Narrow Road

Copyright @2022 by (Dom Contreras)

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REV. DATE: 10/17/2022

THE NARROW ROAD

For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:14 (NASB)

By: Dr. Dom Contreras Ph.D.

Prologue

The Narrow Road is a fictional story about a preacher who winds up in the town of Cambria California in 1928, after working for a few years with the migrant field workers. He is part Spanish and part Irish. He is almost broke financially, and when he arrives in town, he stops in one of the few restaurants in the ocean community. He starts his journey by working as a dish washer then is asked to be their minister. Unbeknown to the congregation, he is on a mission to get the church to see how far they have sinned by rejecting God’s laws. He does amazing things in the name of the Lord, has a compassionate way with the people coming to grips with their sins, and repent for forgiveness before God.

The year 1928 was the year before the Great Depression. This came the following year. But when he arrived in town, where moon shine whiskey was sold along with bootleg whiskey, a murder is committed to cover up all that is going on in the community and affecting the church.

All the characters in this story are fictional, but the acts that the Preacher performs are Biblical.

What I have written as to some of the illegal acts committed by the church have been done in a handful of ministries.

I dedicate this book to all the minister throughout our country that are struggling to get their church to be like Christ intended to, and can be mighty tempting to a young minister or a veteran minister who has struggled, monetarily; the tempter is at the door, waiting to devour you.

³² "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 19:32-35 NIV)

All scripture is KJV unless otherwise stated by author.

CHAPTER 1

It was exceptionally warm for a late spring day. The Preacher chugged along in his Model T Ford. He had to change lanes in order to go West onto a bumpy road to the coast. He wondered, why the road was so rocky and winding? He so engrossed in his thoughts, when he abruptly swerved the automobile to avert hitting a small animal. He stopped and looked down at his feet, and there was a little dog. It was not a mongrel breed, but a Jack Russell Terrier. The Preacher picked the dog up and held him in his arms, speaking kind words to his newfound companion. He pulled over to the side of the road and looked at his little map that he had on his lap. As he looked closer at the map, he noticed that he was a few miles from the coastline of California, near a small community called Cambria.

Cambria, in those days, was a very small community with one gas station, a small hotel, one or two small restaurants, and a handful of residents. As he drove into the town, he pulled over to the side of the road in front of a small coffee shop, turned the engine off, and got out of the car with his little partner. He found a piece of rope in the car and tied the little fella to the bumper. He opened the door and walked over to the counter, and sat down in a wobbly stool. He thought, I hope I have enough money to pay for this meal, as he glanced at the menu and searched for the price of a bowl of stew and a cup of coffee. He had to be very careful with his finances since he had left Texas with only about $50.

While on his way to Cambria, he stopped at various farms and worked alongside with the itinerant farmers for a dollar a day. He glanced up and saw a tall, slender woman whom he assumed was the waitress. To him, she was very attractive with dark blue eyes and a creamy white skin. Her hair was jet black like a raven as the sun shines on its feathers.

The first words out of her mouth were, What can I do for you.?

He smiled and said, I’ll have a bowl of your stew and a cup of black coffee.

The waitress smiled and said, Are you looking for work? I need a dishwasher. Mine didn’t show up today. From the looks of your car, if that is what you call it, I do not know where you came from, but I am sure you had to stop a lot of times due to the age and the model. From the sound of the engine, it’s not in very good shape. I’ll pay you 25 cents an hour for a couple of days, if you are interested. I also have a little room in the back where you can sleep. How’s that sound to you?

He answered, It’s a kind offer, but let me think about it.

The Preacher looked around the little coffee shop as he thought to himself, maybe you could seat forty people with the six little tables and the twelve stools. He was startled, when the waitress returned with a plate of hot stew along with a cup of coffee.

"Mister, I normally do not offer jobs to strangers, but there is something about you that makes me feel happy inside. You are a preacher, am I right? There is also a room in back with a cot, all you can eat, and a place where your dog can stay.

Miss, you are the best thing that has happened to me in quite a long time. I have been on the road for almost a year. I spent some time in a small town in Texas as the Preacher of a Methodist Church. Most of the places that I have been in think I am a fraud because as an itinerant minister, I travel all the time. One day, while driving to a field to work, a child ran out in front of me, and of course, he was killed on impact. I started drinking as I blamed myself. One day, I awoke lying in the gutter with the rain pouring down on me. It hit me like a ton of bricks as I realized I had turned my back on my God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking back, I think he allowed me to go through my trials so that in the future, I would be a better witness for Him. The Bible teaches us that our trials strengthen our faith, so we in turn can help others who are going through difficult times.

When I saw you get out of your car, I knew that you are a preacher. I lost my husband over in France in 1918, and left me with two little two-year-old twin boys. I have had to be the mother and father to the two of them, especially at night when they ask me as to when their daddy is coming home. I feel I am bursting at the seams as I try to hold back my tears.

He said, I am so sorry you feel that way. Can I pray for you?

Please, Preacher; it would be a blessing. I feel better already just talking to you.

He took her arm, held her hand, and said a prayer of emotional healing. He added a verse of Scripture found in 2Corinthians (1:3KJV) "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort."

The Preacher stood up and said, God bless you, daughter. From now on, you will feel His presence in your heart in a special way. He started to say something when she turned and saw the clock on the wall as it struck three times.

She said, Oh, my! Look at the clock. It’s time to get ready for our evening customers. What do they call you or what is your name?

My name is Leonardo Flynn. My father was Irish, and my mother was Spanish. My mother’s name was Leanora, so I am named after my mother, but you can call me Len, or Preacher.

Okay, Preacher. Before you go and tackle the kitchen, you better get your little dog and feed him some scraps and some fresh water. I saw him jumping up and down trying to get loose.

He said, Okay, but Miss… uh… what can I call you?

My name is Deborah, but my friends call me Deb. My last name is Johnsen. I have a twin sons called Thomas and Paul, nine years old. My parents’ names are Eric Swensen, but goes by the name of Swede. Mum’s name is Clarise, and likes to be called Clare or Mother Swensen.

He said, Miss Johnsen, let me go get the little feller before he strangles himself. He ran outside to the curb and reached down and hugged him as Little Feller. The Preacher said, Little Feller, from now on, is your name. Little Feller continued licking his face. Look Feller, I have a stack of pots and pans that need looking after. He no sooner got the words out of his mouth when the people started coming in and found their favorite table. He could see the people rushing to get their orders in. By this time, the evening waitress came in. She was a large woman and looked like she had experienced a rough life. She carried herself well in a defiant way, yet when she articulated, she had a way of being joyful. She said her name was Candice, but preferred to be called Candy.

The main menu was a weekly special: Prime Rib for $1.35 with drink included until sold out. Deb couldn’t keep up with the demand until she ran out of Prime Rib. The sign said no substitutes. The Preacher had to work extra hard to keep up with the orders as he looked at the clock as it said 8:45 PM. Around nine thirty, he glanced through the small window into the dining area and noticed how fast the crowd had cleared out. Before he knew it, there walked in five men and sat down at one of the tables. The one who came in first sat at the head of one of the tables. They all looked at each other, and then got up and walked into the side room. The Preacher knew that the men were the church deacon board.

Deborah broke his silence and said, The meeting of the church board is about to start. You can quit for the night. I’ll see you in the morning.

Great, he said. Wait a minute. I need to know a few things so I can plan my time. First, what time do you want me here in the morning and what time do you open? Second, what hours do you want me to work and what day do I have off, and if I’m going to be here more than this weekend.

She responded, First, we open at seven so I need you here ‘till lunch time. During the week, we are busy in the morning. We start again at five ‘till around eight. Sometimes, I close at eight but my sign says open from seven ‘till nine. This week is Founder’s Week, so on Saturday, we close early. We are closed Sunday through Monday, and during bad weather, we open and close early depending on the road conditions. We rarely have to close, but we hope we will grow in size when the railroad comes. The mines played out, so most of our busy time is during harvest time. Along with the beach crowd, they rent small cabins North of here along the beach. Hope this answers your questions.

The Preacher said, It sure does but who feeds the five in the small meeting room?

Deborah answered, I make coffee for the men. Sometimes, the meetings go clear into the next morning, and if they want anything, they prepare it. Good night! See you in the morning. Hope and pray that things will work out for you. I pray to God that the board will hire you as minister of our small church. Again, good night! See you in the morning.

He said, I will remember you in my prayers, Deborah. One of my prayers is that your mind will be at ease because God has it all planned. Amen!

He shuffled off to his room in the back of the restaurant. Little-Feller was sleeping on the cot. As soon as he entered the room, the dog jumped up into his lap. He was pretty tired since he had put in a long day washing dishes. It is not an easy chore in a small restaurant because you have to do them by hand. In a modern restaurant, they use steam cleaners to wash them. He laid down and that is all he remembered as he went to sleep with Little Feller sleeping next to him.

CHAPTER 2

The Preacher was startled as he jumped out of bed thinking where am I, then he realized where he was. He looked out the window to see Deborah alighting from her car, as the clock said 6 AM. It was time to get up and for him to do his morning devotionals. He read a passage from the Book of Psalms then he started his prayers.

Morning was his favorite time because it meant that he could spend time with the Lord. He heard a knock on the door and he said, Come in. He noticed it was Deborah with a hot cup of coffee and a couple of donuts.

Deborah said, You can have a full lunch to make up for the small breakfast, if that is okay with you.

He said, I generally do not eat breakfast, but these two donuts and a good hot cup of coffee always hits the spot. He asked Deborah, What time did the meeting break up?

I do not know. I am not part of the board and my father is also one of the board members. He is part owner of this restaurant so he has access to anything he wants.

The Preacher said, I slept like a baby, I didn’t hear them leave.

The Preacher and Deborah finished their breakfast, then went to work. The day went by rapidly. The Preacher worked hard. It has been sometime since he had worked so hard. In the late evening, the dinner crowd was still eating.

Deborah said, I have invited a couple of board members to meet you, if that’s okay with you.

He answered, Of course, it is.

She no sooner got the words out of her mouth when in walked her father along with one of the other board members. Deborah introduced the Preacher to her father and to the other gentleman, Mr. Cartwright, who was one of the area’s largest growers. Swede motioned to Deborah and the Preacher to take a seat in one of the small tables near the window.

While the Preacher chatted with her father and Mr. Cartwright, Deborah looked at the clock and said, Gentleman, I must leave you due to the time. It is almost 7 o’clock and my early dinner people will start coming in for their meals. You gentlemen can continue talking since I have a feeling it is about selecting a new minister for the church.

They decided that it was better for them to meet in the back room. They went to the back room with a cup of coffee in their hands. Swede sat down at one of the tables and Cartwright sat next to Swede. The Preacher sat across from them.

Swede spoke up and said, I suppose, Preacher, you are wondering what we wanted to talk to you about. It has to do with the minister vacancy. We have need of a minister since our old minister resigned for personal reasons. It will only be Brother Cartwright and myself tonight. We are the membership committee, looking for a man of God, who is a man of integrity. My question to you is, are you interested in the position?

The Preacher answered, Gentleman, I am flattered that you would ask me to such a high position, a complete stranger to you. Before we go any further in our dialog. I pray for God’s blessing on our discussion, especially when I am going to make an important decision. I pray wisdom in how God wants me to respond to your question. If you do not mind, I would like to pray right now that our conversation would glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, if this meets with your approval.

Both Swede and the other board member, Jake Cartwright, in unison said, Of course, we want to pray and believe that the word of God says, all things should be prayed for. Jake, would you lead us in prayer?

After they prayed for guidance and direction for the church, that they would make a proper decision in choosing a new minister, and welcomed the opportunity to talk to the Preacher, Jake asked the questions when