Looking For You All My Life Part 45

speak to their mountains and actually make them move. Even

Clyde was leaning forward expectantly.

Looking for You All My Life75

"And now, I ask you, dear people," he implored, turning

back to face the congregation. "What miracle would you ask

 

of G.o.d today?" He pointed out the window again. "Surely

you do not wish to move these beautiful mountains! For then

what would you see but flat, barren ground?" The congre-

gation laughed.

Mr. Mitch.e.l.l from the Gas-n-Go stood up just then. "I

have a suggestion, young man. How 'bout you pray for

snow so our businesses can keep from going broke this

winter?" Maggie wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but

several others chimed in their agreement. And suddenly she

felt worried for Michael. Was this some sort of test for him?

or Michael, standing bravely before them, all bundled up

i1~his

many layers of clothing, his simple faith so full of sin-

cerity. Yet how could he possibly understand the differences

in their cultures? How could he know how skeptical most

Americans could be about such things as faith and miracles

in the modern-day world?

But Michael nodded thoughtfully, as if seriously consid-

ering Mr. Mitch.e.l.l's request. "Snow..." he repeated the word

"to help your village." That's when Maggie remem-

b5leOWlY~

red how much he disliked the cold and had seemed quite

apprehensive on Thanksgiving when she'd described snow

to him. Perhaps this wasn't the sort of miracle that he would

personally welcome. But Michael closed his eyes and lifted

his hands, imploring G.o.d to send them snow, "...send lots

of snow! So the good people of Pine Mountain might see and

know your power and might! That they might give you glory

and honor and praise! Amen!"

Some peered out at the still-blue sky, seemingly convinced

After the service people continued to talk about the snow.

that it was actually coming at any moment now. But most

appeared somewhat skeptical, although good-humoredly

-joking about how they had better be getting out their snow

shovels and waxing up their skis. Maggie wasn't even sure

what she thought, although the whole thing made her

extremely uncomfortable. Just the same, she heartily shook

L.

76Melody Carlson

Michael's hand and thanked him for sharing the good mes-

sage about faith.

By noon the following day, a canopy of lead-colored clouds

began to hang low and heavy, and a cold wind began to blow

from the north. Maggie stood in the newspaper's reception

area and stared out the window in wonder. She'd heard no

forecast of a weather change on the morning news today~er-