The Agnostic Violinist: Chapter Four

[Josprel]

                                                                                                                                The Agnostic Violinist
                                                                                                                                               by
                                                                                                                                           Josprel

                                                                                           The account of the conversion of Josprel’s parents

                                                                                                                                             Chapter Four

Convincing himself that it was best not to upset her, Paul left the house without informing Sara of his destination.  His evenings usually were occupied with the orchestra, so she thought nothing of his leaving.  Still, he could feel his conscience twinge.  He and Sara never kept secrets from each other; this was a first.

The spacious church parking lot already was filled to capacity when he arrived.  So were the near-by curb spaces, forcing The Violinist to park a distance from the church - a fact that surprised him.  He had held a vague concept that Broszi was involved with a small cult.  Instead the building was a huge cathedral in the Little Italy section of the city, that he later learned housed a continuously increasing congregation of some seven hundred worshipers – all former Roman Catholics. 

He found Broszi waiting expectantly.  In front of the church - up the steps - even in the foyer - with exclamations of joy, women hugged women, and men embraced men.  Never - not even on the orchestra’s most festive gigs - had The Violinist seen people who appeared so happy to see each other.

Broszi also hugged his way toward the sanctuary, often pausing to say in Italian, "This is my best friend, Paul Perrello.  We've been like brothers since we were kids. Please continue to remember his wife, Sara, in prayer; she needs healing." 

Paul was overwhelmed by the solicitude these strangers voiced for Sara.  Several even promised to pray daily for her healing.  None of his friends had voiced such compassion. 

"Thank you; thank you," he graciously responded, "I appreciate your concern." 
                                                                                                                                       *****  *****
Paul took the seat Grace had reserved. Broszi joined the orchestra. Kneeling worshipers filled the alter rail, others knelt at their seats. Myriad voices, seemingly in rogation, undulated through the sanctuary. Then, the muted majesty of the great pipe organ softly blended in, reverently harmonized by the orchestra, Broszi's feathery metallic swishes whispering their rhythm.

Arms raised heavenward, a short man moved to the pulpit. The singing multitude stood, many clapping, others with arms lifted high. And, as the glorious worship music saturated the building, Paul understood what had drawn Broszi here.
                                                                                                                                          ***** *****
At first, the sermons confused Paul, but the music drew him back. Broszi gave him a Bible, marking several passages for him. Romans, chapter one, stunned the Agnostic; it seemed to refer to him. He had often struggled with the concept that the complexity of the universe evidenced the existence of an infinite intellect. Comparing it to the impossibility of an intricate orchestral arrangement existing without a master arranger, he had pushed the troubling thought from him, but there it was in the Bible. Once, the minister even preached on the chapter. Paul thought Broszi may have asked him to do so, but he hadn't. The Agnostic feared telling Sara about the church and he read the Bible in secret. Then one night, he returned from a gig feeling a profound emptiness.

“If there isn’t, a God, there should be one,” he mused, “Life makes no sense to me without one. This crazy world has no meaning without a God.”

He had read in the Bible that the fool says there's no God. He remembered the minister preaching that God hears sincere people who want the truth, even those with hard questions. Paul knew that meant him. He could no longer live with his agnosticism. He went to his knees. If God existed, he wanted to know Him, to serve Him.

"Please God, if you really exist, help me to know you, so that I can serve you. Please let Sara go to church with me. Please heal her and our daughter, Nina. I pray to you, through your holy Son, Jesus, just like that minister said we should do. Amen."

Their infant daughter, Nina, was sick with a high fever. Medication wasn't helping, and the doctor recommended, "waiting it out." When Paul asked Sara to take Nina to the church for prayer, to his amazement, she agreed.

“The only reason I’m going is to have the baby prayed for. Just in case it might help her. But, I’m not going to that church after that! Is that clear?”  Paul nodded.
                                                                                                                                           ***** *****
                                                                                                                            Continued in Chapter Five