The Storm

"Plausible deniability," they say. She would have never been privy to the truth, because she would never have heard the whole story. We both sat looking at each other, and I listened to her telling me about her daily activities and what was going on in her life. Delores then spoke up and said, “Zach, tell me about what happened about this prayer thing that touched you.” I went on to explain about the sincere, heart-felt prayer of an old Bayou man, and that, for the first time in my life, I had felt it as real. Delores responded, “It is real, Zach. As real as it gets. As real as this storm, as real as those two old men that you met, as real as we are sitting here. God loves you, Zach, even more than I love you, and I love you a bunch. With my whole heart!” She told me one of the greatest stories that I could have ever written as a journalist, about the love of God in Jesus Christ and what He had gone through to prove His love for mankind. I got to thinking, that if any people needed that kind of love, it was Henry and Gunny. And I needed it too. Henry knew, but what about Gunny? He needed to know, too. Especially because of what he went through. Delores had convinced me that I needed to make a decision that night, and I did. I believed what had been done for me and received the truth of it. I prayed with Delores a simple prayer, “Lord, I believe. And, Lord, I receive Christ as my Savior and my life, and as the hope of mankind." What illumination, as the lights came on in my spirit! I was overjoyed, and Delores with me! Wow! I never would have thought that the effect of a simple prayer from an old fish guide would have such an effect upon my soul. The continued love and

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