Miriam and the Stranger (23 page)

Maybe she would hug him on the way home if she wasn’t too nervous. Mose had agreed to stay for supper at
Mamm
and
Daett
’s place tonight. He would need that extra attention, especially if he didn’t have the slip of paper in the book he drew. Mose hadn’t said so, but he would take the rejection hard. He had more of his hopes set on the Lord’s choosing him than he would admit.

Miriam shifted on the bench as Bishop Miller faced the three candidates. The bishop still didn’t speak for a long time as the congregation waited. Clearly this was a time for reverence and godly fear.

“As you can see,” Bishop Miller began, “the congregation of the Lord has chosen all three of you as worthy candidates for the lot of bishop. In this office you are to lead the flock of God, nurture the injured, and reprove and rebuke all sin. This choice speaks well for each of your lives and also for the congregation, which is led by three such worthy men. So now is the time for us to see whom the Lord has chosen. Will each of you choose books beginning with the oldest candidate, Minister Kemp?”

The visiting minister set the three songbooks on the bench in front of the three and straightened them out before he removed
his hands. Each appeared identical. With a bowed head Minister Kemp reached forward and chose the middle book. No order was required, Miriam knew. Each man could follow the Spirit’s leading in his choice, except the deacon, who came last and took what was left. But that in itself was a choice, and if the deacon was chosen he would he highly honored to have been anointed by the Lord without the touch of a man’s hand.

Mose went next and took the outer left songbook. He took his seat again, the book held limply in his hand. The deacon took the remaining songbook.

Bishop Miller cleared his throat but said nothing as he stepped forward. He took the songbook from Minister Kemp’s hand and flipped through the pages. No one moved. Even the smaller children didn’t make a sound in the crowded house.

No paper was found, and Bishop Miller handed the songbook back. Miriam couldn’t make out the expression on Minister Kemp’s face. Was the man relieved or disappointed? She shouldn’t even ask the question at such a holy moment, but never before had the selection of bishop mattered as much to her.

Bishop Miller took Mose’s book next and opened it. The paper fluttered to the floor, and Bishop Miller bent over to retrieve it. Miriam’s gaze was fixed on Mose’s face. He appeared relieved. She was certain of it. The man had desired the office greatly, and now it had been given to him. But the Lord must know what He was about, Miriam told herself. This now also changed her life. She would become a bishop’s
frau
.

“The lot has been found in your book,” Bishop Miller said, stating the obvious as he stood back up again. “Would you please kneel, Brother Mose?”

Mose knelt, and Bishop Miller placed both hands on Mose’s head. The bishop began his prayer: “Now unto the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be all the praise and the glory for this choice
made in God’s great wisdom. I charge you in the behalf of Christ, feed the flock of God, tend to their wounds, speak the words of life in season and out of season, teach, reprove, and exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. And may the Lord always be with you.” Bishop Miller paused for a moment before he offered Mose his hand. “Stand, brother, and take the office the Lord has given you in all humility and brokenness of spirit.”

Mose stood, and Bishop Miller kissed him on the cheek. The visiting minister did the same, and Mose took his seat again. A song was given out, and Miriam found a comfortable spot on the bench until it was finished. The clock on the living room wall read ten minutes after four. The day had been a long one, but the community now had their new bishop.

A woman appeared in Miriam’s side vision once the song ended and the service dismissed. Her voice was gentle. “Hello, Miriam. I’m Esther, Minister Kemp’s
frau
.” Esther offered her hand. “I’m glad you could be here today.”

“
Yah
, so am I,” Miriam managed. “As you see, I don’t know too many people. I didn’t recognize you this morning.”

“That’s okay.” Esther’s smile was warm. “I didn’t know who you were either when we shook hands in the washroom. But, Mary, the deacon’s
frau
, told me.”

Esther glanced over her shoulder as another woman approached and offered her hand. “I’m Mary. I know you don’t know me, but it’s
gut
to have you here.”

“Esther just told me the same thing.” Miriam tried to smile. “I’m sorry I don’t know anyone.”

“I’m sure that will change soon.” Mary’s smile filled her face. “Will you be moving into the community soon?”

“I… um… I don’t quite know yet,” Miriam said.

The two women laughed. The sound tinkled above the soft murmur of voices that filled the room.

“I suppose you can’t be spilling your secrets just yet,” Mary said. “But I can assure you that on our part you’re very welcome to come anytime. We have heard only
gut
things about you and the little community out in Oklahoma.”

“Thank you,” Miriam whispered. Her knees grew weak as the realization washed over her. This was her welcome into the ministry team of this local congregation. And she was younger and would be the bishop’s
frau
. No wonder she could hardly stay upright.

“You’re very welcome,” Mary was saying. “Now we’d best be going. I see Mose left a few seconds ago. You came with him, didn’t you?”

“
Yah
, I did.” Miriam forced herself to move. She almost reached for the bench to steady herself but managed to stay on her feet and avoid an embarrassment.

Mary led the way to the washroom where the women found their shawls and then slipped outside to the waiting line of buggies. The other women in the room gave Miriam shy looks. A few sent smiles her way, but no one spoke.

Everyone was tired, Miriam told herself. She’d have to beome better acquainted now that Mose was the bishop in the district. No doubt her ear would be the first one many of these women would spill their troubles into. Maybe she should reconsider the decision to complete the school year in Oklahoma and marry Mose soon after Christmas. If Mose brought up the subject of their wedding date again, she would tell him her change of perspective. A winter date would be right after the regular wedding season, but these were special circumstances. Betsy could prepare herself in that time and take over the schoolhouse. Miriam would miss the children and the prairie countryside, but this was now home, or soon would be. She had a responsibility the Lord was leading her into. Tyler was still back home, but she wouldn’t have
to face him much longer—if he was still around when she arrived back in Oklahoma. Miriam felt her face redden at the thought. Why had Tyler intruded upon this sacred moment when the call of God had been so clearly expressed in Mose’s life?

“You have a
gut
evening now,” Esther said in Miriam’s ear as she smiled.

“And you too.” Miriam smiled back. How quickly everything had changed. She felt almost like a new woman. No wonder the Lord had led her here early so she could experience this with Mose.

Miriam lowered her head and walked toward Mose’s buggy. As she pulled herself up into the seat, she gave him a warm smile.

He didn’t smile back.

“Mose,” she touched his arm. “The Lord has chosen you. I’m so honored I could be here today. I’ve never been affected like this before.”

Mose jiggled the lines, and his horse took off. He still didn’t say anything, and Miriam waited. Maybe the shock of the ordination had rendered the man speechless.

“There is much that must now be done,” Mose finally said. “Starting with our own lives, Miriam. I’m glad to see that you have also accepted the call of God. As you should know, this carries over into many things in our lives. We now have to adjust. We must together seek to walk worthy of this high calling of a bishop.”

Miriam’s mind whirled. What could Mose mean?

“
Yah
,” she allowed. “I saw how the women looked at me after the service. I expect they will come to me for counsel—once we are wed, of course. Is this what you speak of?”

“Not exactly.” Mose’s voice was sharp. “I speak of the example you and I must be for the others. Nothing in our lives can bring reproach to the name of the Lord or the reputation of the community.”

“
Yah
,” Miriam agreed. “I expected nothing less. That’s how I have always lived my life.”

Mose gave Miriam a stern look. “Okay. We will start then with your dresses. I know they are in line with the
Ordnung
now, but I want them a few inches longer. The world presses in on us all the time, and drift is easy. The people must see that my
frau
goes the other way, toward the Lord’s ways and not out into the darkness.”

“You… you think… that I…” Miriam couldn’t find the words. Her dress was already a clear example of godly living. Moments ago neither Esther nor Mary had looked at her with any questions in their eyes. But Mose apparently wanted more.

“And your stockings.” Mose glanced down at Miriam’s feet. “You will wear only black ones from now on. Any off color is only more drift in my mind. We will run this district so there is no question where their bishop stands on holiness. We will do this even if there aren’t enough votes to forbid dark brown stockings in the
Ordnung
.”

“But I have always worn these.” Miriam tried to speak evenly. “And
Daett
is known for his strictness, and I have never rebelled.”

Mose nodded. “That is
gut
. Your life has obviously prepared you well for your role as a bishop’s
frau
. For that I’m thankful. And you will have plenty of time to make these changes before we say the vows during the next wedding season.”

“Mose, please…” Miriam began.

His glance silenced her. “I hope you don’t plan to protest. That wouldn’t be fitting on this holy day when the Lord’s will was shown so clearly before the whole congregation.”

Mose’s words stung. Why had he changed so? His selection as bishop was the obvious answer. But such a change for her—and now of her—was so unexpected. She had thought the ride home would be joyful with his selection, but that was clearly not to be the case. And all thoughts of giving him a hug had flown far away.

“You are still the woman I thought you were.” Mose patted Miriam on the arm. His eyes gleamed for a moment as they rested on Miriam’s face. “You are still beautiful, but I must not think of that now. Our wedding date will come soon enough.”

Miriam kept her head down. Mose hadn’t even asked her to marry him yet. Did he plan to skip that part, as if her acceptance didn’t matter? Or was her presence here today all the answer Mose needed? Now that Mose was the bishop, his word was apparently sufficient to move things forward on their own.

You haven’t asked me to marry you
, Miriam wanted to say, but the words stuck in her throat. Mose expected her to say
yah
and had saved himself the bother of asking. And here she had wanted to suggest the idea of a wedding date after Christmas. Right now the thought of a wedding even next season sent a chill up her back. But surely Mose would soften by then. He was only caught up in the emotions of the moment, and she must try to understand.

Ten minutes later Mose approached the Yoders’s lane and slowed down. “I won’t be staying for supper as we planned,” he said. “I need to spend time in prayer and fasting. Tell your
mamm
I’m sorry. Maybe I can come back some other time before you leave for Oklahoma.”

“I’m sure everyone will understand.” Miriam forced the words out. She tried to smile but her face was frozen.

Mose pulled his horse to a stop, and Miriam climbed down. “I’ll see you at your sister’s wedding then,” Mose said, and he was gone.

Mamm
met Miriam at the front door with a strange expression on her face. “Why is Mose leaving?”

Miriam took a deep breath. “He needs to spend time with the Lord. It’s been a shock to him, I think.”

“Oh, dear.”
Mamm
took Miriam in her arms, and her face glowed. “So Mose did make bishop today. Well, that is
gut
news.
I know the two of you will be of great service to the community and the Lord’s kingdom.”

“He wants a wedding date in a year,” Miriam whispered.

“A year?”
Mamm
held Miriam at arm’s length.

“
Yah
, that’s what he wants.”

Mamm
hugged Miriam again. “That time will be here, dear, before you know it, and what a holy man. But I never thought he’d wait that long to take my daughter as his
frau
.”

Miriam wasn’t sure why, but none of this seemed wise. But she was just a woman, and what did she know?

Chapter Twenty-Three