Creation: Back to Bible Times

Chapter 1 The Tunnel in the Church The greatest adventure of my life started out in a beautiful little church in the countryside of Minnesota. It’s a white church with a steeple and has stood there for over 135 years. It sits nestled in the woods off a gravel road. Fields flowing with golden wheat surround it. I think it’s pretty enough that it should be in a magazine or something. But I might be biased since it’s my church. The inside of this country church is just as beautiful as the outside. There is a white altar in the shape of a semicircle with a red velvet kneeling pad around it. I always like to rub my hand along the soft velvet a little before kneeling. The cool wood of the altar feels smooth and comforting in my hands as I pray. In the center of the altar sits a wooden table, where a Bible sits propped up and open to the middle. Behind the altar is a picture of Jesus on the cross. It is set in an ornate wooden frame with the words, “It is finished,” underneath. I love going to church—my church. But there are some days I just want to stay home. While we were driving down the road I started in. “Mom, why do we have to go to church again? My friends only go on Sundays.” Mom said, “I thought you liked going to church, babe.” “I do like going to church,” I said, “but we go so often. And I was having fun playing with my friends today. And Mom, remember—I told you it’s embarrassing that you still call me babe. I am ten years old, you know.” “I know,” said Mom. “I’m sorry, but when you were in my tummy, I didn’t know if you were a boy or a girl, so I called you babe. A habit that old is pretty hard to break.” “I thought you really liked the name Rosie. After all, that’s why you picked it. Didn’t you know somebody else with that name?” “Yes. It is even more meaningful to me now than it was before. The person I named you after was 102 when she died, and all four of her kids and her husband died before she did. She told me her life story the same day her last child died. She told me, ‘I put myself in God’s hands every day, and He has never let me down.’” Mom turned around to look me in the eye. “That is the faith I want for you as well. I pray every day that you will have a faith that can last your whole life, even when life gets hard.” I started feeling pretty sheepish about getting after Mom. “Sorry I got mad at you.” “It’s okay.” Mom smiled. “I just don’t want you to forget that I love you and that God loves you more.”