LOVING THE UNLOVELY

Chapter Three:  The Call

by Tricia K. Brown

There had been an unusual guy in one of Hos’s seminary classes.  He was one of those unforgettable types.  Hos remembered his name—Roger Dunbarton.  One time Roger told the class that God had spoken to him, audibly spoken to him.  Roger said that God told him to go to Cancun to be a missionary.  The class was less than receptive to Roger’s proclamation, and Hos had been particularly critical.  After all, God didn’t speak audibly any more, right?  And whoever heard of going to Cancun to be a missionary?

Why was Hos thinking about Roger right now? 

He didn’t know.  After the prostitute left, Hos retired to his apartment, had a bite to eat, locked up and went to bed.  But he couldn’t sleep.

Hos could always sleep. 

It was kind of a joke.  He never went without a good night’s sleep.  Wherever he was, whatever was going on, he could sleep.  But not tonight.  Tonight, he lay awake staring at the ceiling, and strangely enough G was on his mind.  He couldn’t get her tired, sad face out of his mind. 

And then came thoughts of Roger Dunbarton and the way he had so enthusiastically announced that God had spoken to him. 

Hos wasn’t sure when he dozed off, but he knew exactly what time he woke up. 

It was 3:23 AM. 

The room was dark except for the eerie red light emanating from the flashing “Open” sign on the motel to the right of the church.  Even through closed blinds, the light could be seen. 

Hos could have sworn that he heard his name being called.  Was he dreaming?  Was it in his head?  His heart raced.  He could feel sweat forming on his forehead. His apartment door was locked, but the church door always remained open.  He almost expected someone to come barging in with a gun, a knife. 

He was trying to formulate a plan when he heard it more clearly, “Hos, Hos, I will use you to reach this stubborn people, these people who have committed spiritual adultery by following after other gods.  I will use you, Hos.  I want you to get married.  I want you to marry the prostitute, G.  I want you to have children by a prostitute.”

And that was it. 

Hos woke up again at 6 AM.  The message still resonated in his head. 

Had it been a dream?  

Had it been God? 

Surely not.  It must have been the leftover roast beef sandwich giving him a bad case of indigestion and bad dreams to boot.  Whoever heard of God telling a pastor to marry a prostitute? 

How ridiculous. 

As he showered and dressed and ate breakfast, he tried to shrug off the nagging feeling he carried.

But Hos knew. 

He had walked with the Lord long enough to understand when the Holy Spirit was nudging him to do something, even when he didn’t quite understand what.  So, Hos did the only thing he knew to do.  He knelt down beside his bed, and he began to pray. And as he prayed, God confirmed what He had called Hos to do.  As outrageous as it sounded, Hos was supposed to marry a prostitute. 

And so it was that Hos wasn’t at all surprised when he entered the church and found G asleep on one of the back pews.