David Robbins - Twin Cities Run

“At last.” Joshua sat up, grimacing as the back of his head twinged with pain.

“At last what?”

“At last I have a glimmer of understanding as to how things reached the deplorable state they’re in here in the Twin Cities.” Joshua leaned back, resting against the headboard. “Now all that remains is to develop a viable solution.”

“A solution to what?”

“A solution that will have everyone in the Twin Cities living as true sons and daughters of God should.”

Paul’s eyebrows arched. “You can’t be serious?”

“I am.”

Paul laughed. “Perhaps the blow to your head caused internal damage!”

“Why do you say that?”

“You can’t really expect us to try and live in harmony with the Porns? Or even the Nomads, for that matter?”

“I do expect it.” Joshua nodded slowly. “It is your duty to reach out to them in friendship and brotherhood.”

Paul rose to his feet. “Says who?” he demanded, annoyed.

“Says our Master,” Joshua stated solemnly.

“What?”

“Jesus left us with specific instructions regarding situations exactly like what you have here in the Twin Cities.”

“What are you referring to?” Paul asked skeptically.

“Do you have any Bibles?”

“Of course,” Paul stated. “We have quite a collection of sacred literature and other books. The stupid Porns burned most of the books in Minneapolis, and wherever else they found any. Once we became aware of what they were doing, we tried to salvage as many books as we could. We keep them under guard at the former Harding High School. I don’t think the Porns even know we have them, or they would have tried a raid by now.”

“But you have a Bible in this building?”

“Certainly. I’ll go downstairs and get mine.” Paul walked to the door.

“Say, Paul,” Joshua said before Paul could exit. “I’ve been meaning to inquire about where I am in St. Paul?”

“Oh. You’re in one of the buildings we maintain on the campus of Concordia College. There are far too many buildings in St. Paul for us to keep them all in useable condition, so we preserve certain ones, the ones best suited to our purposes. I’ll get the Word.” Paul departed.

Joshua folded his hands on his lap, trying to stay calm, to control his excitement. After reviewing his recent conduct, he considered his performance more of a detriment than an asset to Blade and the others.

He viewed his contributions on the two runs in a negative light. What good had he done them? He’d protested every time the Warriors had defended them. He’d whined and moaned whenever they’d killed someone.

Sure, he had saved Bertha from the Brute, but felt miserable afterwards.

In the fight against the Wacks, he’d only been of minimal assistance. This might be his golden opportunity to achieve a positive goal, to reconcile the Horns and the Porns and end their incessant bloodshed. The Twin Cities were large enough for both groups, and the Nomads, to live side by side without trying to exterminate one another. If he could succeed in attaining a state of peace between the various factions, he’d feel as if he’d been of some small benefit on his journey. Was it possible, though? Was he being realistic or idealistic? After all, the Horns and the Porns had been contending for close to a century, and he recognized how difficult a task it was to alter human behavior once that conduct had become habitual. His one ray of hope was the statement about Zahner and the Nomads. If a couple of hundred had already joined Zahner, former Porns and Horns, it seemed to indicate that maybe, just maybe, the general populations on both sides really wanted peace. Maybe the Porns and the Horns wanted to terminate their conflict and get about the business of making the Twin Cities a better place in which to live.

Paul came into the room, waving a Bible in his right hand. “Here it is!

Now you show me why I should extend friendship to the Porns!”

“Gladly.” Joshua took the Bible. “But if I convince you, will you help me to persuade the other members of the First Church? Will they listen to us?”

Paul sat down on the edge of the bed. “They will listen to me! I am their leader and spiritual guide.”

“All of us have a spiritual guide within us,” Joshua said to Paul. “The Spirit is in each of us, trying to show us God’s way, to reveal the Lord’s path for us.” He turned the pages, searching for the passage he wanted.

“Tell me. How strongly do you believe in the words of Jesus?”

“With my heart and soul and mind and strength,” Paul said indignantly. “I am a shepherd to His nock.”

Joshua was still looking for the quote he needed. “So you believe that whatever Jesus said takes unqualified precedence over anything else in the Bible?”

“Jesus was the Word made flesh,” Paul stated. “He is to be obeyed without question. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy.”

“True,” Joshua agreed.

“But what did you mean by what you said a second ago?” Paul inquired, intrigued by Joshua’s audacity in lecturing him on Scripture, and impressed by Joshua’s dignity, his concern, and his evident faith.

“There are no contradictions in the Bible.”

“Oh.” Joshua stopped flipping the pages. “For instance, take Psalm One.”

“Psalm One?”

“Verses Five and Six.” Joshua ran his finger under the lines as he read.

“‘Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish,’” he quoted.

Paul smiled in satisfaction. “See! What did I tell you? That applies to the Porns if anything does!”

“Wait a moment.” Joshua hurriedly turned to the New Testament. “I’m not done yet. I know you are intimately familiar with the Scriptures, so I’ll simply quote several passages and let you tell me if they also apply to the Porns. Fair enough?”

“Go ahead,” Paul grinned. “But you won’t change my mind.”

“I’m not going to,” Joshua replied. “Jesus is.”

“Oh?”

Joshua quickly turned from one reference to another. “Let’s start with Luke, Chapter Four, Verse Eighteen.” He read the excerpt slowly. “‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.’” Joshua glanced at Paul. “Does this apply to you as well?”

“Of course. I am a minister to His fold. I must follow in his footsteps.”

“Good.” Joshua smiled. “Then let’s keep going.” He continued turning pages. “Remember when the scribes and the Pharisees became upset and asked why Jesus ate and drank with the sinners and the publicans?”

“Of course.”

“From Luke, Chapter Five, Verses Thirty-one and Thirty-two,” Joshua said. “‘They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” He scanned the next page. “And listen to Chapter Six, Verses Thirty-five, Thirty-six, and Thirty-seven.” He shot a look at Paul, pleased at his furrowed brow and thoughtful countenance. “‘But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.’”

Paul reached up and scratched his chin. “I’m aware of these teachings…” he began.