Marcus Redding Goes To Work

So there he stood in the little dining area of their second-floor apartment. And there she sat in front of her laptop computer set up on their card table/dining room table. He had his arm around her shoulder. He was thinking James 5:19-20. That’s what she did for him. She had her arm around his waist. She was thinking Philippians 3:13-14. That’s what she wanted for him ever since they met two years ago.

So, still with her left arm around him, she used her right hand to type out that scripture. She turned the computer towards him and angled back the screen. He read it silently. Then he looked at her and smiled and said, “I’ve got to go to work pretty soon. What are you doing today?”

“I’m still working on that infrastructure improvement project for TJC.”

“Still?”

“Still. It’s a long-term deal. Some of the systems are getting old. So right now I’m creating a program that will monitor the electricity grid, the chilled water loop, and the hot water loop.”

“You are amazing. I’ve got to get ready for work. I love you.”

He kissed the top of her head and walked down to the bedroom—the only bedroom in their little apartment. As he got ready he looked up at their wedding picture then down at his guitar in the corner which reminded him of the new song he was working on. He hummed the tune as he looked out the window at their view of Albertsons’ roof and Loop 323. Ready to go, he walked back out and saw Lauren had a brown bag lunch ready for him, sitting on the corner of the table. “See you tonight,” she said, “Remember to eat your lunch.”

He had worked at Colby’s Wholesale for just over a year now. He mostly worked the evening shift, in the warehouse, driving the forklift, filling orders, loading trucks. A couple times a week Colby would let him get out of the warehouse and make deliveries to gas stations in Tyler and the rest of East Texas. Usually he drove the same route: Chandler, Brownsboro, Murchison, Athens. But sometimes they put him on the Whitehouse, Troup, Rusk route. He didn’t like those days. He had to take 346 into Whitehouse...

But today he was in the warehouse. It was a quiet day and he chatted with the guys as he worked. It took them a while to accept him after he came back to the Lord. He used to go drinking with them and his language was as filthy as theirs. But after Lauren helped him regain his faith, he wouldn’t hang out with them after work anymore and he cleaned up his dirty mouth. They resented that. Somehow they took it personally. But he was a good worker and a good listener. If they needed help with a project at home, he would bring his tools and pitch in. And they liked to hear him play his guitar on their lunch break.

But today at lunch he didn’t have his guitar. So as they talked about Obama’s healthcare plan and the storm last Tuesday and the Texas Rangers, he got out his brown bag lunch. A big tupperware full of lentils and rice with ham, two bananas, gatorade. And a little folded up piece of paper. Even as he unfolded it, he knew what he would see...

A happy face...the letters S-H-M-I-L-Y...and the scripture “Acts 11:24a.”

More about Marcus Redding’s journey of faith next week.