Say a Little Prayer(19)
I think the fact that Gabe’s phone is currently open to a page advertising “hot singles in your area” kind of undercuts his message, but sure.
“Why don’t we go around the circle and introduce ourselves?” Gabe continues. “Tell me your name, grade, and your favorite Bible verse.”
I close my eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Delaney snorts. “Just say you like John 3:16 or something. Everyone likes John 3:16.”
“Quiet, please.” Gabe waves a hand in our direction before motioning for Greer to start.
Her eyes narrow on us across the circle, like the fact we’re talking during her introduction is a personal affront. “Hi, I’m Greer, I’m a senior at Madison, and my favorite Bible verse is John 3:16.”
Of course it is. Gabe turns toward me and I hurriedly rack my brain for another verse. Surely I have one. Surely I didn’t sit through sixteen years of Sunday school for nothing. Eventually, I give in and mutter, “I’m Riley, I’m a junior at Madison, and my favorite is…that one, too.”
The silence that follows lasts a beat too long. Gabe cracks a hesitant smile. “What a coincidence.”
I stare down at my shoes as he continues around the circle. I know this isn’t a test, but I still feel like the entire school just watched me drop a line on opening night. Like my inability to recall basic Bible verses is another example of how much I’ve changed.
After the last introduction, Gabe picks up his workbook and flips to the first page. “Great,” he says. “Now, can we all take a look at chapter one? We don’t have a lot of time this morning, and I’d like to get started.” He clears his throat, then starts reading in a halting, stilted monotone. “Diligence—a Commitment to God. In the journey to cultivate a virtuous life, diligence is the radiant beacon of youth. It guides us through the labyrinth of worldly distractions and calls us to reject the insidious lure of sloth—a deadly sin that seeks only to numb our spirits.”
I skip ahead as Gabe continues, letting his voice fade into the background. I couldn’t care less about the radiant beacon of youth, but I’m very much interested in the deadly sin numbing our spirits. There’s a definition printed halfway through the first chapter, a warning inked in stark black and white. I pause.
Sloth. Noun. A habitual disinclination to exertion. Lazy, careless.
I see where this is going before Gabe finishes reading. He’s probably going to send us into the woods to perform some pointed, physically exhausting task, and if any of us even think about taking a break, he’s going to smack us over the head with a Bible or something because sloth is bad. It’s a sin, and according to Pastor Young, that’s all it takes to earn a one-way ticket to hell.
But I’m not Pastor Young. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being lazy once in a while.
Gabe slams his book shut, the sound jolting me back to reality. “Okay,” he says. “I know this one isn’t super fun to read about. Personally, I think the only way to truly understand the virtue of diligence is to implement it in our lives through action. Which is why today’s activity actually takes place outside the pages of this book.”
There it is.
Greer thrusts a manicured hand into the air. “So what are we doing, exactly?”
“Excellent question. Through the virtue of diligence and self-control, we’re going to build”—Gabe drums his hands on his knees—“an outdoor shelter!”
No one moves. Even the branches rustling overhead fall momentarily silent. “A shelter?” I ask. “Like…a tent?”
“Uh, no. It doesn’t have to be a tent.”
“But you want us to build a shelter? For humans?”
“That’s right!”
There’s a single second of confused silence before everyone turns in unison toward the items scattered across the top of the picnic tables. I suppose there’s a world where someone might find themselves in the middle of the woods with nothing but a roll of packing tape, a bottle of Elmer’s glue, and several dozen thumbtacks, but I’m under no delusions that it’ll help us now. Hesitantly, I reach for a pair of scissors.
“Not so fast!” Gabe snatches them out of reach. “It’s tempting to give in to instant gratification, isn’t it? To make your task easier by outsourcing work or using tools? These supplies might seem helpful now, but diligence is the only thing that will get you over the finish line. Just like it says in Proverbs 13:4, ‘the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.’ So, Riley, do you still want these?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“No, you—” Gabe closes his eyes. “That’s not the point. You’re supposed to work hard for meaningful rewards.”
“Okay, but what are the rules?” Delaney asks. “Do we have to build something that fits the whole group? What supplies are we allowed to use? No one knows how to build a shelter.”
“Sure you do.” Gabe sweeps an arm toward the forest behind him. “Everything you need is right here, provided by God for this very task. You have until lunch to build a suitable shelter for one person, then you’ll be judged by a panel of counselors.” When no one moves, he blows out a long exasperated breath and adds, “The winning group gets an extra hour of free time tonight, okay? Just…do the assignment.”