WAR COUNCIL - Chapter Two, "Easter In Millville"

WAR COUNCIL - Chapter Two, "Easter In Millville"

by Craig Ruhl

War Council is a work of fiction created by Craig Ruhl. This month we are pleased to present Chapter Two of War Council, Easter In Millville. Look for continuing chapters in future issues. Craig’s bio appears at www.faithoneverycorner.com/ meet-our-contributors.html War Council is copyrighted by Craig Ruhl 2020, all rights reserved.

My normal morning routine is to first make a quick cup of coffee in the one-cup machine on the kitchen counter. I’ll have finished that cup by the time I have showered, shaved, and dressed for the day. Although I work from home with Tori, I prefer to grab breakfast at a local diner or family-style restaurant before attending to our daily business needs. Tori is not a big fan of a big breakfast, happy with just a bagel or piece of toast eaten at her desk while working on her computer. I love the ambiance of a short-order restaurant and the variety of customers one encounters while eating and sipping coffee at the counter.

It was a very balmy day in mid-March, just a few weeks from Easter, and I was straddling a stool midway down the counter at the Millville Diner. I had just finished a plate of ham, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and toast. Earla refilled my coffee cup, making it three cups so far for the day. The buzz of conversations around me almost kept me from hearing a soft “Hello” from behind me. A tap on my shoulder got my attention, and I turned to see who it was. A tall older gentleman dressed in a blue dress shirt and beige corduroy pants held out his hand and greeted me with, “Hi, my name is Nick Turner and I believe you met a few of my fellow round-table friends the other night.”

“Hi, my name is Skip, and yes, I did.” I smiled and said as I shook his hand. “It was great that they invited me to sit with them and get to know them a little. They mentioned that there were several other men that I might meet the next time I came into the diner, but I didn’t see anyone at the round-table this morning, so I just grabbed a stool here at the counter.”

Nick nodded his head and said, “I just missed you. I left just before you came in. Jeff called me the next morning and told me about meeting you and he brought me up to date on what you guys discussed that night.”

I motioned to the empty stool to my right and invited Nick to join me. Earla, the lady who had served me the first time I was in the diner, was working the counter. She set a steaming cup of coffee in front of Nick and asked him with a smile, “Hungry or just low on caffeine?”

Nick laughed too and said, “I had a bite to eat earlier at home, so just the coffee will be fine this morning. There is a business luncheon across town that I am going to, so I don’t want to ruin my appetite for that.”

I asked Nick, “What line of business are you in, if you don’t mind me asking?”

He replied, “No, I don’t mind at all. I work for a non-profit group created to help people who have been displaced or replaced in

Sipping his coffee, Nick explained, “I was a high school guidance counselor for 35 years, but I retired when my wife became ill and I needed to be a full-time caregiver. She passed away three years ago. I needed something to fill my days where I could be of service, so I joined the agency.”

I told Nick that I was sorry to hear of his wife’s passing and then asked if he had worked with Ben Tiller at the high school.

Nick answered, “Thank you, Skip. Yes, I worked with Ben. He is the interim principal now, but back when I was a counselor there, he was teaching history and economics classes. He is an exceptional guy and is doing a wonderful job.”

As we were talking, Earla came by with a fresh pot of coffee and said, “Nick, I was told that you and the round-table guys have come up with a new idea to celebrate Easter this year. Care to share it with Skip and me?”

Nick held up his hands and said, “This isn’t for publication yet, but yes we have an idea taking shape that we think will be fun and honoring the true meaning of Easter.”

Earla left us to wait on other customers and I leaned in closer to Nick as he continued, “Skip, each year our little group of men that gather at the roundtable try to sponsor an Easter event. Most years it has been just a traditional egg rolling contest on the lawn of Jeff’s church. Last year, it was a small parade along Main street. The folks dressed up in their good clothes and the ladies and girls wore bonnets and colored hats. We bought buckets of candy and passed it out to the kids marching along the route. This year, we want to change it up.”

I could see the light in Nick’s eyes as he told me about his plans for an Easter celebration for this year. I asked him, “Nick, is there a place where I might fit in with this year’s plans? Tori and I talked about wanting to get more involved in the community. This Easter seems like an excellent place to start.” “Well, the thought I have is to put a unique spin on an Easter egg hunt event this year. I’d like to get a bunch of those colored plastic Easter eggs, the kind that comes apart. I think we should do a take-off on the fortune cookie theme. We will want to keep the true meaning of Easter in the hearts of those who attend and teach our children the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“How blessed this idea sounds. Tell me how it would work, Nick?”, I asked.

“We could print out some simple Easter-related Bible verses, cut them into strips, and tuck them along with a piece of candy or two into each egg? We can then hide them around the church grounds and let the kids hunt for them.” Nick told me as he became even more excited. “You and Tori would be an enormous help on Easter day after church when we hold the egg hunt. We’ll need a bit of child herding, for sure.”

As Nick and I talked through the details, I suggested that Tori and I donate the eggs and help stuff them. Nick said that Jeff had already scheduled the event at the church on Easter day. He was sure that the other men could produce the verses, supply the candy, and help with the hiding of the eggs. The church planned to have the bright Easter banner out front on the lawn. It was coming together in our minds, now we just needed to put it into action.

I told Nick, “Man, I need to take care of the rest of my errands and then get back to work on business stuff. I’ve lingered too long, but it was well worth it.”

“Hold on, Skip,” Nick said motioning towards the door. “Here’s two of our guys coming in right now. You met Ben and Gabriel the other night, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. They are really friendly guys and I enjoyed getting to know them and more about the men of the War Council,” I said.

Continued Pg .15

We adjourned to the round-table, taking seats with Ben and Gabriel. Earla brought us a pot of fresh coffee, a bowl of creamers, and fresh set-ups. As she turned to leave us, she said over her shoulder, “Skip, I warned you about these guys and it looks like you have fallen in with the tribe.” This caused a chorus of laughter and applause from all of us at the round-table.

When Easter Sunday arrived, Tori and I attended the morning worship service at the First Methodist Church in Millville, the church where Pastor Jeff preached. The sanctuary was beautifully decorated and was filled with families, organ music and praise. Pastor Jeff’s sermon taught us the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection, the incredible gift that God had given to mankind, and the promise that our faith in Jesus Christ assures us of. The service ended and as the organ postlude played, Pastor Jeff raised his hands high and proclaimed, “He is Risen!” The congregation responded with a joyous, “He is Risen, indeed!”

Outside, on the church front lawn, children and youth of all ages gathered to begin the hunt for hidden Easter eggs. As each child found a colorful egg, they brought the egg to their parents and grandparents, who helped them open the egg and find the contents. The adults helped the children read and understand the Bible verses while supervising the eating of the candy, also found inside the eggs.

The men of The War Council, those guys who sit at the round-table at the Millville Diner, gathered off to the side of the celebration and I was happy to be among them. We gave thanks to our Lord for being able to touch so many young lives and families with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Gabriel summed it up the best when he offered, “We are often called The War Council and the most important battle we have to wage is the one for the souls of our young people. Let’s never forget that.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 | NIV