Road to Jubilee

© 2012 by Marie Conover. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 01/03/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3674-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3673-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3672-0 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011963459

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

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.

Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

This sequel to Road to Via Dolorosa

is dedicated to

Jennifer Russell who worked so hard,

my Mom,

and all the others waiting on God’s promises.

Acknowledgments

So many friends have encouraged me over the past year in writing this sequel to Road to Via Dolorosa. Each and every one of you have lifted me up and are great sources of inspiration for me when the days are long and the world surrounds me.

Special thanks to readers and editors along-the-way.

My mom, who cheers loudest in my corner.

Jody Beall’s watchful eye.

Jennifer Russell’s red pen, wonderful suggestions, and hours and hours of dedication. She helped bring readers a brilliant continuation of the story of Joshua and Rosemary Banks. Her ideas shine brightly all along the Road to Jubilee. This book would not be what it is without her guidance.

Off Center Photography Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for picture of Marie on back cover.

My Dad, who has shown me a love of all God’s animals.

My sons, Mike, Andy and Tom, who bolster me with laughter, ask hundreds of thought-provoking questions and keep me grounded to my earthly home.

My little granddaughter, Brooke Halyn, whose giggles are infectious, her eyes shining, happy and bright.

Always, my best friend and husband, Brian. His interest in the things of God is endless, searching for the truth at every turn. May we keep our Lord at the center of our home, until He calls us to the end of the narrow path.

I thank the men and women who have gone ahead, forging a way through the rubble to bring Christ front and center. To all of those who love the least of these.

Forever, I am always grateful to God, Who has blessed me with the gift of writing. When it is for His Glory, the words come quickly, easily to my mind.

He is my Providence.~Marie Conover 2011

I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me…you failed to do it to me.

Matthew 25:45 The Message

1

Walking briskly on Vine Street with his head down, Joshua Banks almost mangles an expertly designed leaf with his size ten Oxford. He stoops down to pick up the colorful evidence of fall, careful to avoid other hurried city folk on their way to desk jobs in the high-rise buildings ahead. Joshua rights himself and looks around to see a crisp Armani suit bearing down on him from behind. Quick foot work moves Joshua aside as the distracted man rushes headlong into the sea of westward movement.

Joshua admires the red color at the tips of the leaf in contrast to the green toward the stem, and gently tucks it inside his breast pocket for safekeeping until he returns home tonight. He hopes to share with Rosemary the beautiful handiwork of God. Easing back into the human traffic like a well-maintained sports car, Joshua realizes that there are no trees within sight.

How odd, he thinks to himself.

Trees are rare in south Philadelphia, and leaves as well. Joshua grins knowingly, patting his pocket, careful not to crush the delicate leaf. It obviously blew in or down from somewhere. Joshua hurries on toward West Vine Street and the architectural firm of Marks and Associates, but with one block to go before reaching his destination, he suddenly feels queasy and flushed. Even though the mid December air is cool and brisk, he experiences what he remembers his mother describing as a hot flash. Knowing he certainly can’t be having one of those, Joshua is afraid he might be experiencing the beginning waves of a panic attack. He walks a bit more slowly, trying to chase his monstrous butterflies away. His breath comes in shallow, rapid puffs.

Joshua reaches the tinted double glass doors of the Marks skyscraper, and quickly glances at his watch to see if he can spare a few minutes to calm himself. Unfortunately, not many are left. He will have to get upstairs shortly. Today is Joshua’s first day back since his 30th birthday in June. He vividly recalls the heat of that day, the anger he nurtured and the surprise birthday party that ended in frightening tragedy. Thankfully, that same day, he met a family who would change his life forever. Joshua reaches for the handicapped-accessible railing and closes his eyes. He says a quick prayer for strength, wisdom and courage. Doubt and fear nag him, making him wonder if he is asking too much.

Joshua opens his eyes and releases his hand from the railing, just as a small elderly woman shuffles up behind him. She wheezes slightly from the effort of pushing a wheeled walker. Joshua notices a wicker basket securely attached to the front of the platinum frame, storing a variety of odd trinkets.

Young man, can you help an old lady?

Yes, ma’am, Joshua replies, stepping away from the railing.

The woman’s shoulder brushes Joshua’s as she points toward the heavy doors directly ahead. Her hair is gray, but not a drab color at all, Joshua notices. It is almost pure white and lies in perfect curls newly placed on her crown. Joshua shakes the worries from his head and reaches to take her right elbow nestled inside her heavy woolen coat. A light blue silk scarf hangs slightly askew around her neck, warding off the chill of the early morning.

No, no, I don’t need help. Just get the doors, will you? She smiles gently, reminding Josh of his kindly Grandmother Maggie, gone now for many years.

He obediently holds one of the doors open wide and stands out of the way as her wheels glide over the seamless entrance. A fair number of Marks clients are seniors. The wealthy elderly are very interested in past details of their old Philadelphia homes in the historical districts of the downtown area. Marks and Associates research and complete the necessary chronological documents to place their clients’ homes in the history archives.

Joshua peeks into the woman’s basket as she passes, hoping to go undetected in his behavior. He spies a box of tissues, an inhaler, some mints and a dog-eared Bible tucked securely in a faded frilly lining.

Thank you, son. You have been a great help. Do you work here? she inquires, looking up into Josh’s dark, bearded face.

Yes, I did… I mean I do. Joshua fidgets nervously, his eyes darting around the lobby before explaining that he has been away for the past few months. He clutches his leather briefcase, mindful of the passing time.

Oh, where have you been? On vacation? the lady asks as she moves further inside the carpeted foyer.

Actually, ma’am, if I told you, you might never believe me. Joshua shakes his head, as if to reassure the woman that her disbelief would be understandable. He shifts his briefcase to the other hand.

Try me, honey. I’ve been around for 89 years. There isn’t much I haven’t seen or done, you know! Sensing Joshua’s caution, she continues, I wasn’t always an old white-haired lady who had to rely on this ugly walker. She smacks her hand lightly on the rubber grips.

Joshua lowers his voice as much as he can. He does not want to capture the attention of the lobby receptionist, Marcy. She is a bit of a busybody and not far away, sitting behind a large mahogany desk.

I’ve been with Jesus, he tells the woman a little hesitantly.

Joshua’s nerves are raw and exposed. He feels as if he could melt into a puddle or jump for joy, depending upon how she receives his strange explanation. He takes a step back with a furrowed brow, trying to gauge her reaction. To his relief, he sees nothing that makes him regret his words. He risks a glance at Marcy, who was pretending not to listen but is now staring at him with widening eyes.

Well, that was easier than I thought. He breathes a sigh of relief, returning his focus to the little old lady beside him.

She is the first person outside his close-knit group to whom he has confessed his unusual experience. Perhaps he chose her, and this moment, because she is an 89-year-old stranger. Besides, she has a Bible; she might be a believer.

Me, too; I keep Him with me all the time. Been doing some reading, have you? she asks him with twinkling eyes, reaching inside her basket to show Joshua her Bible. This is the best place to start if you want to find your Savior, she declares, waving the well-worn book at him. Wobbling slightly from her enthusiastic gesture, she clutches Joshua’s sleeve for support.

Well, yes, I understand, but that’s not exactly what I meant, Joshua explains, glancing again at Marcy. He lowers his voice to barely above a whisper, bending down to get close to the woman’s ear. "I meant to say that I met Him. I spent time with Him and His disciples this summer in the Jordan Valley."

Of course you did, honey; it’s all right here in the good book. It’s God’s word, you know. She places her Bible back into the basket, careful not to crush the delicate pages inside. I’m happy for you, young man. You have your whole life ahead of you to be of service to our Creator. What an honor! Welcome to God’s family. She extends her hand and introduces herself as Alice.

I’m glad to meet you, Alice. Joshua stammers his own name, suddenly frustrated that he had not been able to get his point across.

What he thought would be easy to explain was totally misunderstood by a fellow Christian! Maybe telling others about his extraordinary travels earlier this year would prove more difficult than he initially thought. Noticing the hands on the face of the grandfather clock at the end of the foyer, he tells his new friend that he must get upstairs before he is late for his first day back. He can’t avoid glimpsing the odd expression on Marcy’s face as he tells Alice goodbye and turns toward the elevator.

Although his neurosurgeon gave him the green light to return to full activity, he is nervous about coming back to work full time. His recent MRI was normal, revealing no lasting effects from the coma he endured. Joshua assured the doctor that he felt strong and ready to get back into the swing of things. It seemed like a good idea last week, but as he contemplates going upstairs, Joshua again loses confidence. His palms begin to sweat and his armpits are getting damp under his suit coat. He loosens his tie slightly, hoping to afford himself a little extra oxygen.

Joshua, wait, I’ll ride up with you. Alice waves her hand in the air as she trundles forward.

Once inside, she asks Joshua to press the button for the fourth floor. He depresses his own to reach the seventh. They are alone in the elevator as it climbs slowly. A groaning sound emanates from the empty shaft overhead. Joshua can hear himself breathing heavily and wonders if Alice notices. He nervously smiles at her, his heart hammering inside his ribcage. When the second floor button is illuminated, Alice points to the control panel.

Press the ‘stop’ button, won’t you, Joshua? I want to do something for you if you don’t mind. Alice’s tone is one that demands attention, but kindness radiates from underneath the surface.

Joshua does not want to be rude, but he needs to get moving. He can’t be late on his first day back. He bites the inside of his cheek as he tries to think of a nice way to get out of stopping the elevator. He clears his dry throat, looking for the right words.

I need to hurry, Alice. I’m running out of time, he tells his tiny companion with as much compassion as he can.

No you’re not, Mr. Joshua Banks. Look at your watch, Alice replies with a sly grin.

Joshua jerks his wrist up to his face. Almost a full ten minutes remain before he has to begin his work day. He stares in disbelief at his watch.

This is so strange, he tells Alice with a puzzled look on his face.

The elevator appears to hang in between floors during their odd exchange. He is sure that when he first met Alice outside, he had just about ten minutes to spare before he was due at his desk. He feels a chill on his skin, causing the hair on the back of his neck to rise.

Alice smiles innocently, winks at Joshua and nudges him aside so she can stop their sluggish ascent. He freezes with a quizzical look on his face, unable to move or even speak. He struggles to understand where the time went; what has happened to the last ten minutes of his morning? His head starts spinning, and the panic attack he held at bay earlier threatens to creep in though this new chink in his protective armor.

I want to pray for you Joshua, if that’s okay? Alice asks with her hands outstretched. You look like you could use some prayer. Will you humor an old lady? she asks playfully. You have a full ten minutes by my calculations.

Sighing with relief and resigned to the fact that he has nowhere else to go, Joshua places his large hands on top of Alice’s delicate open palms. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Prayer is something he now fully understands and is very comfortable engaging in, whether giving or receiving. As Alice curls her wrinkled fingers softly around his youthful hands, he can feel the passage of many years.

She prays sincerely and sweetly, asking God to watch over Joshua today and in the days ahead as he makes his way back into the workforce. She prays that Joshua will be successful as he tells people his story… God’s story. He does not retain everything Alice says, but he gets a feeling of warmth and comfort as his new friend talks quietly to God. She ends the prayer by quoting Hebrews 13:5. This Bible verse speaks of God never leaving or forsaking us. When she finishes, Joshua suddenly feels more relaxed than he has since saying goodbye to Rosemary this morning.

That is what Jesus told me, Joshua remembers as his head is cleared of anxiety. Any remaining worries flee after Alice speaks her Amen. He thanks her from the bottom of his heart. Joshua knows that he is a different man since accepting Christ, so he must demonstrate that difference to others by showing love, trust and gratitude. He stretches over to start the elevator again, and then stoops to embrace Alice tenderly.

Soon the pair reaches the fourth floor; Alice adjusts the buttons on her coat and scuffles toward the opening doors.

She pats Joshua’s bearded jaw. I am sure I will see you again, Joshua.

Thank you Alice. I’m glad to have met you, he tells the back of her departing curls.

He immediately feels a bit lonely, but remembers that God is with him always. Joshua relaxes his mind and quiets his soul as he waits for the doors to close. No one else tries to enter the elevator as Alice disappears down the long corridor toward the finance department. As the door starts to close, Joshua bends down to pick up his briefcase and sees Alice’s blue silk scarf on the wooden floor near the door.

Oh no, she lost her scarf, he tells the musty air.

Joshua quickly presses the button as he scoops up the scarf. In seconds the doors open again and he darts out to find Alice. He looks to the right, in the direction of finance, but sees no one. In fact, the lights are not even on further down the hall toward those offices. He looks to the left, but only sees the fourth floor receptionist in front of the computer, busily preparing for her day. He clears his throat and approaches her desk as she fiddles with the proper placement of her telephone headset. The girl recognizes Joshua, who is frantically waving a blue scarf in the air.

Mr. Banks? We haven’t seen you around here in a long time. Aren’t you on the wrong floor? she asks as she turns on the corridor lights. You work upstairs, don’t you?

Yes, I’m Joshua Banks and I work upstairs. Listen, I’m looking for someone very important. Did you see an older woman get out of the elevator a moment ago? He points urgently toward the silver doors behind him. She was wearing a heavy winter coat and pushing a walker. She should be right around here. He looks all around him, reflecting, She doesn’t move that fast.

There’s no one here but us, Mr. Banks. I didn’t see anyone else get off the elevator but you… a minute ago. Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone? Maybe Carol, the secretary on your floor? she asks him with her eyebrows raised. Her expression softens for a moment, Is this your first day back, sir? You had a head injury, right?

Yes, it’s my first day back. This is suddenly of little importance to Joshua. The lady I am looking for is short… she has pure white hair, he pats his hand on top of his head as if somehow this will demonstrate Alice’s wavy curls.

The woman looks at him, shrugs her shoulders and raises her open hands wide to indicate that she has no clue what he is talking about.

His voice rises in frustration. Her name is Alice, he insists.

The secretary frowns, stepping back instinctively as if to begin her escape from this rambling man. She clutches her abdomen in a protective gesture. Joshua at once catches her frightened look. He recognizes that he has worried the young girl. He immediately backs up and apologizes, hoping she realizes he is not a threat to her. Peering around again before stepping onto the elevator, he clasps the soft material in his hand. As soon as the doors close, Joshua is overwhelmed by the delicious smell of traditional Jewish Sabbath bread called Challah. The scent is very strong and certainly unmistakable. Luke’s wife Mary served this wonderful bread numerous times while Joshua lived with the Jewish family in Jericho.

He blinks back hot tears of quiet joy, realizing that Jesus is going to watch over him just as He promised in the courtyard a few months ago. Joshua has no idea who Alice was or why she came but he feels that she was heaven-sent to calm him during a time of need. He brings the scarf up to his cheek, then presses it against his heart. He recalls some of the words Jesus spoke and the wonderful time he spent with God’s Son and His disciples.

By the time the elevator reaches the seventh floor, Joshua knows that today is a new day. Every day is fresh and bursts with God’s mercies and blessings. He puts Alice’s scarf into his coat pocket. He reaches to finger the leaf he placed in his shirt pocket earlier to take home to Rose. His heart swells as he thinks of his lovely wife. Soon she will deliver their first child, a daughter named Sari. It was Joshua’s friend Jesus who had chosen the baby’s name in the early morning sunrise of Jericho.

Confident and full of new-found energy, Joshua strolls down the hall to his office, swinging his briefcase back and forth as he walks along. He whistles a favorite Christmas song, Joyful, Joyful, stopping only as he nears the seventh floor receptionist sitting behind her desk. Joshua’s posture is tall and unwavering as he cheerfully greets Carol. Her usual sarcastic tone and annoyed expressions have been replaced by a look of shock as she stammers out a Welcome back, watching him breeze by with purpose in his stride. Her mouth drops open as she gapes at the back of his head. She is blown away by this new Joshua Banks, who is much darker and more muscular than he was the last time she saw him in June. That very night he had been assaulted and thrown into the Delaware River. Carol never thought much of Joshua, but he certainly didn’t deserve the brutal attack from those three thugs. She clucks her tongue, shaking her head sympathetically.

Predictably, Carol’s mood shifts, and a gleam appears in her blue eyes as she gets on the phone to call her friend on the sixth floor; she can’t wait to tell her about the difference in the man who has been in a coma for the past five and a half months! She hardly waits for her friend to say hello before rattling off the details of Joshua’s metamorphosis. The caterpillar has turned into a butterfly! Carol tells her friend that the most striking difference is in the way he carries himself. Far from the beaten man she last laid eyes on, Joshua Banks is uncharacteristically bold and self-assured. After hanging up the phone, she stares in the direction of Joshua’s office. She drums her fingers on the desk, wondering who else she might gossip with. Not gossip, though, she tries to convince herself… just news; important news.

Something is very different about that man. She makes a mental note to chat with the women downstairs during today’s lunch break. Maybe one of them has heard about how Joshua managed to come out of a lengthy state of unconsciousness, looking more fit than anyone has ever seen him.

Inside his office, Joshua is settling down to his piles of messages and open files. He smiles broadly, wondering what Carol might be doing right now. He knows her well enough to realize that he left many unanswered questions in his wake. He figures she probably got on the phone with one of her friends as soon as he was out of sight. He bears no grudges against the woman though, forgiving her for any ill feelings between them. Joshua is glad for the freedom and ability to forgive, just one of those mercies God has provided.

I bet she wonders what’s different about me, he chuckles. He knows what it is that has changed him from the inside out. His smile turns into a hearty laugh. He met Jesus Christ.

2

A couple of weeks later, Joshua again smiles to himself as he fiddles with the radio in his office; he is glad to find a familiar radio station playing continuous Christmas music. He knows that this one is Rose’s favorite as well. She’s probably listening to it now, driving to her insurance verification job at the physical therapy office. He looks out at the street far below but doesn’t notice any sign of snowfall yet. The streets are empty, save a few tenacious breakfast vendors and the occasional professional running an errand. Now that the cold weather is here to stay, Philadelphia’s tourists have thinned out considerably. Rubbing his arms, Joshua wonders if the heat in the building has been turned on. Just thinking about Pennsylvania’s harsh winters brings a chill to his bones. He reaches for the sweater he keeps in his desk drawer.

He has been back at work for almost two weeks now and will soon break for the Christmas holiday. Both he and Rose are very excited about Christmas. Christ’s birthday has taken on a whole new meaning for the couple since Joshua’s adventures earlier this year in the land of Galilee. So many things have changed, all for the better he thinks, smiling to himself.

Joshua’s job duties, however, are one thing that has not changed since the accident on Joshua’s birthday in June. He continues to spend most of his nine-hour day buried in courthouse documents and public record files. He is what Marks refers to as a gathering grunt. At least that is what Joshua heard from Carol one day in the cafeteria. She did not even attempt to lower her voice when thus describing Joshua and the three others who hold his same position within the architectural firm. Carol is part of a chummy group of women who sit together every day, chatting about employees on each of their respective floors while they eat their lunch. Joshua and the other men work directly under four partner architects who raised the impressive company up from a small, struggling firm in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Nonetheless, since his return, Joshua notices that the conversations in the cafeteria and hallways are much different. At least they’re different when Joshua is within earshot. He no longer feels an undertone of disrespect from his coworkers. Gone are the smirks and finger-pointing, the whispered conversations. It may be because people feel sympathy toward him since the brutal attack, but Joshua feels the changes around him have more to do with the changes inside him and his attitude toward others. Granted, he doesn’t stay downstairs for any length of time. He orders his food and scurries back up to his office on the seventh floor. He spends his lunch hour reading his Bible, which has a great calming effect on his sometimes stressful days.

There are many things to learn within its leather covers. Rosemary had rushed out and bought Joshua his first Bible just a few days after he returned from the Jordan Valley. He continues to delight in reading about the experiences he was blessed to personally enjoy with Jesus and the disciples. Joshua realizes his story is unique and unbelievable on so many different levels. He does not know of anyone else who claims to have been a personal friend of Jesus, an experience beyond reading the Bible and believing by faith all that lies therein. Who would believe that a modern man could be with God’s Son as He walked on earth over 2,000 years ago? Josh shakes his head as he chews a tuna sandwich, his soul stirred by precious memories. Some days, his time with Jesus seems like a foggy dream. If Rosemary hadn’t unexpectedly shown up on Joshua’s very last day in Jericho, he would think himself delusional. Rose, however, remembers their huddled meeting with Yeshua and the instructions He provided them for their future as a couple, as well as important guidance for raising their unborn daughter.

Closing his Bible, Joshua hopes the remainder of the day will pass quickly so he can get home to see his lovely bride. Glancing at the clock, he finishes eating and digs back into a report Mr. Marks is expecting in the morning. Joshua spent his first week back getting acclimated to the workflow and becoming familiar with the current clients. How odd it is that he can’t locate Alice in any of the current files. She must belong to one of the other three bosses. He wonders why she appeared on his first day back and why there has been no sign of her since. Scolding himself for daydreaming, Joshua turns his attention back to the task at hand.

He considers the document open on his monitor. He doesn’t have much more to do with this spreadsheet before he is able to print the graphs and bind them with the twelve-page report for a new client. This week he has concentrated on this special project for Mr. Marks, not at all minding the extra work. He is aware that his attitude was in dire need of adjustment; it’s just a shame that it took such a traumatic event to make him listen. Joshua sighs heavily, disappointed in his past self for being so stubborn. Some people have to learn everything the hard way, as if God has to come down and physically slap them in the face before they will finally listen. There is nothing that can be done now except to move on and try to live each day in a manner pleasing to God. Having a new outlook means dealing with others differently, as well. Joshua doesn’t see a big change in the way Mr. Marks treats most employees, but personally, he feels a bit of sympathy from the usually harsh and domineering man. Deep down inside, there must be a compassionate heart within the hardened shell of Marks’s exterior.

He probably feels sorry for me, Joshua thinks, but maybe there is something more . . . maybe he sees a difference within me.

Mr. Marks had welcomed Josh back that first day. He had kindly explained that Joshua should gradually ease back into full duties. Joshua was pleasantly surprised at Marks’s tone of voice and the kindness deep inside his dark eyes. Somewhat taken aback, Josh managed to utter his thanks to Marks for holding his position and allowing him the opportunity to continue to work for the company. Josh wanted Marks to understand that he had not suffered any mental or physical disabilities from his head and other bodily injuries. Marks seemed as startled by the changes in Joshua’s attitude as Joshua was by Marks’s. The entire exchange was surreal. Normally the air surrounding the men was highly charged, but as each let his guard down for a few moments, a calm settled over that first conversation. At odds with each other for years, the men have finally laid their grudges aside and seem to have a better, more relaxed working relationship. This comes as a great relief to Joshua, who frankly was tired of arguing with his boss.

Joshua now begins every new day giving thanks for all he has, including this monotonous job high above Vine Street. He has come to realize that if he works as if working for the