Lessons by the Lake

J. McGill Debora

Description

When Oliver, a prominent resident of the small tourist town of Lake Side collapses from a heart attack and is taken to Mercy Hospital, the regular patrons of Jays Barber Shop react to the news by flipping coins to see who among them will visit their long-time friend. Events unfold quickly, initially taking an equally tragic turn when Rico and Dillon get into an automobile accident on their way to visit Oliver. After all three men are admitted to the very busy hospital, they discover they are patients assigned to the same room. One coincidence after another occurs; or is it coincidence? Is God in control of lifes events, or allowing them? Who is the woman whose kindness toward Dillon and his neighbors turns his obsession with her into good news for himself and his wife Gretta? How do the attitudes of the barber shop patrons change? Lessons By the Lake is a story about divine love, forgiveness and compassion. A few small acts of kindness, culminate with many lives having been transformed for the better.

Informations

• Publié par: Inspiring Voices
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781462400256
• Langue: English

Extrait

Lessons by the Lake
A Story of Forgiveness, Love, and Compassion
 
DEBORA J. MCGILL
 


 
 
Copyright © 2012 Debora J. McGill
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:
 
Inspiring Voices
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.inspiringvoices.com
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This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
 
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0025-6 (e)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0026-3 (sc)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011940938
 
Printed in the United States of America
 
Inspiring Voices rev. date: 2/17/2012
Contents
DEDICATION  
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  
INTRODUCTION  
CHAPTER ONE  
CHAPTER TWO  
CHAPTER THREE  
CHAPTER FOUR  
CHAPTER FIVE  
CHAPTER SIX  
CHAPTER SEVEN  
CHAPTER EIGHT  
CHAPTER NINE  
CHAPTER TEN  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR  
 
 
DEDICATION  
In appreciation for my family, friends, and neighbors, EMT’s, hospitals, physicians and nurses. Special thanks to local prayer centers.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  
Thanks to the Cities of Salem-Keizer Oregon, individuals, clinics, organizations, and churches offering help and compassion to those in distress.
INTRODUCTION  
AS A CHILD, I would sometimes accompany my dad to the barbershop in our small hometown. I found it entertaining watching the barbers shine customers’ shoes, meticulously shave men’s faces, and then cut and style their hair. Though I certainly don’t recall any of the conversations that took place during my visits so long ago, I do remember the talk was lively among the acquaintances and friends who frequented the shop. Thus, a barbershop seemed to be an interesting place in which to set this fictional story.
Lessons by the Lake was a project begun in 2009. It has been written and updated prayerfully with the intent that it encourage thought and inspire within the reader a desire to consider more deeply who God is.
There is a passage in Mark 8:27–29 where Jesus Christ asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They gave various answers, until he asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (KJV). I wonder if being open to letting God answer that question more deeply for us might be the ultimate purpose of each person’s life journey. Reading this conversation between the Lord and his close companions was an inspiration to me as I wrote Lessons by the Lake.
CHAPTER ONE  
Windows of Seasons
BLUE SKIES ARE A WELCOME change in the Pacific Northwest after a winter canopied with rainclouds. Though most residents would probably agree that water is one of their most treasured natural resources, during a candid moment they would also probably say rainy days can become tiring. Prolonged autumn and winter weather patterns give the impression that spring and summer will never arrive.
That’s what Oliver O’Dooley had decided anyway. He was bored. Living alone for the past twelve years was not his plan. In fact, according to his previous long-range goal, right about now it would be he and his wife heading from their lakefront dream home to jog on the path around the lake. Hmm, that sure didn’t turn out, he thought to himself as he picked up his pace. He was feeling a bit disgusted with the way his forty-seven-year-old body was responding—or rather, not responding—to the rigors of his new exercise routine. His doctor had recently suggested he start some kind of physical conditioning to lose the extra pounds he’d put on.
“Mr. O’Dooley, I’m concerned about how this weight you’ve added may affect your heart.” That had gotten Oliver’s attention and was the motivator that put him back on the exercise path. Here he was taking his daily jog around the lake for the seventh or eighth week in a row.
At first, Oliver believed the woman walking by the lake to be looking for something. He noticed how she lifted her designer sunglasses each time she bent forward. She wore black exercise capris and a light color T-shirt. He guessed her age to be between forty and fifty-something by her attire and slim figure. An older woman would probably be wearing a hat and more conservative clothing and eyewear , he supposed. As he got closer, he realized she was quite possibly a bit younger. Her skin had few wrinkles, and he didn’t notice any gray in her hair. She was looking intently at flowers and birds and the rocks lining the path. That’s the woman who stopped by while I was pruning the hedge, he realized.
“Is that poison oak?” she asked Oliver while pointing to Oregon grape.
“No, it’s Oregon grape.” He concluded from her question that she might be new to the area, though mistaking the state flower for poison oak was quite common.
“That looks like an osprey,” she said. They both watched as the raptor dove into the water and then struggled getting airborne while holding a flopping trout in its talons. “Oh, look at that adorable creature.” She noticed a turtle as it bobbed to the surface. He was wondering what she would point out next. “What a gorgeous day to be boating,” she commented as a canoe skimmed along the glassy lake carrying two passengers.
Oliver was intrigued with her conspicuous awe of what was happening within the natural surroundings. Although the area merited admiration, he considered this woman’s childlike interest with it to be unusual. At any case, Oliver assumed she was a tourist passing through the charming community. He figured she would soon be moving on, like most of the short-timers who rented a cabin for a few weeks’ stay at most. Her fascination with nature reminded him of the way he felt returning stateside after serving as an active army reservist in Iraq. His homecoming had been several years before, but his memory of the day was clear. He recalled it being like having a second chance at life. He felt honored that he had served his country, but his overwhelming emotion was thankfulness.
OLIVER DIDN’T KNOW HER NAME until the day his neighbor Dillon Brach, who lived next door to him, stopped to ask if he’d ever heard of Layla. The sharply dressed, fifty-year-old Dillon was interested in women other than his wife. He thought no one knew his secret. Oliver had observed enough, and so the comment set him up for a reply he couldn’t resist. “Oh yeah, I heard that Eric Clapton tune played on KBAK Oldies Radio just this morning.”
“Oh no, Oliver. I’m referring to the woman who walks around the lake. You know who I mean; you told me she stopped and visited with you in your backyard one morning.” With that, Dillon helped Oliver put a name to the face of Lake Side’s unpretentious new resident.
“So, what’s your concern with her, Dillon?”
“I don’t know why she’s here, and I see her in different places around town. She’s not like most folks I’ve met. She shows up at unexpected times, seems to prefer asking questions, and offers no information regarding her business here. So I’m wondering, has she given you any idea about what she’s up to?” Dillon had an anxious, pleading look in his eyes that made Oliver wonder what he was up to.
“I don’t know any more about her than you do, so the risk is our guessing will turn to gossip.”
“Aw, you sure know how to place a roadblock on the information highway. I’ll see what the guys at the Cut and Shine know about her.”
“Now there’s where you’re really apt to get enlightened,” Oliver said with a mischievous laugh. He figured the guys there would tolerate the topic even less. “Here’s a suggestion: why not forget about it?”
“Are you telling me you don’t care who shows up here?”
“I’m not saying that.” He continued to play along with his neighbor’s feigned alarm. I’m concerned that you may be misled. All I’m saying is careful; you’re coming across as obsessive.”
“Now level with me, aren’t you just a little bit curious about her?”
Oliver had nothing more to say. He retreated to his patio, and Dillon abruptly walked toward his own house.