TITLE: Catching Rinky Man 8-24-2016 By Roy Proctor 08/25/16 |
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Catching Rinky Man
By Roy E. Proctor
“I've got to catch Rinky Man,” Patsy said.
“What's so great about that,” her mother replied.
“Oh mom, you're old fashioned. Everyone is trying to catch him?”
“The latest, huh. Seems pretty useless to me.”
“Oh, but it's fun mom.”
“Well, I'm going home. You can chase that imaginary man as long as you want. Just get back before dark.”
Patsy, barely noticed her mother leaving. Suddenly she ran out into the street, with her full attention centered around finding the illusive electronic man.
Patsy paid later in a hospital bed, all bandaged and bruised.
“Patsy Nelson?” the man said. “I am a Chaplain. Could I come in and visit?”
“Oh, Hi.”
“Uh, yeah … guess so. Can you find my phone?”
“I'm sorry but the medic that brought you in said it was smashed.”
“Dumb.”
“Dumb?”
“Yeah … trying to catch that …
“Let me guess, Rinky Man?”
“How did you know?”
“I have ways of knowing those things.” The Chaplain chuckled as he talked about his many children.
“You mean, you enjoy them?”
“I sure do. I talk to them and they talk to me. And you?”
“All I have is mom. She works long hours. As for dad … well … he ain't around.”
“Look, I see that you're tired. It was great talking to you.”
“Chaplain.”
“Yes?”
Could you come back tomorrow?”
“That could be arranged. I'll look forward to seeing you again. Bye?
* * * *
“Hello Patsy. You look better today. You must have had some visitors. These flowers brighten up your room.”
“Aw, volunteers brought them. No friends … I'm so glad you came.”
“Well, I'm glad I came too. I enjoy 'hangin' out with youth. It's like touching base with promise.”
“Promise? Of what? Dread? Drown yer sorrows with a smart phone? Rinky Man? So what?”
“Patsy, do you know who I represent?”
“I bet you're going to say … God.”
“Yes, a future and a hope. Meaning. Life. Purpose.”
“So now your going to get me saved. That's not very popular, you know.”
“Patsy, let me ask you something?”
“Okay. I don't know why I've let myself get into this … but go ahead.”
“What do you get once you catch Rinky Man?”
“Oh, don't get so deep. We all know he's a made up thing … not real … a game, ya know?
The Chaplain remained silent and at what looked like perfect peace.
“Chaplain?” Betsy asked. “I don't get this. I hardly know you and here I am spewing my guts out in front of you. I never let people get to me. But you … so calm … assured … peaceful … so confident in who you are … I look into your glowing eyes and see something I never thought existed … God?”
“By faith, God does live in me and I in Him, Patsy.”
“But why?”
“Well, Patsy, we have this mutual love affair and ...”
“Love? Now Chaplain, you've gone too far. Love? If God did love the world, I've not seen any of it. We've all heard John 3:16, you know.”
“So, God and Rinky Man are brothers? Rinky Man so loved the world?”
“Chaplain, I've got to sort all this out. Can you come back tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
So, Patsy was left with the confusion of her life concerning the truth of John 3:16. It all seemed too good to be true? She was tired from her outburst toward the Chaplain, so she fell asleep.
She was wakened later in the evening by light that filled her entire room. It was different than normal; a purity she had never experienced. In the midst of the light she could make out the silhouette of a man dressed in a white robe. “I gave my life for you, Patsy,” he said. “Will you accept me now?”
Patsy awoke the next morning. She was greeted by the nurse on duty. “I've got to see the Chaplain,” she said. “He will love to hear what happened last night.”
“Oh, Patsy, I'm sorry. We don't have a Chaplain.
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