"soon recognized that the message is the same" (S62)
soon recognized that the message is the same. It’s the same message his roommate at college has been trying to get him to pay attention to. The same message that the students who gather at school corridors carry. The same message his professor tries to tell them about. But this time it seems like there’s a difference. It’s either in the way it’s being conveyed or there’s something particularly catchy about the preacher in this video but he cannot place it.
Still watching the video, words from his mother’s numerous warnings come to him— “don’t let yourself get fooled by those people that go about calling themselves carriers of light. They say their God is the saviour of the world. They think the rest of us will be destroyed.” … “J my boy, don’t let your heart get blindfolded by empty words. Humanity is the highest form of existence there is. There’s nothing else out there…”—these words come to him in a seemingly strong combat with the words he’s hearing from the his phone and he feels a rush of burning sensation around him. The man on the screen, whom he has now identified as a preacher seems to be saying words that are directed personally to him—“You are loved! Though your sins be dark as coal, there is hope for you. He forgave them all and hung them dry at the cross of Calvary. apostle Paul was a killer, David a fornicator, yet he used these men. Ohh there is hope for you, like a tree that is cut down but sprouts again at the scent of water…”
Jesse realizes that he’s lying still but his body is shaking furiously liked an engine starved of lubricant that jerks when forced on. Now worried he is trying to stop himself but he cannot. This motion is out of his control. The burning sensation continues. He breaks down in tears, memories of the various times Jesus has been introduced to him flashing through his mind. Each time adding up to the next making a whole story of love. He is still shaking and crying when he feels a soothing presence. He feels like someone is smiling at him and is stretching a hand to help. Now tired from the overwhelming sensation and all that has been going on in the past few months, Jesse bows down and manages to mutter the words “help me” in between his hysterical tears. Immediately he feels a gush of calm peace and joy overtake his body.
