.”

Heart pounding, Gage nodded. Why were his hands sweating? Why was the air so thick?

“Don’t chicken out. The Lord won’t bite you,” Mr. Chambers said.

“I’m not chickening out.” Though his heart might explode in his chest before he made things official.

He planted his boots shoulder-width apart, propped his hands on his hips, and bowed his head. It took a few deep breaths before he was able to speak. “Lord, I’ve done a lot of things wrong. I’ve done a lot of running, but I don’t want to run anymore. I know I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, but I hope You can accept my apologies.” He sighed and whispered, “It’s not enough.”

He took a few minutes to wrap up his thoughts. He was so far from a good man, and he had a long way to go to make things right. “I want what You want for me–whatever that is. I want Your guidance, and I want to do what’s right for You.”

Gage lifted his head, and the weight on his shoulders melted away. He took his first real breath and felt light. Was this what people meant when they talked about peace?

Mr. Chambers pressed his lips together and nodded before waving a hand. “Come here.”

Gage stepped over to Mr. Chambers who wrapped him up in a bear hug, slapping his hand against Gage’s back.

“Welcome home, son.”

Chuckling, Gage wrapped the old man up. Had he ever given a man a hug before? He’d never been close with his dad or uncles, and his old friends hadn’t been the hugging type.

After a few seconds, Mr. Chambers released him. “You’re just a seed beginning to grow right now, but you’ll be an oak tree one day.”

Gage narrowed his eyes at the old man. “How do I do that?”

Mr. Chambers picked up the next post. “Start by digging the next hole then put down some roots.”

Gage sat on Hadley’s porch watching the sun set. The orange glow was chased by deep blue in the sky as it cast shadows over miles of rolling hills. The heel of his boot tapped a quick rhythm on the wood as the rocking chair moved slowly.

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