PREVIEW: One Taken the Other Left
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The LOST GENRE GUILD
Biblical Speculative Fiction
| Stephen L. Rice's short story "One Taken the Other Left" can be found in Light at the Edge of Darkness along with 26 other stories of Biblical speculative fiction.
Read more about the author, Stephen L. Rice. |
Unfortunately, he knew Jason Blake’s face all too well, and Jason was as easy to find
as Tony. He, too, was at the mall every Saturday, though for a very different reason:
he was turning Friday’s videos in and checking out others for the day ahead. And
they weren’t even spiritual. They weren’t really bad, perhaps—nothing violent,
profane, or pornographic. But Tony had to wonder about his friend’s priorities. And
Tony being Tony, he had to share his concerns with his videoholic neighbor.
“Jason! Come here and help me talk to these people!”
“Sorry, Tony, you know it’s not my thing.”
“It’s Jesus’ thing, so it must be our thing.”
“Fine. Go hang out with fishermen, tax collectors, and prostitutes. That was his thing
too, you know.”
“We’re supposed to witness to people.”
“I do witness,” Jason protested. “I just do it by my life, and I usually do it at work.
Ask my customers—they know I’m a Christian. I pray for them sometimes. And my
coworkers will tell you that I’m honest. I also read the Bible about as much as you do,
and the guys at work could tell you that, too.”
“Yeah, but don’t you ever feel like you could be doing more?”
“Sometimes I do more. Right now, I’d like to watch some quality shows without you
doing your Super Christian bit.”
Tony backed off slightly. “Look, I don’t want to get legalistic about all this—it’s not
like I’m trying to earn my salvation or anything. But God has done so much for us, don’
t you think we should go out of our way for him?”
“Well, I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have grouched at you. And maybe I have been
spending more time with the tube than with God lately. I’ve been pretty stressed
out recently, and it’s easier to watch something than to spend a lot of time in
prayer. But I think God understands. Maybe I’m not achieving my full potential for
him—though I still don’t think you know what that potential is or what I’m supposed
to be doing for God—but I am saved. I do follow Jesus. Sometimes I think that the
main difference between us is that you drink way too much coffee.”
“There’s a difference between caffeine and the Holy Spirit, Jason. Even if you don’t
pass out tracts or anything, you should still take some time to find out what God
wants you to do.”
“My load’s heavy enough as it is.”
“It would actually lighten your load, because you would be working by God’s power,
not your own.”
“Well, maybe. I’ll think about it. I’ll even pray about it. And I’ll pray for you as I’m
driving home, that God will bless your witness. That could be a good ministry for me
to start with.”
Tony managed a laugh as his neighbor left. Jason was a nice guy, though his priorities
were all fouled up. But perhaps he had part of the answer, for Tony had to admit that
he hadn’t been praying for Jason as much as he should have been. He took advantage
of a lull in the foot traffic to rectify this omission. Then he set himself for the day
ahead. It would be a long day today, as most of his Saturdays were. After spending
the morning in the mall, he would do his Bible reading and extend his prayer time a
bit to intercede for the man next door. Nor was this mere legalism on his part. For if
Jason’s coworkers could vouch for his integrity, everyone who knew Tony at all could
testify that his devotions proceeded from devotion: God really was his passion, and
his witnessing, Bible reading, and prayer were simply outward ripples from the
beating of his heart for God.
And so the day passed, and a new day came with dawn.
as Tony. He, too, was at the mall every Saturday, though for a very different reason:
he was turning Friday’s videos in and checking out others for the day ahead. And
they weren’t even spiritual. They weren’t really bad, perhaps—nothing violent,
profane, or pornographic. But Tony had to wonder about his friend’s priorities. And
Tony being Tony, he had to share his concerns with his videoholic neighbor.
“Jason! Come here and help me talk to these people!”
“Sorry, Tony, you know it’s not my thing.”
“It’s Jesus’ thing, so it must be our thing.”
“Fine. Go hang out with fishermen, tax collectors, and prostitutes. That was his thing
too, you know.”
“We’re supposed to witness to people.”
“I do witness,” Jason protested. “I just do it by my life, and I usually do it at work.
Ask my customers—they know I’m a Christian. I pray for them sometimes. And my
coworkers will tell you that I’m honest. I also read the Bible about as much as you do,
and the guys at work could tell you that, too.”
“Yeah, but don’t you ever feel like you could be doing more?”
“Sometimes I do more. Right now, I’d like to watch some quality shows without you
doing your Super Christian bit.”
Tony backed off slightly. “Look, I don’t want to get legalistic about all this—it’s not
like I’m trying to earn my salvation or anything. But God has done so much for us, don’
t you think we should go out of our way for him?”
“Well, I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have grouched at you. And maybe I have been
spending more time with the tube than with God lately. I’ve been pretty stressed
out recently, and it’s easier to watch something than to spend a lot of time in
prayer. But I think God understands. Maybe I’m not achieving my full potential for
him—though I still don’t think you know what that potential is or what I’m supposed
to be doing for God—but I am saved. I do follow Jesus. Sometimes I think that the
main difference between us is that you drink way too much coffee.”
“There’s a difference between caffeine and the Holy Spirit, Jason. Even if you don’t
pass out tracts or anything, you should still take some time to find out what God
wants you to do.”
“My load’s heavy enough as it is.”
“It would actually lighten your load, because you would be working by God’s power,
not your own.”
“Well, maybe. I’ll think about it. I’ll even pray about it. And I’ll pray for you as I’m
driving home, that God will bless your witness. That could be a good ministry for me
to start with.”
Tony managed a laugh as his neighbor left. Jason was a nice guy, though his priorities
were all fouled up. But perhaps he had part of the answer, for Tony had to admit that
he hadn’t been praying for Jason as much as he should have been. He took advantage
of a lull in the foot traffic to rectify this omission. Then he set himself for the day
ahead. It would be a long day today, as most of his Saturdays were. After spending
the morning in the mall, he would do his Bible reading and extend his prayer time a
bit to intercede for the man next door. Nor was this mere legalism on his part. For if
Jason’s coworkers could vouch for his integrity, everyone who knew Tony at all could
testify that his devotions proceeded from devotion: God really was his passion, and
his witnessing, Bible reading, and prayer were simply outward ripples from the
beating of his heart for God.
And so the day passed, and a new day came with dawn.
The Lost Genre Guild's mission is to promote quality works of Biblical Speculative Fiction (spec-fic)
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
through its authors, fans; to endorse new releases that fit this criteria; and of course, to glorify Him.
TONY HART WAS ON a mission. Every Saturday morning he was
at the mall, handing out tracts to any who were interested or
simply too polite to turn them down. A lot of the tracts wound
up in the parking lot, but he liked to point out that even the
sower in the parable lost a lot of seed to get a good crop. And
there had been several new faces showing up at his church (and
a few other churches too)—faces he recognized from the mall.
at the mall, handing out tracts to any who were interested or
simply too polite to turn them down. A lot of the tracts wound
up in the parking lot, but he liked to point out that even the
sower in the parable lost a lot of seed to get a good crop. And
there had been several new faces showing up at his church (and
a few other churches too)—faces he recognized from the mall.
