Once Lost

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“Oh, my God!” exclaimed the woman as she walked past Tony. He smiled and continued walking until he reached the front door of his office building. As he opened the door and entered the building he noticed the security guards start to stare at him. Tony continued to the elevator and pushed the button for the fifth floor. As he entered the elevator, the three women already in the elevator started whispering to themselves. 

“What is that necklace that you have on?” finally one of them asked.

“It’s a pentagram,” replied Tony.

“Isn’t that the Devil’s symbol?” another woman asked.

“Some wear it as a symbol of the Church of Satan,” Tony answered. 

Even though he had his back to the women, he could feel their eyes staring right through him. The door opened to the fifth floor and Tony continued walking to his desk. He could see the stares and he heard the murmurs of his fellow employees as he made his way down the hall. 

After Tony had sat down at his desk a fellow employee came up to him. 

“How dare you wear that ungodly thing in here!” he said.

“How dare you wear that cross in here!” replied Tony.

“We’ll see what management has to say about this!” the man said and abruptly turned and walked away. 

Tony continued to work at his desk. He felt like all eyes were on him. Doing his best to ignore them, he concentrated on his work until his supervisor approached him. 

“Tony, we’re going to have to talk about this,” Bill said.

“You mean, about the pentagram?” asked Tony.

“Yeah, you need to take it off while you’re here at work,” ordered Bill.

“Why?”

“Because there’s a lot of people here that find it offensive,” explained Bill.

“So? I find the cross offensive,” Tony replied. “Are you going to make everyone wearing a cross take theirs off?”

“Come on, Tony, you know that’s totally different,” said an exasperated Bill. “People have been wearing crosses for years, but what you’re doing is different.”

“Well, Bill, I believe I have just as much right to wear this pentagram as others have to wear the cross,” replied Tony. “You know I’m right. You can’t make me take mine off unless you make everyone do the same.”

“OK, but you don’t know the hole you’re digging for yourself,” Bill said. “You know Dwight is going to be picking a new vice-president soon. Your name is in the hat. But you wear that around here and I don’t know.”

“Why, you don’t think Dwight is a fair and open minded boss?” asked Tony.

“I didn’t say that,” explained Bill. “Don’t try and put words in my mouth. You know religion means a lot to him. Half the people here go to the same church he does. I just don’t think he would promote someone who’s doing like you’re doing.”

“Well, I think Dwight will promote someone based on merit,” replied Tony. “I think he’s big enough to respect another person’s beliefs.”

“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing,” Bill said shaking his head. “You’ve got a lot of people upset.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” replied Tony. 

Bill walked away from Tony’s desk. Tony could hear one woman say to Bill, “He’s still wearing it?” He could not quite hear Bill’s response to her. 

Tony continued working at his desk somewhat oblivious to the whispering going on around him. One time two young men walked by his desk and gave him a “thumbs up.” Another time an older man came by and gave him “the finger.” Tony concentrated on his work until it was time for his morning break. 

When it was time for his break, Tony made his way to the elevator. A woman was already in the elevator when he entered, and the door closed. The elevator started down and then abruptly stopped. 

“Humph, it looks like we might be stuck here a few minutes,” Tony said to the woman.

He turned and saw that the woman’s face had turned pale white and she was starting to cry.

“It’ll be OK,” Tony said to reassure her. “They’ll have us out of here shortly.”

The woman cried out, “Please don’t rape me!”

“Lady, I wouldn’t, . . .” Tony said as he took a step toward her.

The woman fell to her knees and started screaming, “Oh, God help me! Please don’t rape me! Please. Please. Oh, dear Jesus!”

Tony backed against the door and almost fell through it as the security officers opened the door. 

“OK, you, get over there and leave her alone,” ordered the guard.

“I haven’t touched her,” protested Tony.

“Save it, buddy,” order the guard. “Get over there and stand at the wall.”

The other security guard helped the woman to her feet. The woman was hysterical and kept crying, “I didn’t want him to rape me!”

The guard, watching Tony, put his hand on his gun and said, “Don’t make me do something that right now I would enjoy.”

“I’m just standing here.”

The security guard ushered Tony into the Human Resources Department, while the other guard took the woman to the medical room. Shortly the Human Resources Director came into the room with Tony and the guard. 

“It appears we have had an incident,” the Director said.

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” offered Tony.

“How long have you been here, Tony?” the Director asked.

“A little over four years,” Tony replied.

“Then you’ve been here long enough to realize we have a ‘zero’ tolerance policy when it comes to harassment,” explained the Director. “The young lady says you were going to rape her.”

“That’s simply not true,” objected Tony.

“Well, then, what exactly did you say to her?” asked the Director.

“All I said was it appeared the elevator was stuck,” explained Tony.

“Uh-huh. Anything else?”

“No. That was it,” Tony said.

“Well, security is looking over the tapes from the camera in the elevator,” explained the Director. “So we’ll know for sure very soon.”

“You even got cameras in the elevator?” asked a surprised Tony.

“That’s right. It helps clear up incidents just like this one,” offered the Director. “Now that you know we have you on tape, is there anything you want to add to what you’ve already said?”

“Not a thing,” replied Tony. 

The HR Director left the room and came back in a few minutes.

“OK. There’s no real evidence that you did anything wrong,” explained the Director.

“I told you so,” said a relieved Tony.

“But you did take a step toward her,” offered the Director. “What were you going to do?”

“Nothing. I was just trying to calm her down,” Tony replied. “She was screaming and carrying on and I was just trying to help.”

“OK. Right. Well, we will document this and put it into your permanent file,” the Director said.

“My permanent file?” asked a bewildered Tony. “How can you do that when I didn’t do anything wrong?”

“Just in case we need it in the future,” explained the Director.

“That’s not fair,” objected Tony. “What about the girl? She falsely accused me. What’s going to be done to her?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“A person has a right to file a harassment charge at anytime without any repercussions,” offered the Director.

“And what about my rights?” asked a frustrated Tony. “Maybe it’s time I saw a lawyer.”

“You do that, mister,” the Director said as his voice turned cold. “But anybody that would wear such a heathen symbol like you’re doing, deserves a lot more than what you’re getting.”

Tony stared into the Director’s eyes for a moment and then said, “May I leave now? I still need to take my break.”

“Oh, you can leave,” the Director replied. “But break time is over. You need to get back to your job.”

“But I haven’t been able to take my break,” objected Tony.

“Take it up with your manager,” the Director replied. “He’s in a meeting but he’ll be back this afternoon.”

Tony stood up and started out the door when the security guard said, “Watch yourself, wise-guy. I’ve got my eye on you.”

“That’s so comforting.” 

Tony stopped at the water fountain for a drink and then headed back to his desk. When he got to his desk he found someone had laid a cross on his computer keyboard. Tony looked around to see if he could figure out who had left it there. No one would make direct eye contact with him. He picked up the cross and held it up above his head. Then he took the cross and tossed it into the trashcan. He held up the pentagram and then gave it a gentle kiss. Tony heard a gasp go through the office as he sat down and returned to his work. 

At lunchtime, Tony made his way to the break room. This time he used the stairs. He sat down at a table and was joined by Joe. 

“You didn’t go home for lunch like you usually do,” observed Tony.

“Yeah, I’ve got too much work, so I’m taking a short lunch,” explained Joe.

“So. what you been up to, Joe?” asked Tony.

“Not anything like you have,” replied Joe.

“Oh, people are funny, aren’t they?” replied Tony.

“Well, look, I don’t know what angle you’ve got going here, but it’s starting to scare me,” offered Joe.

“I don’t see anything to be scared of,” replied Tony.

“Well, you’re not hearing what I’m hearing,” Joe said. “You know this isn’t some big city, it’s just a small Southern town. In fact, I don’t feel safe sitting here with you.”

“Nobody’s making you sit here,” bristled Tony.

“Tony, we’ve been friends for a long time,” explained Joe. “But this is just too far. I’m gonna go out to the smoking area. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too, Joe,” Tony said.

Tony sat briefly by himself until Clara joined him.

“Tony, you know you’re damning yourself to hell,” offered Clara.

“Maybe, if there’s a hell,” replied Tony.

“There’s no ‘if’ to it,” Clara said. “The Bible says the Devil and his horde are thrown into the ‘lake of fire.’ I’m afraid your actions are going to send you straight there.”

“Well, I’ll save you a place when I get there,” smiled Tony.

“I’m not going there,” replied Clara. “I’ve been saved. I’ve been washed clean by the blood of Jesus.”

“That’s your belief,” shot back Tony. “Excuse me if I don’t share your views.”

“It’s more than just a ‘belief’,” Clara said. “It’s reality. Your everlasting future is at stake. Let me pray with you. Jesus will save your soul.”

“If you pray with me, it’s going to be in the name of ‘Satan’,” explained Tony.

“Tony, Tony. The Devil has nothing to offer you but pain and suffering,” explained Clara.

“Really? Then why is it everything that has to with the Devil feels so good?” asked Tony.

“Like what?”

“Oh, like having sex with someone you’re not married to,” explained Tony. “I believe you and your boyfriend are still living together, aren’t you?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Oh, I believe ‘fornicators’ are thrown into the ‘lake of fire’ too,” offered Tony. “So I guess you and your ‘main squeeze’ will be joining me there.”

“No. Through the grace of God we have been saved,” explained Clara. “In fact, after each time we make love, I pray to God for forgiveness. I know he hears my prayers.”

“You must keep him pretty busy,” laughed Tony.

“Well, joke all you want,” bristled Clara. “But there’s nothing good about the Devil.”

“I don’t know about that,” objected Tony. “You’re telling me you don’t like Devil’s Food Cake, or Deviled Crab. I like Angel Food Cake.”

Clara abruptly stood up and walked away. As she was leaving Tony yelled, “What about Deviled Eggs?” 

Tony shook his head and smiled to himself. He got up from the table and went to get some napkins. When he returned he found that someone had thrown his lunch onto the floor. His drink had been poured into his chair seat. Tony looked around at everyone in the break room. Once again no one would make eye contact with him. After he cleaned everything up he turned to leave and yelled, “That was a real Christian thing to do!” No one answered him back. 

Tony returned to his work desk and started his afternoon work. He checked his interoffice E-mail and it was filled with hate mail from his fellow employees. Tony replied to all of them with, “Praise Lucifer!” 

When it came time for his afternoon break, Tony once again took the stairs to the break room. On his way down the hall a co-worker approached him. 

“You’re the anti-Christ!” the man said.

“No, you’re mistaken,” Tony said.

“Yes, you are,” the man replied. “The Lord spoke to me and said you’re the anti-Christ.”

“Look, I don’t have time for this,” Tony replied.

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife. Tony in terror backed against the wall.

“The Lord told me to kill you or you’ll destroy the world,” the man explained.

“Now come on, there’s no need for that,” Tony said trying to think of some way to make it alive out of the situation.

“Yes, I must,” the man replied. “I will make it quick.”

“Listen, don’t you think we should pray to the Lord first?” asked Tony. “Surely we have time to pray together.”

“OK. But then I’m gonna have to kill you,” the man replied.

“Now close your eyes and repeat after me,” Tony said. The man closed his eyes and Tony took off running to the break room. When he got to the door he looked back and saw that the man was not following him. 

Tony went through the break room and outside to the smoking area. He stood there trying to breathe deeply and to get his heart to quit racing. After a few minutes he felt he was calming down. About that time he was approached by a three hundred pound behemoth named Hank. 

“Howdy, Tony,” Hank said.

“Oh, hi, Hank.”

“Tony, I want you to take that thing off,” ordered Hank.

“You mean my pentagram?”

“Yes. I want you to take it off, now,” replied Hank.

“I don’t think so,” Tony said as his body stiffen.

Three other men who Tony knew had to work out in the gym every day now joined Hank.

“Look, Tony, you either take it off or we’re gonna kick your ass,” explained Hank.

“You’re going to beat me up at work and lose your jobs?” asked Tony.

“No. We’re gonna wait on you after work,” offered Hank. “We’re gonna follow you and when you’re off the company’s property, we’re gonna get you.”

“Well, that’s not right,” objected Tony. “That’s not going to settle anything.”

“Tony, it don’t matter,” replied Hank. “I’m really gonna enjoy kicking your pansy ass.”

The three men standing with Hank smiled and one of them smacked his palm with his fist.

“Look, Hank, can’t we work something out?” pleaded Tony.

“We’re gonna get rid of the Devil’s work one-way or the other,” explained Hank. “It’s totally up to you.”

“Hank, I know there’s some good left in me,” Tony said fighting back the tears. “The Devil is trying to take my soul and I need your help to fight him.”

“What do you want me to do?” asked Hank.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Tony said as he was trying hard to think of something. “Maybe you can take me to church or something.”

“We do go to church tonight,” reflected Hank. “You mean you’re willing to come with us.”

“I’ll do anything,” revealed Tony. “I don’t want to lose my soul. Please help me, Hank. Please?”

“OK. But you’d better be there,” warned Hank. “You don’t show up, we’ll find you.”

“I’ll be there,” assured Tony. “I swear on my dear mother’s grave.”

Hank took a long hard look at Tony. He reached up and jerked the pentagram off of Tony’s neck and tossed it into the trashcan. As Hank was leaving he turned and scowled at Tony one more time. Tony turned and leaned against the fence. He fought hard to keep the nausea under control. 

As Tony left work he found someone had taken a car key and scratched the side of his car. Also, someone had taken finger nail polish and painted a cross on his back window. When Tony arrived at home that evening, his wife, Helen, was not there. Tony left her a message letting her know that he would be out late and for her not to wait up for him. He got back into his car and drove to the church. 

Tony pulled up to the church as the services were just starting. Hank was waiting outside for him. 

“So you did show up,” said Hank.

“I told you I would.” 

Hank and Tony went into the church together and sat down. The Rev. Carl was giving a sermon on the meaning of repentance. Toward the end of his sermon he noticed Tony. 

“I notice that we have in our presence tonight a lost soul,” said Rev. Carl. “By the grace of God he has come here tonight to redeem what has been lost.”

All eyes in the congregation were fixed on Tony.

“No one here tonight can help this man,” explained the Rev. Carl. “But the hand of God Almighty will cleanse this sinner and save him from the burning fires of hell.”

“Amen.”

“Please come up here, brother, so the Lord can reach out to you,” the Rev. Carl said as he stretched out his hand toward Tony.

Hank turned and looked at Tony and said, “You’d better go up there.”

Tony slowly stood up and made his way to the altar where he joined Rev. Carl and several deacons.

“Is it true, my son, that a demon spirit has taken control of your life?” asked Rev. Carl.

“I think so.”

“Are you prepared to confess here in front of your brothers and sisters and the Lord himself that you are a sinner?”

“Yes.”

“That you are worthless without the Lord Jesus?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want the Lord to drive out the demon spirit that is within you?”

“Yes.”

As two deacons steadied Tony, the Rev. Carl placed his palms on Tony’s temples. He pressed so hard that Tony was looking cross-eyed.

“Demon spirit,” shouted the Rev. Carl. “Hear me! In the name of Jesus I order you to come out of this man and release his soul. Come out you demon, in the name of Jesus!!”

At that moment the Rev. Carl jerked his hands away from Tony’s temple and Tony fell to the side. The deacons held him up so he would not fall to the floor.

“Do you feel that the demon has left you?” asked the Rev. Carl. “Is he gone?”

“Yes, I do. Yes, he’s gone!”

A cheer arose from the congregation as the Rev. Carl shouted, “Praise God! Praise the Lord! Jesus is King!”

As Tony’s vision refocused he noticed his boss, Dwight, was in the audience, smiling and clapping with everyone else.

“Now, my son,” the Rev. Carl continued after the congregation had quieted. “Are you prepared to receive the Lord Jesus into your life and receive salvation?”

“Yes, I am.”

The Rev. Carl placed his palm on Tony’s forehead and said, “Now repeat after me. I am a sinner. I repent. Come into my life dear Jesus and save my soul!”

“I am a sinner. I repent. Come into my life dear Jesus and save my soul!”

The Rev. Carl pressed hard on Tony’s forehead and then jerked his hand away while shouting, “Receive the Holy Spirit!!” At once, the band started playing and the audience started cheering.

Tony raised his arms into the air and started dancing to the music the band was playing. The Rev. Carl started dancing and shouting, “See the Holy Spirit is at work! What once was lost has now been found! What was once lost has now been saved! Praise God! Praise Jesus!!”

The band played louder, the choir joined in, the audience kept cheering, and Tony and the Rev. Carl kept dancing while the Rev. motioned for the ushers to start passing the collection plate.

“Don’t let down now! No, don’t let down now,” shouted the Rev. Carl. “There’s plenty of Holy Spirit for everyone!”

The congregation started shouting “Praise God!” and “Praise Jesus.” Tony kept dancing and shouting until he could do no more. 

The next morning, Tony arose early while his wife was still sleeping. He dressed quickly and looking in the mirror he made sure his cross around his neck was hanging in just the right manner. Tony went out to his car and placed a bumper sticker on it. The sticker read, “I Love Jesus.” 

When Tony arrived at work he strolled up the sidewalk to the entrance. A woman walked past him and smiled.

“Good morning, sister,” Tony said.

“Good morning. How are you?”

“I am blessed,” replied Tony.

Tony made his way into the building and said a greeting to the security guards. He rode the elevator up to the fifth floor. As he walked past his boss’ office, the secretary motioned for him to come in.

“Dwight wants to see you,” she said.

Tony walked into Dwight’s office.

“Tony. Good. Have a seat,” offered Dwight. “How are you doing today?”

“I am blessed,” replied Tony. “I am very blessed.”

“Aren’t we all?” agreed Dwight. “I was at the church last night and I saw what you did.”

“It wasn’t me,” interjected Tony. “It was the Lord.”

“Yes, indeed,” agreed Dwight. “You know, anyone can make a mistake. We all can fall victim to the snare of the Devil. But you came back.”

“All praise goes to Jesus.”

“Well, I know you have applied for the vice-president’s job,” offered Dwight. “I’m going to make my mind up this afternoon and we’ll make an announcement tomorrow. You’re the kind of man I want for that job. A man who can make a human mistake but be willing to redeem himself.”

“Sir, if you want me for the job, then by the grace of God, I’ll do the best job I can for you,” replied Tony.

“Well, we’ll announce it tomorrow, but you get ready to move to your new office,” suggested Dwight.

“Thank you, Jesus, and thank you too, sir.” 

Tony left Dwight’s office trying hard to hold back a devilish grin. He walked into the general office area and all eyes turned on him. Most of the employees were smiling and many gave him a “thumbs up.” Tony carefully removed his cross and held it up in the air. He slowly brought it back to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. The employees broke out into applause and cheering and someone shouted, “Hallelujah!” 

As Tony pulled into his driveway that evening, he noticed that his wife, Helen, was already at home. He went inside and gave her a kiss. 

“So, how did your day go?” asked Helen.

“Pretty good,” replied Tony.

“Have they said who’s getting the promotion, yet?” inquired Helen.

“No, but they’re suppose to let everyone know tomorrow,” replied Tony.

“Well, you know I love you whether you get it or not,” said Helen as she gave Tony a hug. “Dwight’s probably going to give it to one of his buddies.”

“Well, you never know how it’s going to work out,” Tony said.

“I just don’t want you to get discouraged. I know you’ve said sometimes you feel like Dwight hardly knows you exist.”

“Well, I’ve been working on that.” 

THE END

Copyright ©2003 by Jerry W. Crews