It Always Rains on Easter Nine year old Kenny Hutchinson stood in front of the mirror and struggled with his tie. He made a frustrated noise and untied the knot once more. He looked up at his mother. "Do we have to go, Mom? It's raining outside and it's cold. It always rains on Easter." Mary Hutchinson looked down at her son and smiled. "I know that it seems like it, Kenny. We shouldn't let the rain stop us from going, though. We go to the Sunrise Services to celebrate Jesus rising from the grave. Besides, you know what rain is, don't you? Rain is God's tears." Kenny looked at his mother with doubt in his eyes. "God's tears? Why is he crying?" "Because he gave His only Son so we could be free. Jesus died to save us from our sins." "Well, if God's sad, why did he do it?" She smiled. "Because God loves us and so does Jesus. When you love someone, you'll do anything for them. Even if it makes you sad." She knelt down in front of him and tied his tie. She stood and smoothed his hair. "Now, that's got it. Come on, your father and sister are waiting for us. We don't want to be late." As Kenny sat in the back seat of their car, he thought about what his mother had told him. Almost to himself, he said, "I wonder if he was scared." Mary looked back at her son. "Who, Kenny?" Kenny blushed, embarrassed that she had heard him. "Jesus. They did some really bad things to him. Then they left him on that cross. He must have been really scared." "I'm sure he was, Kenny, but he was very brave, too. He loved us enough to die for us, and for that, he rose again. It's a very special kind of love, Kenny." When they got to the small clearing in the woods, Kenny got out of the car and opened his umbrella. He held his mother's hand and walked up the hill. On the top of the hill stood a large white cross. He remembered the story that his grandfather had told him about the cross. A tiny church had once stood at the bottom of the hill. When lightening struck the church and burned it down, the small congregation had built the cross and carried it to the top of the hill. While they were building a new church, the congregation held it's services at the foot of the cross. Even after the church was built, they still held their Easter worship in the clearing. It didn't take long for the large crowd to gather. As the preacher began his sermon, the rain fell around them and thunder echoed in the distance. Kenny looked around at the large trees and moved closer to his mother. As the preacher talked, Kenny said a prayer of his own. "God, I'm sorry that Jesus died and I'm glad that he came back. Thank you for loving us and for keeping us safe. I hope someday that I meet someone who loves me that much. I don't know if you can do that, but it would be really nice if you could." As the crowd began to sing "Amazing Grace", the rain stopped and the sun came out. Kenny fought with his umbrella, trying to close it. He felt his mother tug on his arm. "Look, Kenny! Look up." At the top of the hill, the white cross stood tall and proud; and behind it, arching across the sky, a rainbow appeared. Kenny Hutchinson looked up at the sky and smiled. "Thanks, God." |
Hutch's Christmas Carol Ken Hutchinson stood on his balcony and watched the city lights. With only a few days left until Christmas, the streets were filled with last minute shoppers. It seemed that everyone was in a festive mood; everyone but him. To him, it felt more like the end of the world than a season of joy. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to get in the mood, but the sadness he felt would not go away. Finally, he had decided to keep to himself, rather than inflict his mood on everyone else. So, while Starsky was happily decorating his own apartment, and the Captain was helping Edith with their last minute gifts, Hutch stood on his balcony and brooded. He didn't know why he felt so down. There was no way to explain it to anyone else, since he couldn't even explain it to himself. He thought about getting drunk, but decided he didn't need a hangover on top of what he was feeling. So, he decided to go to bed early, hoping things would look better in the morning. He was almost asleep when he noticed the glow at the foot of the bed. He sat up slowly, and watched as the figure formed in front of him. He was mesmerized by the beautiful apparition of a woman standing in the darkness. Hair the color of sunshine fell in long, gentle curls, framing the delicate features of her face. He blinked as two wings formed behind her, made of slender white feathers. "Who are you?" he asked softly. "I am an angel, Kenneth Hutchinson. I've been sent to help you." "Really. What are you going to do, grant me a wish?" Her smile made the glow brighter. "I'm an angel, not a genie. I've come to ease your pain, if I can. I feel the tears your soul is crying. Tell me; why is your heart so heavy?" "Why is everyone so happy? What is there to celebrate? I keep feeling like my life has been a waste. What good have I done? What difference have I made?" "You have fought on the side of good. How can you doubt what you have done? Look upon the faces of those you have saved." She waved her hand and the air beside her turned to glass. He could see Lisa, and Molly, and Kiko standing in front of him. Behind them, there were hundreds of other faces. "I don't know all these people. Who are they?" "These are the chidren that you have saved. Because of you, they lead happy lives, safe from the evil that you have defeated." "What about the ones I couldn't save? What about Gillian, and Terry, and Lionel? Lionel was trying to help us. He was trying to do the right thing, and we couldn't save him. What did his death accomplish?" "Lionel knew what he was doing. He died so others could live. Evil is alive on earth and it's name is Gunther. Look into the darkness of his soul." Again, she waved her hand. At first he saw nothing but darkness. Then, slowly, flames rose out of the night. He could make out the forms of hundreds of snakes, writhing on the floor. He could hear them hissing, louder and louder. He could feel the evil in the darkness. He shrank back against his bed, recoiling from the sight. She spoke again, "You have spent your life fighting the darkness. It was not intended for you to fight this battle alone. When you were chosen for this life, God sent you a gift." "What gift did he send me?" She lifted her hand, and this time, Starsky appeared. He was hanging the last ornaments on the tree, singing softly to himself. For the first time, Hutch smiled. The angel said, "He has given you the gift of love, and trust, and friendship. What greater gift is there?" Then, Hutch's smile faded. "But, he almost died." He hung his head as the pain came back to him. "Yet, he lives." "But I almost lost him. I don't know what I would do without him." "Is that why your heart is filled with pain? Then lift your head and rejoice, Kenneth Hutchinson. Do you think that your meeting was by chance? His soul is your soul. His heart, your heart. No mere mortal can take that away. Even death cannot take away that which has been given. A gift of love is a gift forever." "Does that mean he will never die?" She shook her head, sadly. "All mortals must die, that is true. Love lives on, even after the mortal shell is gone. I can only promise that you will have what your heart desires. You will have his love through all eternity. What more would you ask?" Hutch thought a moment, then smiled. "Nothing more. Except, for him to know what he means to me. I know that sometimes I don't show it very well." She smiled one last time. As she began to fade, he heard the music in her voice. "Fear not, Kenneth Hutchinson, he knows." |
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