“I haven’t been to a Sunday school class in twenty-five years, at least,” Carla said.
Al nodded. “I don’t remember much from the Sunday school classes I attended, but I sure remember this one.”
“God spoke to you in a Sunday school class?”
“In a way, I suppose that is what happened,” Al said, “but I wasn’t aware of it at the time. I just knew that I hated my name, and I was a cowardly weakling that everyone laughed at.”
Carla made a box with her hands and looked through it at Al. “I’m having trouble picturing that about you, but go ahead.”
“I’ll need to confiscate that camera later,” Al said.
Carla put her hands behind her back. “Not until you finish your story.”
“Fair enough,” Al said. “The teacher was telling the story of Jacob. I don’t know how much you remember about Jacob but he was a momma’s boy, very smart but not very moral.”
Carla spoke up. “He’s the one that stole his brother’s birthright. I remember some things from that Old Testament class.”
“More than that,” Al said. “He cheated his father, his brother, his father-in-law, and probably anyone else that got in his path. Then one night, according to the Bible, he wrestled with God.”
“I often wrestle with God,” Carla said, “but I’ve yet to win many matches.”
“Jacob didn’t exactly win, either, but he held on to God and wouldn’t let God go until God blessed him.”
“I like a story where the hare turns on the hound,” Carla said.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Al said. “What hit me at the time was that Jacob went away from that match with a new name, Israel — and a limp because you don’t fight with God without some consequences.”
“And that story spoke to you at a really deep level,” Carla said in a soft whisper.
“I realized that I could have a new name. I could be Al rather than Alvin and have a new identity as one called by God; It was like a gift of dignity. So I moved from there to thinking about being a pastor.”
“I’d say that was pretty dramatic,” Carla said.
“It was life transforming for me,” said Al, “but not like what you do. I end up a pastor of a nice middle-class church, and am constantly making compromises just to survive.”
“Okay,” said Carla, “Quick response, don’t even think about it first. Why do you do it?”
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