Deep Harbor by Lisa T. Bergren

Author:Lisa T. Bergren
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307459367
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 1999-09-07T20:00:00+00:00

fifteen

Joy to the world! the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King!” Karl smiled as his smooth bass joined the other voices in the congregation in this final hymn of the evening. In the magnificent cathedral in downtown San Francisco, their celebration seemed all the more joyous. Even the thought of returning alone to his modest rented cottage a mile south failed to dampen Karl’s spirits. He was here to worship his Savior; nothing else mattered.

To be able to travel back in time and see the babe in the manger! Karl thought, glancing at the nativity scene at the front of the church. What would it be like to look upon the face of Jesus? His God in infant form! The thought overwhelmed and warmed him at once. How good it was to be again in companionship with the One who mattered. It all made sense to him now. His despair. His loneliness. His very soul had been crying for the Christ child.

As the pastor dismissed his congregation calling “Merry Christmas! Go and serve the Lord!” people mingled and chatted as they walked down the center aisle. People Karl had never met stopped him to introduce themselves and wish him a blessed holiday. Just as he was nearing the door, a burly man in a fine overcoat turned and smiled at him. “Good day, sir. I’m Gerald Kenney. Merry Christmas to you!”

“And to you! I am Karl Martensen,” Karl rejoined as they shook hands. He watched as Gerald pulled out a pocket watch and glanced at the time. On the face of it Karl could see an anchor. “Are you a sailor by chance?” Karl asked.

“Ah, I love the sea,” Gerald said, placing a hand on his shoulder with all the familiarity of an old friend. “I’m afraid my good wife has convinced me to stay ashore from now on. I merely invest.”

“I see,” Karl said, following Gerald’s gaze to a portly woman he supposed was Mrs. Kenney and to his two young daughters. “I’ve just returned to sailing myself. Docked last week from Seattle.”

“Seattle? Were you on the Silver Sea, by chance? Serving under Captain Stover?”

“Aye. He’s a very fine captain.”

“That he is. I believe he was actually here at this service. Have you been a sailor long?”

“Just returned after a bit of an absence. To be honest, I cannot wait to get back to it.”

“Understood,” Gerald said, his eyes brightening. “Nothing like the sea, and the anchor,” he added meaningfully, gesturing toward his watch, “to remind a man of what is important.”

Karl met his glance, wondering if Gerald was possibly talking about his faith as well as the ocean. One look, and he recognized a brother in Christ.

“Hayden!” Gerald called, motioning for Karl’s captain to join them. The two men shook hands, clearly old friends, and shared Christmas blessings.

When Captain Stover turned to see who else was with him, he smiled, and said, “Why, Martensen! Good to see you! Merry Christmas!”

“And to you too, sir,” Karl said, returning the captain’s firm handshake.

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