Page 25 of Sing with Me

Isobel? Why was he thinking of her? She had been dead for a whole year.

Why can’t I move on?

“If God forgives me when I confess my sins to Him, why would I hold back forgiveness to anyone who has wronged me? Not that you wronged me personally. I was running a tight shift in my business, and there’s a chain reaction whenever one moving part is not in place.”

“I’m that part. I’m not moving. I’m stuck.” Diehl wondered if that was the metaphor of his mental state right now.

Perhaps his sister was right. He needed counseling. However, he did not want to go back to Pastor Gonzalez. They hadn’t gotten along well the last time.

“I’m not saying that at all,” Skye said. “Please don’t misread my words.”

Diehl rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m listening and superimposing what people say to my own life—for good or bad.”

Skye smiled. “You know, only God’s Word matters. Only His Word doesn’t return void. You can listen to the world and its frequencies of white noise, but all that will pass away. Only God’s Word remains.”

She swiped her phone. “Listen to this verse from 1 Peter 1:24-25. ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.’ Isn’t that good that God’s Word is permanent? So many things today don’t last.”

That voice again. If Skye narrated the Bible, he would listen to it.

He caught himself.

Here she was, trying to impart truth to him, to speak a blessing into his soul, and there he was, focusing on the wrong thing. Yes, she had a wonderful voice, but she had just read a verse from the Holy Word of God.

Diehl reminded himself to have some respect for God’s Word. He might have wandered far away from God, but God hadn’t moved, had He? According to this verse, God remained.

And this is the word which by the gospel is preached until you.

That sentenced reminded him of Grandpa Brooks. “You know, my grandpa was a religious man. He took us to church every Sunday we were in town.”

“Yes, Brinley told me. Seaside Chapel, in fact.” She stood there in the foyer as though she had all the time in the world, but Diehl knew she had other plans for the day. “Perhaps attending church tomorrow is like a homecoming for you. It’s the same church—with a new paint job, a different pastor. But we still have the choir and orchestra.”

“There’s so much going on in my life right now…”

“All the more to… Ah, I can’t tell you what to do.” Skye stepped toward the door. “I have to go.”

“I’m sorry.”

“About what?” Skye’s eyes widened.

She truly had beautiful eyes. They were peaceful.

Diehl shrugged. “Being antagonistic and all.”

“Are you? I haven’t noticed.”

“No? I countered every suggestion you gave me. And yesterday, I argued with you about breakfast at lunch.”

“Brunch. You had brunch. No worries.”

Yeah, worries. Diehl started to get concerned about this newfound perspective he was staring at. Was this what people meant when they said the glass was half full?

“Look on the bright side,” Skye said. “If you’re sorting out things in your life, then you might be emerging from the valley of the shadow of death.”

“Am I?”

“I don’t know. Think about it. God has brought you here to St. Simon’s Island, a place where you spent your childhood. You said that your grandpa took you to church back then, and that church is still here. Your sister and brother-in-law and their friends attend the church.”

“Am I among friends?” Diehl asked, searching, wondering.

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