a damper on development to the detriment of the entire
town. Although she would print some of the better written
letters in the paper, she tried not to take them too seriously.
228Melody Carison
It was natural to think that some people were simply venting
their frustration due to a lack of snow and the subsequent
loss of business from an unopened ski season. Even this
morning, Rosa had patiently explained how this hostile
atmosphere would instantly disappear the very same
moment when the weather began to cooperate. Maggie had
heard on the news that the ski resort reported it would only
take about fifteen more inches of snow to open their chairs,
which, they assured with optimism, could literally happen
overnight. Oh, if only...
On Sunday Maggie and Audrey and Spencer went to
church. It made Maggie sad to think this would be their last
Iday of meeting in this beautiful building with the fantastic
mountain views (although today the mountains were corn-
pletely shrouded in a thick blanket of cloud~ven more so
than yeserday!). She wondered if she would ever again expe-
rience another church that was so aesthetically pleasing as
this. She thought of the times she had sat on the rough-hewn
benches and been relaxed and refreshed as she looked out
upon the mountains. And yet, she also remembered one of
Jed's sermons where he said they could look to the hills for
strength without finding any, for strength only came from
God. Yes, that was a good message that day.
Today she glanced around the building and wondered
what it would look like in here after Jed finished converted
it into a home for him and Leah. She tried not to think that,
not so long ago, she had actually imagined she might one day
share this space with him. But now that seemed far away, if
not totally removed, from reality. Besides, she had her own
home and family to consider. Living out here in the woods
was probably just a silly fantasy better left behind when she
passed through those big wooden doors one last time.
Sam led the service today, reminiscing about the history
of their little church, about how they'd pulled themselves Looking for You All My Life229
together after their last pastor left, and what a wonderful gift
it had been to meet up here for the past couple years, but that
now they should rejoice for they were entering a brand new
season. The school library had been secured for them to meet
in until after the New Year, and at that time the board would
determine how to proceed from there. "But we have also
come up with a unique dilemma," continued Sam, "and last
week the board decided to bring this question to the con-
gregation to vote upon today." He glanced at the faces
around the room. "Now, you've all had a chance to become
somewhat acquainted with young Michael Abundi. He has
preached two sermons here, and some of you have spent
time with him personally. As most of you know, he was