The Revelation of Joan
Chapter 13 Epiphany
"You knew Mom was missing without anybody telling you," Grace said to Joan, "and you knew where to find her. So I'm convinced now."
Grace and I were with Joan in her hospital room. The adults had agreed to let the "kids" talk together, although they little knew the bizarre subject of our conversation.
"And you?" my sister asked, turning to me.
"Yeah. I don't understand it, and I want to understand it, but I can't deny the evidence. You're in touch with God. But I wish I could talk to your friend myself."
"Here I am," said a voice behind us.
Grace and I turned to see a boy of our own age, with an appearance that any girl would describe as "cute", or something even more admiring. I had to suppress a surge of envy over his looks. It wouldn't do to commit a Deadly Sin under the circumstances. "So you're God?"
"Yes," said the Boy. "Joan will confirm that."
"That's the form he first appeared to me in, two years ago," said my sister.
"I'd like proof of my own," I said. "Please tell us something we don't know."
"Very well. Grace, your mother will never drink again. Guilt over having endangered Joan's life and forfeited your love will be stronger than the temptation."
"Thank God," said Grace.
"You're welcome," the Boy said disconcertingly.
"That doesn't prove anything," I said. "We won't know whether it's true until the future comes."
"Shut up, dude," said Grace. Obviously she wanted to believe the prophecy.
"OK, answer this," I said. "You're supposed to be omniscient and omnipotent, aren't you?"
"Yes," said the Boy.
"So why didn't you keep Grace from overhearing you and her, that first night?"
"Use your logic, Luke. I could keep myself from being overheard if I wanted, and I didn't, so why does that imply?"
"You WANTED her to hear you?"
"What?" exclaimed Grace.
"But why?" asked Joan.
"Because I wanted to meet you. The eavesdropping started the ripples that led to the present moment."
"I don't understand," said Joan. "Why didn't you just introduce yourself to Luke and Grace, the way you did to me two years ago?"
"Because Luke and Grace are different from you. Joan, you have an instinct for judging people correctly, and it led you to have faith in me fairly early. And you always accept my suggestions, even though you put up some initial resistance. Luke and Grace are, however, skeptics by nature. Convincing them would take time. But their curiosity and their love for you drove them to look into me, and of course I have eternity on my side."
"And you're not mad that we doubted you?" asked Grace, all snarkiness gone for the moment.
"No. Skepticism in people like you can be a virtue. 'By doubt we are led to questioning, and by questioning we are led to the truth'. Peter Abelard said that in the Middle Ages. Luke, your brand of skepticism is scientific: you want to understand the workings of the universe instead of just accept them. Grace, yours is political, a willingness to speak out against wrongdoing, as the ancient prophets of your faith once did. Do not stop being skeptical."
"So what happens now?" asked Joan.
"I will give Grace and Luke direction. Sometimes I will ask them to help you, Joan. Sometimes I will ask them to perform tasks suited to their characters. I know that you've explained the ground rules -- no coercion, no reward, but the knowledge that your deeds will lead to good ripples."
"I want to hear the directions first," said Grace, some of her own stubbornness returning as we got used to the situation.
He laughed. "In good time. Eventually, there is a certain Mr. Hunter that you will have to deal with. For now, I'd like for you three to simply talk. Joan has two years of secrets that she'd like to confide. Shalom."
He left with a peculiar wave, with which Grace and I were soon to become familiar. The three of us were left behind, to ponder the revelation that had just been granted to us.
THE END