Testing: Day 10

Word Count: 60,017

Summary of Events:

Ivy was again called on by Gabriel, who sought to explain to her why he believed she wouldn't go to heaven — reasoning which displeased her greatly. After leaving, Gabriel thought about how he couldn't possibly give up on Ivy. Ivy sat through church thinking about how glad she was that the Bramwells had company coming over, which would keep Gabriel away. Gabriel went to lunch at the home of Pastor Schnelter, who pastored the Lutheran church he attended, and explained to him what was going on with Ivy . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""We'd done a basic summary of Joseph's life, and I speculated on how long it was before Joseph and Jacob reunited, but Moses only says that Joseph was seventeen when it all began, one hundred and ten when he died, and that he was in prison for two years after the bulter was restored to the Pharaoh's service," Gabriel said. "So it could well have been some fifty years between separation and reunion for all we know, or it could've been sooner, we're not really left with much of a clue. And my point was to show her that she might be separated from Mr. Bramwell for a long time — a time that I was going to yet tell her she ought to decide what to do with, as pining for Mr. Bramwell would be a waste."

Pastor Schnetler nodded again as Gabriel took a sip of his coffee.

"She then made a comment with a way about her that seemed to suggest she might plot to take her own life," Gabriel continued. "Not exactly something I would like to see anyone do, and so, in order to dissuade her, I told her that if she were to die on the morrow I didn't believe she would enter into God's presence, at which point she got quite upset and even managed to shove me over backwards. I let her be for a day before coming again to explain to her why I had reached that conclusion: she is — for lack of a better term — a Pharisee. She does all of the right motions and things, and says all of the right words, but she hasn't repented of her sins for some time, and on top of that, she's blaming the One she claims to trust for taking her fiancé."

"She is in very great trouble," Pastor Schnetler said.

"I fear that I am only alienating her," Gabriel said quietly.

"Whether she will come back or not is up to God's determination, although I do not believe — whether it be failure or success — your efforts will be in vain," Pastor Schnetler said. "For your battle here isn't so much with her as it is with the devil who has so greatly deceived her. You will gain experience in his tactics, and in doing whatever it should take to defeat him, and with such experience will be better able to face whatever further challenges God should lay before you in future days."

"I want her to come back," Gabriel said.

"You have a very Godly heart within you," Pastor Schnetler said. "You know well what would please God, and you endeavour to do it as He would so have you. So long as you do not destroy yourself if it is God's will that you should not succeed, I am sure God will be well pleased with you."

Gabriel nodded, although a pain throbbed in him. He didn't want to fail. He wanted to succeed!"