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Repentance is a strange thing for proud men anyhow, and Lt. G.H. Truss found out how strange it really was, two hours into being a Christian. By the time he walked back up the cul-de-sac, all the fanfare of the day had passed on … but there sat Capt. R.E. Ludlow, who saw him coming and had his food brought from the house, and Lt. E.T. Catalano whom he had driven up with, still waiting.
For the first time in his life since Lt. Truss's grandfather died, he truly sensed what it was to be loved – he hadn't “felt” anything when becoming a Christian, but suddenly it hit him. He had a family who loved him, and brothers – of course the military provided a great deal of that, but not in *peace.*
Love, joy, peace … they at last rolled over the soul of the lieutenant, and he just stood there, the callouses on his heart slipping away at last to join the burden of sin from which he was also free.
Capt. Ludlow and Lt. Catalano, also silently weeping, waited still another hour, there being all the time in eternity to share with a brother in arms, and also now in the Lord's army.
Lt. Truss finally made it to the table, in the deepening quiet of the evening, and got a big hug from Lt. Catalano, who could not speak for his joy.
“You were right all along, Emilio,” Lt. Truss said. “I knew that and just wasn't ready, but the Lord got me ready today, and now, we are brothers in Christ forever. Thank you for not condemning me and pushing me away, for showing me the patience of God in remaining a friend.”
Lt. Catalano just squeezed, his beautiful bass voice gone for the moment.
Lt. Truss turned to Capt. Ludlow, and found the captain extending his hand.
“I guess I am coming to dine with you in Heaven, Commendatore,” he said, and again took the captain's hand.
Capt. Ludlow managed to get a few words out, in a muffled voice.
“Da Ponte and Mozart could not write what God is going to write with you, Lieutenant,” he said, “but it will be glorious.”
“It will be someday, but I'm glad you told me the truth about the lack of hoopla,” Lt. Truss said as he sat down. “I called some people, and was honest with them for the first time in our entire intimate association. I told them what had happened to me, how wrong I was, how evil I had been to them, and how sorry I am now and how I'm stopping it, right now.”
“When you find out that God forgives you, but no one else seems to have gotten the memo,” Capt. Ludlow said.
“Yep,” Lt. Truss said. “You know how they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? I'm glad I'm not going to hell, because whew! I mean, I found out that the women I have being dealing with loved the lie as much as I did and were madder still that I took it away! One of them got so mad that she told me she was pregnant and was going to kill my baby … but she wasn't ready when I told her that I've already had a vasectomy and so she was cheating on me anyway … then she said she just made that up to hurt me like I have hurt her, and it got worse!”
“Wow,” Lt. Catalano said. “When honestly fails for everyone but you!”
“Exactly – but Capt. Ludlow prepared me,” Lt. Truss said. “You come to God for you, and you and He work it out and this is real! This is real!
“This morning I wished one of these women would have raised their voice to me – I've got years of hate to unload and I have just been waiting on it – or at least I was. Not today. God the Holy Spirit is real. These women didn't tell me anything about myself that I didn't know was true, that He hadn't shown me about myself this afternoon, and I didn't need to unload. The hate is *gone,* gentlemen. It's just gone. God has taken it away from me. My pride is still there, so that hurt a lot, but the hate is just gone. As I kept going through it I just kept thinking that they are where I was yesterday and if only I could show them – but it was just yesterday, and why should they believe anything I have to say about that, even if it is true?
“As I went through that I realized what you were saying about what happened with your first wife being your responsibility, Captain: I created all that hate I just got. I was an evil man with evil women, doing evil things. I couldn't have gotten a good woman if I tried – I didn't want that anyhow, even though I said I did. I wanted what I wanted and I got it – I just got it all, blown back on me.”
“But it's done now. That part of my life is over. I never went with these women for any reason but hate and revenge, and that is gone from me now, thank God. For everything else I can contain myself, and I must. I've got to heal, and grow.”
“That's what we're here to help you with,” Lt. Catalano said. “We and you will walk with God together.”
“What about reputational risk?” Capt. Ludlow said. “We former fools have to talk honestly about foolish things we once used to do – do any of these women know enough about you to damage your career?”
“No,” Lt. Truss said. “I kept them on a need-to-know basis. I also was determined that I would not give any woman a child to hold over me, so I had that vasectomy years ago because I was sure I was never going to marry or have a family of my own.”
“I almost did that, but then met Thalia,” Capt. Ludlow said, “and then, you know, these grandchildren! So, I ended up with a second marriage and family anyway! We plan and God laughs, Lieutenant!”
“I see that!” Lt. Truss said, “but for the first time in my life I understand He is not laughing cruelly … He's not. He's not a God of cruelty and hate and pettiness. That was all me, projecting what I would do and have done … I've still got more amends to make, as I can. But the other thing I need is something to do with all this figuring power – I'm a calculating man, and I do need an outlet for that.”
“Show me a solid testimony in walking with the Lord, Lieutenant,” Capt. Ludlow said, “and the Ludlow Bubbly has a spot for treasurer in it.”
Lt. Truss jumped.
“Are you for real – I mean, are you serious, sir – I mean, Captain – I mean –!”
“At ease!” Capt. Ludlow said, and laughed gently. “You will learn about me that I rarely am not serious. I have been asking the Lord Who should have that position – the vice president, secretary, and I are covering it, but we are coming to the point of needing someone to handle that exclusively. I've looked up your entire record, and you have been a faithful and effective man in all fiduciary matters big and small that you have touched. Your temptations are not in that direction. Now, my young soda company cannot endure scandal over a woman, and up until three hours ago you represented massive reputational risk, but if you can show me that is no longer going to be a problem, then there is no problem.”
“Captain, if the Lord wills that I live and walk with Him, I'll be coming for that position, sooner than you think!”
The lieutenant's phone buzzed.
“Uh oh – woman no. T – uh – anyway, please excuse me.”
Lt. Truss walked off, and was soon holding the phone away from his ear while the captain and lieutenant behind him could hear what was being said, while the lieutenant said, “Yes, I know I am and I did, and I am truly repenting and sorry.”
“He needs that position,” Lt. Catalano said. “What he doesn't know is with that many women mad at him, the way women talk, he is about to be miserable in Roanoke.”
“So, move,” Capt. Ludlow said. “It would be better for him to get away from temptation anyway. The Veteran's Lodge has men moving out because they can't stand the Covid restrictions – see if you can convince him to apply here.”
Lt. Catalano smiled.
“You know he will do anything he can to live closer to you anyhow at this point,” he said. “You have gained another son, Captain.”
“Have I?” Capt. Ludlow said, with a laugh that disguised his true feelings … he knew, but his emotions were too complex to share at that time.
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