The Impressionist (15 page)

I smiled, reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Jim Ed,” I said. “Your story has moved me in so many different ways. I know Jesus sent you to me today.”

“It’s in these tough situations that we are given a chance to believe God is who He says He is,” continued Jim Ed, “not because we are experiencing everything we want, but because we have a hope and we choose to believe. God is making you into something, Adam, and it’s never too late to finish strong in life. Even in your darkest moments, if Christ dwells in you, there’ll be a song deep in your soul and a warrior’s fight in your swagger.”

“Like David?” I said.

“Just like David,” he said. “Hey Josh, can you Google Psalm 144:1 and 9?”

“No problem,” Josh said and his fingers began flying on his iPhone. “Got it!”

“Read it out loud please,” asked Jim Ed.

“Here’s verse 1.
‘Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.’
”

“You hear that? It’s God who trains you for the fight. We’re in a war, guys, and the enemy we’re up against plays for keeps! Okay, now read verse 9.”

“I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You!”

“Although David was a mighty warrior who slew giants and conquered kingdoms, he also had a song in his heart for God.” Jim Ed leaned back and took a long sip of coffee. “Do you mind looking up one more, Josh? Then I’ll stop preaching. Promise.”

“Sure.”

“Look up Psalm 55:4-7.”

“My heart is severely pained within me,”
Josh began reading out loud,
“and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. So I said, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander off, and remain in the wilderness.’”

“Wow, I can sure relate to that,” said Adam. “Felt that exact way this morning on that park bench. I wanted to escape to a beach in the Caribbean or just go to sleep and never wake up.” I glanced at Josh. “I didn’t really want to go to sleep and not wake up, son, they were just thoughts. I would never act on them.”

Josh rolled his eyes. “I can relate to that Scripture,” he said. “Who can’t? Didn’t know that was even in the Bible.”

“Yep. You just read it.” Jim Ed’s eyes narrowed, he leaned forward over the table. “One thing I appreciate about God’s Word is the honesty,” he said. “People wouldn’t make that stuff up. David was a warrior and had a song in his heart, but he also knew what deep pain and disappointment felt like. He had a very
real
life. Just because we are Christ’s doesn’t mean things are always going to be easy. But we will have assurance that in everything, good and bad, we can have a peace that passes all understanding, even when people misunderstand us or choose not to forgive.”

“You mean like Paige?”

“Possibly.”

“You have to give everything to God, Adam. Give it your best fight, His best fight rather, and leave the results up to Him.”

“It’s a hard thing, Jim Ed, but I hear you,” I said glancing at Josh. “I love your mom, son.”

“I know, Dad. I know.”

There was a calm quiet around the booth for some time as we sipped our coffee simultaneously while dealing with our own thoughts. Then Josh looked up at Jim Ed, maybe a little hesitant. “Do you think you could paint my portrait too?” he asked. “You know, maybe sometime? When you don’t have anything to do?”

Jim Ed perked up. His familiar smile beamed across his face again. “Now that is one of the best ideas I’ve heard all day!” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “I would consider it a privilege if you allowed me the honor of painting your portrait Josh Camp.” He tipped his Saints cap then turned his attention toward me, eyes inviting.

“You can drop by the house anytime you like, Jim Ed,” I said finishing off my cup of coffee. “And who knows…maybe sometime soon you could even paint a family portrait.”

The team at Destiny Image and Joel Nori—it’s been a joy to work with you in this journey, and I sincerely appreciate your vision for this story.

Curtis Wallace, attorney and friend—thank you for believing in this project from the beginning and for bringing us together with Destiny Image Publishing.

Team Wildfire, Extraordinary Women, and AACC— your tireless and faithful service does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do for the cause of bringing healing and hope!

Julie, Megan & Ben, and Zach—you bring great joy to me as a husband and a father each day. I love my life with you!

Alanna Davis (Max’s wife)—thank you for all your hard work on this book. Really, your name should be on the cover, too!

TIM CLINTON,
Ed. D. (The College of William and Mary) is President of the nearly 50,000-member American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the largest and most diverse Christian counseling association in the world. He is Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Care, and Executive Director of the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University. Licensed in Virginia as both a Professional Counselor (LPC) and Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Tim now spends a majority of his time working with Christian leaders and professional athletes. He is recognized as a world leader in faith and mental health issues and has authored over 20 books including
Breakthrough: When to Give In, When to Push Back
. Most importantly, Tim has been married 33 years to his wife Julie and together they have two children, Megan (recently married to Ben Allison) and Zach.

MAX DAVIS
holds degrees in Journalism and Biblical Studies. He’s the author of over twenty books of both fiction and non-fiction. His books have been translated into several languages and have been featured on shows such as
The 700 Club, The Today Show,
and in
USA Today
. He and his wife Alanna live on thirty beautiful acres in Greenwell Springs, LA. To learn more visit
www.MaxDavisBooks.com