A Changed Man
Obadiah stormed from the Bishop's office in a rage. 'How dare they?' He ranted in silence. 'After all I have tried to do, all of the support I have given them? Her?' He slammed through the doors of the rectory, and out into the back gardens, and down the path. The beauty surrounding him, was lost in an angry, red haze, and he was blind to the solace it offered. He paced the stone paths, lost in his own anger, frustration, and outrage, for the longest time.
It began slowly, quietly, at first. A soft rustling as the breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees above him. He stepped into the coolness of their shade, not fully aware, and yet, his anger began to subside. The buzzing of bees, amongst the flowers, registered a moment later, and his rage was put aside in favour of their mesmeric droning. He suddenly noticed how beautiful the flowers were, and their wonderful perfume graced his consciousness as he inhaled deeply, and peace began to take over, and still his ire.
Birdsong surrounded him, and he listened to them intently, occupying his mind with identifying each one; cardinal, wren, and even the manic rapping of a distant woodpecker, came as softly as the breeze blowing through the trees.
As he strolled further along the path, he pondered over his station in life, his situation, and he stilled as the high crystalline laughter of children came to him in his aimless wandering. His attention turned inward as the soft, gentle, 'Voice of God', heard clearly in the air around him, whispered to him, soothed his soul, and opened his eyes.
He sank down on a moss-covered, stone bench, staggered by the sudden clarity, the over-powering realization, that he had not been the man he perceived himself to be. He leaned back, and closed his eyes, lost in his thoughts, swallowed whole by his shame, as the truth was shown to him in the peace of the garden. He had been a selfish man, full of greed, using his position to further his own sinful ambitions. He saw the error of his ways, and his shameful heart filled with pain. His eyes filled with tears, and as the tears spilled down his face, he knew, beyond all doubt, that God was washing his shame away.
He became a changed man in that quiet beauty. Begging forgiveness, he began to pray, really pray, for the first time in his young life. He opened his heart to the truth, and felt the warmth of God's Love fill his soul. Obadiah Slope, at last, became a true believer, and a willing servant of God.