Sojourner

Prologue
Who is this man?
This was the question on the lips of the good people of Hanville, Arkansas that dusty July 10th, in the year of our Lord, 1885. The man in question came striding into town that day- wearing a long linen duster over black clothing. This was topped by a black leather hat that had seen better days.
His face was a chiseled cliff of bone and skin. His eyes were set deep in sockets fringed by an underbrush of eyebrows. The dark eyes saw all, but there was little to soften their solemn stare. His mouth was set in a grim line - neither smiling nor angry.
He walked into the Red Goose Saloon, and took a seat at the bar. He removed the hat - which revealed a wild tangle of Abraham Lincoln hair - black as coal, yet streaked with a few errant strands of gray. "What'll you have, stranger?"
This from the barkeep in a dirty apron stretching over an expansive stomach. "A small beer, please." He pulled a handful of change from his pocket. "Where you from?" "Oh, here and there. Just passing through."
"Where you headed?" "No place in particular. Where the good Lord leads me." "You a preacher?" "No, I'm a sinner, just like everybody else. Just try to do His will as best I can." "Is there anything in particular that brings you here?" "No, I woke up this morning, and the Lord led me here. I suppose his reason will be revealed to in time."
"Do you have a place to stay?" "No, I just got here. I expect I'll find some barn with soft hay for my bed." "Well, if you're looking for someplace more comfortable, we have rooms upstairs. Fifty cents a night." "I may just take you up on that. I need to see the town for a bit, now. Perhaps I'll be back later."
The stranger stood, put on his hat, and left the saloon. As he walked down the main street, he was watched carefully by the people along the way. He found a bench under a large oak that provided cool shade.
He was there a short time, when a young boy came over and sat down near him. They looked at each other in companionable silence. "Are you a gunfighter?" The boy was about ten, with red hair and freckles. He had blue eyes full of questions. "I was at one time, but no more."
“Did you kill lots of people?" "Some. I left that life behind." "Why?" "I found a better way to live my life." "What do you do now?" "I travel the roads of this land, led by my Lord. Is there a church in this town?"
“No, sir, we did have one for a while, but old preacher MacKay died. No one came to replace him." "That's too bad. You have a name young man?" "I'm Silas McGee. I'm ten. What is your name?" "I don't use my old name, since I found the Lord. You can call me Sojourner. I travel around, stay awhile, then move on as the Lord directs me. It's good to talk to you, Silas."
"You too, sir." The man stood up, and walked on down the street, while He waited for the Lord to show him where he was needed. As he walked down the street, he noticed a young woman standing by a farm wagon with a broken wheel. Other men passed by, but no one stopped to help her.
He shook his head and walked over. "Can I help you?" The young woman turned to him with tear-filled eyes. "Why would you want to help me? You notice all these righteous folks walking past without looking?" "I did, and I think it's wrong. Let me see if I can help."
He looked at the broken wheel. two spokes had splintered, and had to be replaced. "We need to replace those spokes. Help me raise the wheel off the ground." He grabbed the wheel and lifted. The woman put several boxes from the wagon under the axle.
He removed the wheel, and rolled it toward the blacksmith shop down the street. As he got closer, he could hear the sound of metal being pounded on an anvil. As he arrived, he saw the outside area was littered with bits and pieces of various and sundry junk - all used for repairing broken things. He rolled the wheel into the shop.
The large, muscular man with a blonde beard put down his hammer, and wiped his hands on his leather apron. "Can I help you?" "I need a couple of spokes replaced in this wheel."
"I see that. This isn't from the Sykes wagon yonder in the street, is it?" "I don't know the owner. I'm just helping her out." "Well, we don't like to deal with Miz Sykes." "Why is that?" "Well, she is a real bad sinner. She sells her body."
"My Lord once told some folks who are about to stone a woman, "he who is without sin, cast the first stone". I know I'm a sinner, and I would guess you're a sinner too. Can we put judgment aside, and just fix the young woman's wheel?"
The blacksmith blushed in shame. "Yes, sir, I'll fix it. Take about a half an hour. It'll cost you a dollar." "That's fine. I'll be back in a half hour to pick it up." He left the blacksmith and returned to the young woman. "The wheel is being fixed."
"How can I thank you mister..?" "Since I put my faith in the Lord, I don't use my old name. You can call me Sojourner. I'm just passing through this life, before living in Heaven forever." "Unfortunately, I think I'm destined for hell." "Why do you say that?"
“Because the only way I know how to make a living is by having sex with men. No one in this town will have anything to do with me." "My Lord Jesus had a loyal follower during his ministry on Earth. Her name was Mary Magdalene. Before joining Jesus, she was a prostitute. He totally changed her life."
"Well, too bad Jesus isn't around to change mine." "You can change your life." "How?" "By asking Jesus to forgive your sins. No sin is so terrible that it can't be forgiven." "When your sins are forgiven, you'll be ready to start a new life." "How do I do that?"
"You will need to move some place where the people don't know you. Then you need to find the church, and the Lord will help you rebuild your life." "Where would I go?" "Go to Little Rock, and ask for Pastor Johnson at the Moriah Baptist Church. Tell him Sojourner sent you. He will help you get settled in your new life."


"How can I ever thank you?" "Just find the Lord, and change your life." He went to the blacksmith shop, and got the repaired wheel. He put it on, and reloaded the boxes in the wagon. "Thank you, Sojourner." "All the thanks I need, is for you to find the Lord. Go see Pastor Johnson."
"I'm leaving now. Thank you." He watched her drive away, and a smile crossed his lips, for the first time that day. He stayed two more days in Hanville, talking to the folks he met, and leaving them with a message of God's love for them.
The second day, a young man stepped off the train with two heavy suitcases. They were filled with Bibles and song books for his ministry in this little town. Sojourner met him that evening, spoke of the potential for the Lord's work in this town.
He also introduced Silas - who would become his assistant, and an early convert to the faith. The people of Hanville wanted to thank him, but he was gone - led by the Lord to the next place he was needed.