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has its ups and downs, but in the end,
He has never let me down.”
    Erik cocked his head in an attempt to hear more, but
the restaurant manager spoke first.
    â€œ John’ I’ve got a seat at the
counter for you” the cashier yelled to the same man Erik was trying
to listen to. “Folks, move aside so he can get through,” At the
same time he noticed Erik, “and you behind him, come along
also.”
    The couple from the church looked at Erik, then said,
“John, we’re next for a table. Why don’t’ you wait and join
us?”
    Erik got the hint. He was surprised by the man named
John’s reply. “No, thanks. I’ll take the counter. My coffee cup
always stays warm at the counter.”
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Chapter Five
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    â€œ M y name is
John O’Brian.” the man offered a handshake as he slid onto the
counter stool. “We meet again.”
    Erik heard the remark but was trying to figure out
how to find a comfortable place on the bar-like stool with his back
aflame from last night. He turned with embarrassment when he
realized John had his hand extended to shake.
    â€œ I’m sorry,” Erik quickly shook the
man’s hand. “I’m Erik. I hope you don’t mind, but I didn’t keep you
handkerchief. It looked so bad when I was done, so I threw it
away.”
    â€œ Don’t worry about it. It was so old
I would have thrown it away myself.” John picked up the sugar jar
and tilted a steady flow of sugar into the empty cup.
    Erik watched him pour a mound of sugar into the empty
cup. “I heard you talking about faith” Erik found himself
saying.
    John leveled the sugar just enough to stop the flow,
and a broad smile followed.
    â€œ The usual?” a hurried waitress
appeared and waited for John to move the sugar so she could fill
him cup. “You’re the only man I know who puts in sugar before the
coffee, but I don’t know if you put coffee in your sugar or sugar
in your coffee.”
    â€œ It saves me time, and yes, the
usual. Get my friend here whatever he wants. I’m buying.” John
pointed to Erik.
    â€œ Bacon, two eggs over easy with hash
browns, but I’ll buy my own.” Erik rapidly replied with his eyes
never leaving John.
    â€œ You two boys can figure out whose
paying, just remember to leave a tip” the waitress joked as she
wrote and turned to hang the order on the cook’s wheel.
    John said, “Yes, I know about faith, but all that
means is I know about Him.”
    â€œ Him?”
    â€œ Him, Christ, who is the only reason
I can have faith or hope or whatever you want to call it. You don’t
know Him then faith is pretty empty.”
    â€œ I think I met Him last night.” Erik
tried to take back the words the moment they were spoken. What am I doing? I don’t even know this guy. He
could be some freak or something, and I don’t know what I’m talking
about.
    â€œ Praise the Lord, young man! How did
that come about? Looks like maybe you met more than Christ last
night,” John had a large grin on his face and laid his hand on
Erik’s shoulder.
    Neither “praise the Lord” nor being addressed as a
young man sat well with Erik. He could feel his shoulder tighten
under John’s hand, and he hesitated to respond.
    â€œ You know, John, I don’t mean to be
rude, and maybe I’m too tired, I’ve never liked it when people
said, ‘Praise the Lord.’ It sounds fake, it made me feel like the
person thought they were better than me. Every time I hear it I
think I’m going to get a sermon.”
    Again John chuckled while taking his
hand off Erik’s shoulder. He took a sip of the hot coffee. “No
sermons from me. You asked the question. I gave the answer, and
I’ll watch the Praise the
Lords . You’ll excuse me if one slips out.
It’s just something I say to Him, not to make an impression. If