Heiland's Studied Center

What follows is an excerpt from the novel Heiland, by my friend Franklin Sanders. It is the kind of novel that not only educates but provides solace. When I find myself particularly down I two things, remind myself that God is in control, that this world is not some huge corporation, but a sole proprietorship and read this novel The setting is this. Heiland had been captured by the lawless state, interrogated, whipped, and set free. He has just returned to the safety of his home. The passage poignantly illustrates the corporate thinking of a godly man. He sees himself not merely in terms of his immediate family, but of his place in his family. Such illumines obligations, and provides sustenance for meeting those obligations. Heiland is no company man, he is God's man.

He took her hand and headed to the foot of the stairs. By this time the porch was filled with the turmoil of children dancing too fast to count. A small, barefoot ball of frills and mud and blonde curls threw her arms around Heiland's knees, capturing him as he entered the kitchen. "I give up!" Heiland laughed as he put down the other two and picked up the two year old. She squealed with delight as Heiland noisily chewed on her ear.

Heiland sat down at the kitchen table, content to let the tidal wave of homey uproar wash over him. Five youngsters shouted at one time, dragging in new treasures to show off or sharing childish news, one older boy hung back grinning, and a young man stood behind them all ...

...When Sara had completed her supper preparations the children were called. After inspection and questioning, three were sent back to the bathroom to wash. Finally all seven children were in place at one end of the table. Heiland seated himself at one end of the table, Sara at the other.

'Everybody ready?" Heiland asked as chairs scraped up to the table. Together they began to sing:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below,

Praise Him above ye heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Heiland bowed his head and lingered briefly over the rightness of the moment. The universe was most firmly fixed and no amount of raging from the heathen could dethrone almighty God. Heiland knew that he had been chosen before the foundation of the earth for just this moment, prepared to do just this thing, that all his forefathers had been born and died and the moments and events of history had produced him just now and just as he was, to do just what he was doing, that there was no excess, no waste to any act or word. Heiland stood still, awestruck before the merciful economy and love of God.

From one view this moment was the center of a plan so vast that Heiland could no more compass it than he could count the stars. But this moment then stretched away from him, twinkling into the distance, only one point in a fabric that led to other moments, other threads, in an outpouring of mercy beyond his understanding. Inwardly he heard the swelling, triumphant music of that plan. He had no need of elegant words now or eloquence. His heart had overflowed beyond all possibility of words.

"Father in heaven, we thank You for your goodness to us, for Your merciful deliverance and watchful care. Give us by Your grace thankful hearts, careful to obey and glorify You in every thing. In Jesus' name, Amen." Eight "amens" echoed from around the table before the pent-up tumult of supper time broke loose.

Heiland was home.