The Rippling Effect

by Debi Irene Wahl
(Shoemakersville, PA, USA)

The serenity of the scenery was jarred as the stone was tossed into the large body of water. It began a ripple effect that slowly but surely spread from the epi center where it landed to the outer most ends of the lake. It's effect was felt by many, but the origins unknown to all and no one realized that a stone had been tossed into their body of water...

Ginny was bored and when the phone call came, she was glad for the respite from her self pity.

"Hi girl, watcha doing?" The perky voice on the other end of her cell phone was irritating.

"Nothing, it's boring. Rainy and miserable." Ginny whined.

"Get out of the house, come with me to the youth meeting at church?" Mandy asked.

"That's boring too." Ginny was nothing if not consistent.

"That new guy from the football team will be there." Mandy tempted.

Ginny sat up on her bed, interested. "Yeah? How do you know that?"

"'Cause my brother asked him and he said yes. Then we're going to head over to that new outdoor Taco stand and get something to eat."

Ginny didn't want to act too interested. "Ok, I guess so... it beats sitting around here staring at the tube."

"Great," Mandy was even more enthusiastic than usual. "We'll pick you up in half an hour."

Ginny put the phone down and jumped off her rumpled bed. Tossing open the closet she looked through her wardrobe to see what would be modest enough for the group of teens at the church but still catch the eyes of the new quarterback.

2 hours later, her outfit was the last thing on her mind as Ginny bowed her head and gave place to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As she wiped tears from her eyes, Mandy hugged her new sister in Christ. "See, isn't it everything I ever told you?" Her voice, while lowered, still vibrated perky joy.

Up close, the football jersey he wore made his eyes shine. "Welcome to the family." He smiled broadly.

"You're a Christian too?" Ginny asked.

"Yep, for a long time." His teeth gleamed in his face.

"Come on," Mandy's brother, Joe, was hungry. "We can talk while we eat. I'm starving."

The teens hopped into cars and made a beeline for the greasy pit, and as the last of the cars rippled out of the church parking lot, the quiet descended once again on the peaceful scene.

..."What are you doing Son?" The Father asked as He strolled by the large body of water in Glory.

"Just tossing some rocks into the water. They make this wonderful ripple effect..." Jesus smiled, his countenance beautiful.

"Well, keep up the good work, Son."