God’s Work

Working for God is never easy. Aubrey wiped the sweat from her brow and turned back to her camping chair in the shade where her water bottle was waiting for her. She opened it and took a swig. Once she replaced the cap, she dropped it next to the bible on her seat. 

The sidewalk was busy. Her sign was leaning up against the utility pole, the lettering written in blood-red paint for effect. Some people glanced over and then quickened their step as though afraid. It confused her as she wasn’t big or scary in any way. Others seemed to slow their step and glare at her, but they never said anything. Aubrey just smiled at them. The rest, simply ignored their surroundings, their heads buried in their phones. That upset Aubrey more than anything. How could people go about their lives so full of ignorance, unaware of what was happening around them? It was gross and Aubrey so wished she could save them too, but that wasn’t her duty. She always held out hope that her being there made at least a few passersby think about her work and how important it was. But she doubted such was the case. 

The door to the building in front of her swung open. Aubrey readied to approach whoever was coming out, until she realized it was Carl. She raised her hand to wave hello. “Hey Carl!” she smiled at him.

“Hey Aubrey,” he gave her a small smile back. His security uniform looked like it was getting too small for him. Either he’d been putting on the pounds, or he needed a good woman to teach him how to do proper laundry, Aubrey thought. He pulled the brim of his baseball hat down to shade his eyes from the sun as he walked toward her. “We’re not going to have any trouble today, are we?”

“Of course not,” she answered. She never understood why he’d ask her that question. In her several months of coming at least twice a week, she had never caused any trouble. It wasn’t her fault if her efforts upset some people. She couldn’t control their actions. “I’m just here to do God’s work.”

“Ok,” Carl looked at her, but he didn’t turn to leave. A couple of people slowed to see what

was happening. Aubrey remained still. “Just, take it easy today, okay Aubrey? It’s hot under that sun.” She couldn’t be certain what he meant, so she smiled at him again. He finally walked away, back into his air conditioned office and the couple of people moved on. She smiled at him again when he looked at her from out his window. He nodded and sat behind his desk. 

Another moment or so passed without anyone coming in or out, so Aubrey took her bible in hand and sat down. She glanced into her grocery bag to ensure her pamphlets were all safe, though of course they were. She opened the book and proceeded to read. She found peace in reading the good book and was beginning to feel at ease again, when someone came to place a camping chair next to hers. She looked up to see an older woman placing a huge bag on her chair, unzipping it and rifling through it. There was another large shopping bag on the ground beside her. She was wearing a solid black baseball cap from which her short, greying hair was trying to sneak out of. Her navy blue tank top was solid. She wore jean shorts, and running shoes. There was nothing to specify why she was there; no insignia, no sign, nothing. She finally looked at Aubrey.

“Hi,” she smiled. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Aubrey replied, bringing her hand up to her forehead to shade her eyes. “How are you?” 

“I’m great, thanks. Happy it’s such a beautiful day.” She removed a book and a water bottle from her bag and then sat down. Aubrey hadn’t been able to see the name of the book she was reading. She wanted to know if this woman was here to do God’s work too. The idea of having a friend to work alongside excited her. She’d never had one.

“Are you here to share God’s word too?” she asked. She had to know. The woman looked at her and nodded.

“I want to protect every soul I can.”

“That’s great!” Aubrey’s smile widened. She was so pleased to have someone with her. She wanted to continue conversing but the woman went right back to her book. This threw her off. She didn’t want to be rude. So, she went back to reading her bible.

A good twenty minutes or so passed in silence. Aubrey stole glances at the woman when she could, but her eyes were glued to her book. Something caught Aubrey’s eye down the street. She could see a young woman, practically a girl, walking toward them. Her senses began tingling and she knew it was time to do God’s work again. She closed her bible, set it down next to her and stood. The girl seemed to slow down upon seeing her stand, but Aubrey knew she’d continue. She smiled at her, to try and set her at ease, and that’s when the older woman put her book down and stood as well. Aubrey moved to approach the girl and the woman matched her step for step. The girl stopped and stared at them both, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

“I… I have a... an appointment,” she stammered softly. Aubrey moved to speak but before she could utter a sound, the older woman placed a hand on the girls shoulder. 

“Yes, you do,” she said and began leading the girl to their seats. Aubrey was impressed. Perhaps the girl trusted her because of her age. A lot of young people felt comfortable with the elderly. She moved to follow them. “Hold on a moment.” They stopped in front of her chair. The older woman grabbed her bag and began rifling through it. Aubrey was intrigued. Was she going to give the girl something? Did she also have literature to share? The woman finally withdrew a small gift bag. She smiled, turned to the girl again and began leading her to the entrance of the building. Aubrey followed. “This is for you,” she handed it to her before opening the door. “It’s ok,” she smiled and winked at her and shuffled her through the door. The girl walked through and looked back at her. She was smiling, but in a sad and confused way. Aubrey turned to the woman, curious.

“What was in that bag?” she asked. The woman looked at her, still smiling.

“Just some items to help her, should she need them.”

“What kind of items?” They walked back to their chairs and the woman sat down. She grabbed another gift bag and held it out to Aubrey. Aubrey took it. “What is it?” The woman picked up her book and went back to reading. Aubrey opened the bag to see chocolates, a lollipop, colorful markers, a small water bottle and a book. She lifted the book to see it was a doodle coloring book entitled Peace. Aubrey was confused. She let the book fall back into the gift bag and handed it back to the woman. “I don’t understand,” she moved to sit in her chair, still looking at the woman. “I thought you said you were here to do the Lord’s work.”

“I am,” the woman told her without looking up from her book. Aubrey didn’t know what to say. 

“How is what you’re doing going to deter that girl from making the biggest mistake of her life?” The woman didn’t move. “How are chocolates and a coloring book going to save her soul?” The woman continued to seemingly ignore her. “I know you can hear me. Can you please do me the courtesy of answering me?” The woman finally looked up at her.

“Who am I to judge that her soul needs saving?”

“I thought you said you were here to do god’s work. Like me.”

“I am here to protect every soul I can, but I think that may mean different things for you and I.” Aubrey huffed. How annoying and disappointing. She was really hoping to have an ally, make a friend to stand with her. Clearly this was just a confused old woman. She sat back in her chair, shaking her head.

“I don’t understand. How can you call yourself a woman of faith and yet let these lost souls commit such heinous acts?” The woman turned to her slowly.

“What’s your name?” Aubrey didn’t know why she wanted or needed to know that, but she had nothing to hide. She was proud of her work.

“Aubrey.”

“Aubrey, would you actually like to have this conversation, or are you simply trying to goad me into an argument you won’t allow me to win?”

“Allow you to win?” The woman nodded.

“Yes. I understand and respect your stance on this subject however, if you’re not willing to do me the same courtesy, then I don’t think it worth wasting our time talking. Do you?” Aubrey didn’t know what to say. She felt flummoxed, lost, and yet, she didn’t feel angry or insulted. The woman went back to reading her book and Aubrey continued staring at her, baffled. She was so used to having everyone who disagreed with her do so vehemently, angrily, irrationally. The arguments would very quickly get heated and personal, and even occasionally, violent. Carl was looking at them through his security office window. Once he saw Aubrey notice him, he looked back to his computer.

“Ok, let’s try it your way,” Aubrey turned toward her. “Let’s talk.” The woman nodded, closed her book, and turned to give Aubrey her full attention.

“Ok,” she said. “Talk.”

“Behold,” Aubrey started. “Children are a gift of the Lord….” The woman raised her hand to stop her.

“I started reading the bible before you could walk, sweetie. You don’t need to quote it to me. You said you want to talk, so talk.” 

“Ok….” Apparently, quoting the bible wasn’t allowed. No cause for concern, thought Aubrey. She’d been doing god's work for quite some time. “Murder is a sin. The deliberate taking of any innocent human life is wrong. Don’t you agree?”

“Of course,” the woman nodded. Aubrey nodded, glad they agreed.

“Ok well, what they’re doing in there is murder.” She pointed to the building in front of them. “It’s taking an innocent life and ending it. Personally, I don’t understand how any person can walk by, let alone go in and be any part of it.”

“It’s not your job to understand. That’s god’s responsibility.”

“Excuse me?” 

“To believe in god is to believe only he knows right from wrong. We are merely students of his teachings.”

“Exactly, and the good book says Thou shall not kill.”

“It does indeed say that, but I don’t believe any words at any time in history were written to be taken literally. Human languages allow for many interpretations. Because while the good book says that, it also says those who work on the Sabbath are to be put to death. A little contradictory, don’t you think?” Aubrey stopped short. She didn’t quite know how to respond. But she wasn’t ready to give up.

“Fine,” she conceded. “Perhaps you’re right, that the good book can confuse and contradict. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is a moral issue. It is immoral to take another life.”

“Many argue the viability of the lives of which you’re speaking.”

“I’m speaking of all life. Whether it is an unborn child, or a feeble old man clinging to life through life support. It is not up to man to choose when a life should be taken. It is up to god.”

“I don’t think many men have a lot to do with the decisions that are being made in that specific building,” the woman said, pointing to the building in front of them. “Though they’ve certainly had a lot to do with the laws in regards to restricting or gaining access to it.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do. But now you’re getting into a different kind of belief.”

“Science?” The woman shrugged.

“Some call it science, some call it faith, some call it common sense. Whatever anyone's beliefs, that’s the divide. In my eyes, the real question to ask is - do you accept that others have different beliefs than your own?”

“Not if those beliefs…” The woman interrupted her by making a clicking noise with her tongue and waving her finger in the air.

“You can’t decide which beliefs they’re allowed to have. That’s not your job.”

“But if their beliefs harm another life…” Aubrey argued.

“But according to their beliefs, they don’t.” Aubrey was taken aback. She’d never thought of it that way. “There are some who believe there are worse things than death; being unwanted, an outcast, not cared for, unloved. And there are others who believe that absence of life isn’t necessarily death, the soul or essence is delivered to another vessel. Call it reincarnation if you’d like. But their beliefs are just as real to them as yours are to you.”

Aubrey couldn’t find words to argue. She couldn’t find a way to shut this woman down. “Are you ok?” the woman leaned in toward her. Aubrey shuffled uncomfortably in her seat. 

“I’m fine,” she lied, and started playing with her hair, like she always did when she was nervous. She sat back in her chair, placing her arms on the rests at her side, and looked off into nothing. What was she to do now?

“Aubrey?” the woman wanted her attention. Aubrey could hear her, but couldn’t seem to respond. “Aubrey?” Aubrey felt her move in closer and finally turned her face toward her. “I’m sorry.” Aubrey’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What was this woman apologizing for? She rested her hand on Aubrey’s. “I think it’s wonderful that you have beliefs and are putting them into practice in your own life. It shows strong and true character, and I know that god is proud of you.” Aubrey smiled. No one had ever said that to her before. “When I was young, I believed so fiercely in my love for god, and his for me, that I was certain the best thing I could do in the world was to try and share that love with everyone I met. I’m certain that’s all you’re trying to do now.” How did she know, and put it so eloquently? It felt wonderful to hear her efforts not only recognized, but understood. “But in my years on this god given earth, having shared in many relationships with all kinds of people, from all walks of life, with all kinds of beliefs, I’ve learned that there is in fact no perfectly right, or perfectly wrong. There is what gives us the most pleasure, or the least pain, and the belief system that we adhere to because we learned it from our family, our community, our church, and our society. Not all belief systems are going to agree, but if we can agree that everyone has a right to their beliefs, and that no one can force their beliefs on others, it might make the world a friendlier place. Wouldn’t you agree? After all, isn’t kindness and acceptance also god’s work?” Aubrey simply didn’t know what to say.

The woman gently patted her hand and then turned to her belongings. She put her book and water bottle back in her bag and zipped it shut. Aubrey watched as she stood and folded her camping chair, slung her bag onto her back and moved to grab the grocery bag

full of her gift bags.

“Are you leaving?” Aubrey heard herself ask and the woman nodded.

“It’s too hot for me today. Should’ve brought my umbrella,” she laughed, lifting the grocery bag from the ground. “Perhaps I’ll come back on Friday.”

“Perhaps I’ll be here,” Aubrey smiled at her and the woman smiled back and winked. She turned to go, waiting for the traffic to stop so she could cross the street.

“Wait!” Aubrey stood and moved to stand beside her. “Perhaps you could leave the extra bag?” She motioned to the grocery bag. The woman looked at her, an eyebrow raised, and smiled. She placed the grocery bag gently onto the ground and walked away. Aubrey retrieved it and brought it back to her chair. She added her pamphlet to each gift bag and sat back, patiently waiting.

Fifteen minutes or so later, a couple of young women approached the building. Aubrey ran over to them.

“Stay away!” One of them yelled, standing in front of the other, her arms crossed like an “X”. “We’ve a right to be here.” Aubrey smiled and kept a respectful distance.

“Yes you do,” she said quietly. She held out the gift bag for them and smiled. “Please, take it.” The woman who spoke hesitated but reached out and grabbed it.

“Thank you,” she said, and then led the other woman into the building. Aubrey watched them walk through and smiled. She couldn’t be certain what effect this new tactic would have. She moved to walk back to her chair when she noticed Carl looking at her from inside his office. She waved and he awkwardly waved back. It sure beat having to yell over people who yelled at her, she thought as she walked back to her chair. She sat down and pulled another gift bag out, holding it on her lap. Perhaps offering them a small gift with the literature inside would be enough to save them. She’d never know unless she tried. As she well knew, god’s work was never easy.

Ⓒ February 2025. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.