Confessions in the Garden of New Life Part Two

Dotty began to explain, in gruesome detail, the papers she had filled out to be on the Republican Party primary ballot as a Congressional candidate.  Pastor Dan had a hard time concentrating on what she had to say.  His feelings about her running were very mixed.  The idea was to put a pressure point on Stan Winston's run for re-election, leading him to tow the line of the Christian right (or that version of the Christian right as promoted by himself and New Life).

His preliminary plan, to confront Congressman Winston at his recent town hall in Crowley, went all too well.  Dotty's confrontation with the congressman went viral, and now millions across the country had seen Dotty at her finest.  Some though the ravings of a lunatic.  Others were inspired by her proud indignation. 

That should fill him with satisfaction, but instead it filled him with worry and concern.  The goal was to push Stan to their side, as many Republicans around the country had done in order to avoid confronting the Tea Party and the like.  But dotty had done to well, and now Stan was making sounds of withdrawing.  And he worried about how well Dotty would do in a general election.  A conservative Democrat could out maneuver Dotty if she didn't control herself.  And Pastor Dan doubted if Dotty had ever controlled herself.

But maybe his worries were for naught.  She would definitely be somebody he could control.  It might be almost like he himself had a seat in Congress.

So Pastor Dan pushed his worries aside.  If this is where God was leading him, he would take the plunge and trust God.  "This looks good, Dotty.  I'll look over the papers and make sure everything looks good, and I'll get them back to you later this afternoon."

"Thank you, Pastor Dan!" Dotty gushed. "And about the fee...."

"Fee?" asked Pastor Dan.

"Yes, the fee to run.  $5,220.  You don't think I have that kind of money, do you?"

Actually, Pastor Dan thought, he was pretty sure she did.  But sharing was not a Dotty Mathers virtue.  It's one of the things that made her so adamant about being against government and taxes.  So expecting her to cough off the fee was probably unrealistic.

"Well, the church just hand to you, I hope you know that.  But if you want to have a fundraiser, I will do everything I can to get sympathetic church members there."

"Oh, yes," squealed Dotty.  "That would be just peachy keen gravy!  We can have a bake sale and what not!"

Pastor Dan sighed.  He would need to get her a money person quickly, before she ran afoul of every campaign finance law in the book.  "We need to organize a team of expert supporters around you, Dotty.  Someone like Houston Graves, Sr., or someone he make recommend as a financial person.  You'll need an events coordinator, a media person, someone to help you build a state of the art website.  You could raise a lot of money off the internet, dotty.  That viral video of you made quite an impression."

Dotty's eyes lit up.  It kind of scared him.  He was more used to her being angry than happy.  "Oh, I hadn't thought of that!  That is a great idea!"  Then she quickly turned more somber again.  "I am willing to have more people help.  I know that is God's will that I not do this alone.  But everyone must understand.  I'll take advice about finances and whatnot, but I will not be told what to believe or how I express it.  I only consult with the Lord on that."  She paused for a second and then added, "And of course, people like you, Pastor Dan, whom I know the Lord speaks to."

Oh, this was going to be an interesting ship to steer!  He took the papers and wished Dotty good luck.  She left almost on a cloud. 

Pastor Dan got into his office at last, sitting himself behind his mahogany desk.  His office was sparsely but elegantly appointed, a cherry sofa for consultations, a railing for prayer, and a brown leather chair where he could sit and listen, as if from an iron throne.

He reached for his phone, getting ready to call Gibby Hanes, a private investigation from Savannah he knew.  It might be a good idea to discreetly explore Dotty's background to get ahead of any skeletons that might be lurking in her closet.

Before he could connect, Doc Walter Stratton came in.  He was a dedicated church member, a Deacon who was a successful chiropractor with an office in the round (Crowley Circle).  He was a big, bluff man, white hair with beard, with ruddy cheeks and a cheerful disposition.  He recently took on Maryanne MacDonald as a chiropractor's assistant at the urging of Pastor Dan.  Maryanne had lost her job with the obstetrician Dr. Jhadau because she had broken patient confidentiality to tell Pastor Dan and others in the church about women who might potentially have in abortion.  She was specifically caught leaking the name of Racine Steel, whom Pastor Dan and his Faith Warriors staged an intervention for.  Doc Stratton wasn't sure he needed an "assistant" but Pastor Dan could be quite persuasive. 

"Pastor Dan!" called out Doc Stratton, giving a little bow as if he was meeting with the Pope.  "I hear there is quite a peck of bad weather headed our way.  Temperatures tomorrow night could drop into the low teens!"

That was frightfully cold for South Georgia, even in the heart of December.  "That is very cold, Doc!  I guess we better bundle up!"

"Well, Pastor, it is.  And I was thinkin' it might be a bit too cold for those not prepared.  Y'know, the poor and stuff.  Maybe we could open parts of the church as a shelter."

Pastor Dan thought about it for a minute.  "Thais is not a bad idea, Doc.  Only....."

Doc plopped on the sofa.  The cushions noisily deflated in protest.  "Only what?"

"We need to be sure we are not just handing out charity. God helps those who help themselves.  But it might be a good opportunity.  We can conduct a sing along service, and an open altar call.  We do it right and we can some more souls for Christ." 

"Amen!" praised Doc Stratton.  "An excellent idea!  The cold leads them to us, and then we lead them to the Lord!"

"And we need to make as many of them as possible earn their stay.  Have them help prepare a meal.  Put them in charge of clean up.  Make sure they don't think of it as something for nothing."

"Yesiree!  Turn the lazy into the godly!"

That took Pastor Dan back a bit.  Sometimes he had to be careful of the extremity of the feeling he sometimes inadvertently released.  "Well, I don't know if I would quite put it that way.  People experience all kind of adversity in life.  Sometimes God's greatest servants come from those most troubled.  As long as they don't look to the godless government for help, and learn to rely on themselves and their faith, they will soon find the riches of heaven open to them."

The two agreed to set the plan in motion when Dana Montague came into the office without knocking.  He would have to talk to her about that.  Some of his consultations were meant to be private and uninterrupted.  "Sorry to barge in.  It's Dabs, Pastor Dan.  He's in the garden, and he won't move, and he's crying, and everybody's really concerned, Pastor."

Oh, dear Lord!  What now?