PROLOGUE
Chaplain Robert Hayes winced a little as he knelt in front of the gravestone.God had granted Robert sixty years of hale good health, but the last nine, He’d given a thorn in the flesh.Robert didn’t mind.It reminded him that this life was only temporary.It was the next that mattered.
He laid a hand on the gravestone, tracing a rough, leathery thumb over the name engraved on it.Master Sergeant Annette Winslow.He remembered her well.She had died holding off an enemy force one hundred strong, using the squad's machine gun to pin them down while her platoon escaped.She had received the Medal of Honor for that action.Robert had presented the medal to her husband.
He was gone now.Arkansas, he believed.He’d left Washington, left the Church, and left God.
Robert sighed and closed his eyes.A soft breeze blew through Arlington National Cemetery, a gentle caress reminding Robert that God was listening, even when it felt like He wasn’t.
"Father," he began."Please touch Trevor's heart.He's a good man.He's just suffering.It's hard to lose one's wife.I know you command that all hearts be given to you first, but you were human once, too.You understand how powerful human attachments are, and you even acknowledge that the attachment a man has to his wife is stronger than the attachment held for one's parents.
“I know I ask you about him a lot.He’s just been on my mind a lot lately.I think if you talk to him a little, just let him know you’re there and you still love him, he might let you in again.Remember Moses.Remember David.Remember Job.Remember Saint Peter.Remember everyone who struggled with fear and doubt.Remember them and be merciful.”
He finished the prayer as he finished all his prayers.“Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.”
He got to his feet, using the gravestone for help.A pang rocketed through his hip.He winced and leaned against the gravestone, rubbing his hip with his free hand.“Ooh,” he moaned.“Ohh, that’s getting worse and worse.”
He sighed.He’d probably need a hip replacement soon.
He started to turn and stopped when he saw a man in fatigues standing a few yards away.He wore his cover low on his head, obscuring his eyes.He looked to be in his late forties.
Robert smiled.“Good morning, young man.”
Normally, a man of that age would chuckle and make some comment about not being young, to which Robert would reply, “When you get to be my age, everyone looks young.”It was a good icebreaker and one that worked well.
This man didn’t say anything.That was uncommon but not unheard of.This was an emotional place.Sometimes people didn’t know how to deal with that.
“Who are you visiting today?”he asked.
The man still didn’t reply.Robert looked at the gravestone.“Are you here to see Annette?”
That finally got a reaction.The man chuckled softly, bitterly.Robert felt a rush of compassion.“I just finished praying for her family.Are you related to her?”
The man's lips curled upward, but there was no smile this time.Robert felt a touch of disquiet.He considered wishing the man good day and moving on, but God had called him to reach out to the poor and brokenhearted, and whoever this man was, it was clear that he was brokenhearted.
Robert stepped forward.“Would you mind if I pray for you?You don’t need to join me if you don’t want to.I just feel that you could use a blessing today.”
He stopped with his hand halfway extended.He couldn’t force God on anyone, but he would do all he could to let people know that He was there, that He loved them, that comfort could be found if people accepted it.
“Nice prayer,” the man mumbled.
Robert smiled, encouraged.“God shows mercy on the merciful.I do what I can to emulate that mercy.”
“Mercy on the merciful, huh?That’s a nice thought.”
“It is,” Robert agreed.“What’s your name, son?”
The man didn’t answer.
“I’m Robert.”
Still no answer.
Robert lowered his hand and took a step closer.“I’ll just say a brief prayer for you.Or if you’d prefer to be left alone, I’ll say it to myself as I walk away.”He smiled to let the stranger know there would be no hard feelings if that was what he chose.
“You remember Kyle Reddick?”the stranger asked.
Robert’s smile faded.“Yes.I performed last rites for him before he passed.”
