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The Day Evie Williams Inherited the Earth

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

By Don FeazellePublished 4 years ago 14 min read
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Photo by christian ferrer on Unsplash

Shivering violently, Evie did not know if she shook from the frigid temperatures or an oncoming bug, “I should have gone to The Holy Evangel Mission earlier tonight. I would endure one more hellfire and brimstone sermon if it meant a warm bed.”

With a pool of freezing vomit only feet away, the smell of regurgitated pizza mixed with cheap whiskey permeated the air. Evie’s stomach churned, preparing for another round.

A mere three hours earlier, Evie had picked the discarded pizza out of the dumpster. It was nearly frozen but at least no mold to pick off.

Her head was starting to ache, and she was sure she had a fever.

Seven years blurred by, Evie could not have imagined living on the streets, becoming an addict with no plans for her future other than to drown her sorrows.

Despite coming from an affluent family, one poor decision turned her life upside down. Evie had planned to attend her mother’s alma mater, Wellesley College, then on to Harvard Law. With daddy as the founder and president of his law firm, all she needed was to pass the bar then she was a shoo-in for the firm.

Fate changed the day she met Stephan White. Attending the local public school, Stephan, a senior, had a full basketball scholarship at Syracuse University. Intelligent, tall, handsome, and overflowing with charm, he captivated Evie’s heart.

Evie was a junior at St Lucius Girl’s Academy, a prestigious private school.

Stephan genuinely loved Evie. Evie was head over heels in love with Stephan.

A Recollection in Brokeness

Daddy and Momma did not know about our relationship. They would never approve.

Stephan, 18 and I, 17, met through mutual friends at a party.

Pregnant at 17 years, five months, I went from daddy’s little darling to a pariah and outcast in one moment. Because of his puritanical standards, high expectations, and his ambitions for his little girl, he and my mother took my pregnancy very personal.

Not only was I pregnant, but Stephan an African American. No way in hell — daddy’s words — that some half-breed bastard child would grow up at the William’s Estate.

Mother and Father were Episcopalians of pure English stock traced back to the early colonies.

Besides, what would daddy and mother’s friends think?

Oh, they pride themselves as progressives and supported many progressive causes and entertained powerful liberal politicians. BUT never would they allow their only child and heir to have a relationship with a person of less than pure blood, let alone marry, or bearing a child from said relationship.

Because I refused to have a secret abortion or break off my relationship with Stephan, both father and mother disowned me then threw me out to live on the streets.

From the harsh living conditions, I lost the baby anyway.

Stephan mysteriously disappeared.

Because of my parent’s pride and my pride, we have had no contact since.

In the last seven years, Evie’s hardships steadily chipped away at her pride. Though she never realized it, the affluent privilege had influenced her thinking.

Her pride was now in its death toll. Her pride had melted and given way to a meek and teachable spirit.

She had met people from many walks of life who were in her shoes. Destitution and addiction level the playing field regardless of one’s origins.

While leaning against the wall shivering, she reflected on her life. Her life had taken a turn and ended up a mess. A man walked up to her. “Young lady, are you well?”

Through chattering teeth, “Please, stay……..away….from….me! I think I am contagious. You might get sick.”

The man respected her space and stood back, “My name is Hyland Powers, I represent a nearby homeless shelter that opened this week. Heartwell Street Baptist Church opened the shelter to help the homeless in this area. Also, the ministry works with a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation service. We have beds available. Evie, please join us.”

Hyland Powers laid a business card with the directions on the ground several feet away from her then walked away.

Evie’s eyes widened as she watched the man walk away, “How did he know my name?”

A Renewed Hope

Magdala Nazaria, her counselor at Sunrise Rehabilitation Services, spoke to Evie from across her desk, “You have done wonderfully. You have completed the program. You are clean.

Magdala tapped her right index finger on her desk, “But aren’t you jumping a little too fast? Most don’t become team sponsors, let alone counselors until they are in recovery for a year or two. I admire your enthusiasm, but give it some time.”

Undeterred, Evie smiled back at Magdala, “Since completing the program, I have caught the bug. I WANT TO HELP other people escape from the nightmare. By the way, has anyone found that Mr. Powers, the man who gave me the card for the shelter? I wanted to thank him personally.”

Magdala responded, “No. No one here has heard of him. Did your parents ever respond to the letter you sent them while in rehab?”

Sadness crossed Evie’s face, “No response.”

Magdala reached over and grabbed Evie’s hand, “Evie, this is on them.”

Evie nodded, “Yeah, I know.”

Magdala decided to change the subject before the mood dampened. “Are you excited about the program completion ceremony at Heartwell Baptist Church? Pastor Braswell is retiring, and they are introducing the new pastor. He is a mystery man. Besides, Pastor Braswell and the deacon board nobody knows who he is. Pastor Braswell will present him to the congregation the same day as you receive your certificate from the Sunrise Rehabilitation Services. It is all part of the celebration. A potluck dinner will follow in the fellowship hall.”

A Cause for Celebration

Evie hadn’t stepped foot inside a church in many years. The four-hundred seat auditorium overwhelmed her, “Of course, they sectioned off seats at the front for us. I thought sinners sat in the back rows?”

Scanning the packed crowd, Evie jokingly thought, “Boy, could I use a drink right now.”

From behind her, Evie heard a voice, “A drink! Yeah, that is just what you need.”

Evie quickly turned to see a man behind her. The smiling man winked at her. “How did he know what I was thinking? I didn’t say that out loud, did I? Never mind.”

“Good morning, my name is Hyland Powers. I am here to rejoice in you.”

Compassion flowed off his face like sunlight off still waters. Unassuming, he was roughly five foot six, with salt and pepper hair and beard and medium build except for the piercing blue-green eyes. When looking at you, he seemed to pierce the soul to the heart.

Hyland motioned toward an empty seat, “May I sit next to you?”

Evie smiled, “Sure. For some time, I have tried finding you. You are a hard man to track down. I wanted to thank you for the night you gave me the card. The night behind the pizza joint, I was very ill and at my lowest point. That card led me to the place where I changed my life.”

Evie paused deep in thought, then sighed, “I do have one question, though. I don’t understand why you weren’t more forceful in getting me to the shelter?”

Hyland looked directly in her eyes. “Evie, you needed to die that night, that you might live.”

Shaking her head in confusion, Evie responded, “Die to live? What do you mean?”

Hyland continued, “Your pride and ego had to die so that YOU could LIVE.”

Hyland sighed, “Evie, I did not abandon you that night. I watched you. Not more than five minutes later, you picked yourself up and walked the half-mile to the shelter. I followed your every step until you were safely inside. Evie, I never left you nor forsook you. I just gave you the gentle nudge you needed. Some people do need to be pushed and hard. I knew that you were not one of them.”

Understanding flooded Evie’s heart and overflowed in a stream of tears. Wiping the tears off her face, she excused herself to visit the lady’s room.

She returned from the lady’s room, just as the song leader announced the beginning of the service.

Pastor Braswell and the new pastor walked up onto the platform.

Evie’s jaw dropped open. The young pastor was Stephan White. When he laid eyes on Evie sitting in the second row to his left, he smiled and nodded to her.

After the singing, the congregation seated, then Pastor Braswell introduced Pastor White.

Fidgeting and bouncing her leg rapidly, Evie’s nerves were raw. Hyland looked over at her and gently placed his hand on her forearm. “Everything is okay.”

Pastor White spoke from the passage about the Good Samaritan.

“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your support. By God’s help and your hands, we see the fruit that is born today.”

Pastor White glanced over toward Evie’s direction, “WE see PROOF. We see the proof in the lives of these dear people. People who we are about to celebrate. People who had destroyed their lives. People who lived in destitution. Yet by God’s grace, the hands of many Good Samaritans, and their determination, they sit with us here TODAY. Redeemed. Recovered. AND Renewed.”

After his sermon, Pastor White called the recipients to the podium to receive their certificates.

“Oh God, please don’t let me throw up.” Evie’s knees shaking, she stepped up on to the platform. She paused and looked out over the sea of heads. “Careful, one foot in front of the other, you don’t want to trip and fall.” As she walked to the podium, she glanced again at the crowd. In the back sat her parents. Hyland had disappeared from his seat.

Nearing closer to Pastor White, her impulse was to turn and run from that stage. “What if he calls me out or something?”

She noticed that his eyes were on her. A strange smile adorned his face. He announced each recipient, gave them their certificate shook their hand, then quickly onto the next.

Finally, Evie made it to where Pastor White stood. At that moment, he was the only person in the auditorium.

Evie thought, “What will he say? Or what will I do?”

As he reached out his hand to hers and made contact, peace overcame her; everything seemed to slow down.

In her mind, she heard Hyland Power’s voice, “Evie, everything is well.”

For several awkward seconds, Stephan looked at her like she was the only one in the auditorium.

Stephan leaned over and whispered, "Meet with your parents and me afterward in the pastor’s office."

Stephan spoke to the crowd, “Evelyn Williams and I go back a long way. We lost contact for several years. Now, I am pleased to make her reacquaintance. I am proud of her this day.”

Stephan turned back to Evie; He lingered as he held her hand and smiled, “Congratulations, Evie.”

After receiving her certificate, she looked to where her parents were seated. Momma was crying; Daddy nodded his acceptance.

Upon the completion of the service, many wanted to shake her hand. Smiling and nodding, “I just want to get this meeting over.”

When she found her break, Evie headed toward the pastor’s office. With each step closer, she felt like she walked through quicksand.

Despite many wanting to vie for his attention, Pastor White excused himself. “Pardon me; I have an urgent meeting to counsel with some people. We can talk more freely during the potluck.”

A Time for Reconciliation

Evie nervously knocked, When Evie entered, Stephan was seated at his desk and with three chairs on the other side. Mother and father were sitting with an empty chair between them.

Smiling, Stephan stood, “Evie, please sit.”

She sat down. Quiet for several uncomfortable seconds, Lionel Williams spoke first. Never one to mince words, he got right to the point, “Evie, your mother and I are sorry for the horrible way we treated you. Through our prejudices, our pride, and our narrow-mindedness, we destroyed our relationship with you. We hope that you can forgive us — for we have changed. And if you will, we want to reconcile with you.”

After another moment of silence, her father continued, “also, we are sorry we mistreated Stephan. I knew that he was destined for a college basketball scholarship. I threatened his family, threatened him, and threatened his future. I knew his family was poor and used that to my advantage. I am deeply sorry for my horrible behavior. For the record, he never knew about your pregnancy until recently when we met with him to seek his forgiveness and make amends.”

Tears started forming in Evie’s eyes; she looked over at her mother, Delores. Her mom spoke this time, “Honey, what your daddy says is true. I was angry. You and I were fighting all the time. I regret the cruel way I acted. I have relived that day every day. The day that your father and I threw you out of the house. I have regretted it since. Evie, WILL. YOU. FORGIVE ME.”

Evie stood up and went to her mother first, then her father to embrace them. Both her father and mother stood and reciprocated. No words were said embraced in a three-way hug.

Finally, Evie spoke, “While in rehab, I wrote you a letter seeking your forgiveness. Did you receive my letter?"

Her parents both shook their heads in affirmation. Delores responded, “After we received your letter, I contacted Sunshine. Mag…dala, I think, told us about this ceremony. Your father and I wanted it to be a surprise.”

Delores glanced over at Stephan, “Pastor White agreed that we should come as a surprise.”

Lionel and Delores looked at each other, and both began to speak, then Lionel said, “If you choose, you are welcome to come back and live with us, or we will set you up with an apartment and an allowance. Whatever you wish.”

“Daddy, momma, I don’t want your money. I am living at the halfway house and volunteer at the rehab center. I am training to become a counselor.”

After a pause, Evie continued, “If you sincerely want to help, you could make anonymous reoccurring donations to the Sunrise Rehabilitation Services and the work of Heartwell Baptist Church. I don’t want anyone to know the source of the gift.”

Basking in the glow of their reunion, The Williams family conversed for several minutes catching up with each other.

“I don’t mean to interject, but could I have a few moments alone with Evie?” Stephan looked at Evie, “If that’s okay with you. I need to speak to you.”

Evie nodded, and her parents excused themselves from the office. Before the door closed, Stephan spoke to her parents, “We should not be too long, then we can enjoy the potluck dinner and fellowship.”

Tears started flowing from Stephan’s eyes as he quietly looked at her from across the desk. “You know, you were and still are the love of my life.”

Stephan lowered his head, “I was young and fearful. I was afraid that your parents would ruin me and destroy my opportunities; Or, worse harm my family.

When you stopped returning my calls and texts, I went to your estate. Your father told me that you wanted nothing to do with me and said never to come back. They threatened that if I did not leave, they would have me arrested for trespassing or attempted robbery. I was roughly escorted from your property by your Dad’s security.

None of your friends knew what happened to you either. The rumors spread that your parents sent you away to a boarding school in Maine. Instead of following my heart and finding you, I gave into my fears. Evie. Will you forgive me?”

After several sobbing moments, Evie said, “Yes, I forgive you.”

Evie responded, “Stephan, embarrassed by my condition and being rejected by my parents; I could not stand the thought of you rejecting me also. At first, I went to the city then came back here after a couple of years.

Stephan said, “Evie, I know much has changed over the last several years, but if you are willing, could we meet for coffee and get reacquainted?”

Evie nodded, “Yes.”

The Consolation for Recompense

Shaking her head, Magdala said, “I have never seen approval for someone to become a counselor come back so fast. You must have friends in high places. Or God has intervened on your behalf. Oh, by the way, did you ever find that Hyland Powers character?”

Evie smiling over the good news said, “Not after the celebration service at Heartwell Baptist Church. I am sure he is out there somewhere helping someone. He is a unique and mysterious person. I don’t know what to make of him.”

Magdala nodded, “And, how are things going with your parents?”

Evie responded, “Wonderful. My parents have changed dramatically. Did I tell you they opened a homeless shelter closer to home? You would never consider that homelessness would exist under the nose of multi-million dollar estates.”

Magdala shouted, “That is fantastic news.”

Her expression immediately changed, with tongue in cheek, Magdala said, “How are things going with the most reverend Stephan White?”

Evie laughed, then said, “I have inherited the Earth!”

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