Fernye says she feels a heaviness in her chest. Cindy says she has the same heaviness of heart, now that Shannon is gone. But Fernye insists that it's not the same. So to be on the safe side, Cindy agrees to take her to the hospital for a checkup.

Cindy stares ahead at the road.  She does not say much.  She really can't believe Shannon is gone ---but she is.

Fernye isn't saying much either.  She just gazes out the car window. Suddenly, Fernye hollers, "Turn back!"

Cindy immediately senses danger at the tone of the command, "What! What's the matter?"                                                                                                

Fernye insists, "Just turn back!"

Cindy quickly turns on her directional signal and turns on the first street to the left, "Okay.  Now where and what am I turning back to?"

Fernye has calmed down a bit, but still has an anxious tone, "Just drive, I'll tell you when to stop!"

Cindy drives back a quarter mile.   Fernye then cautions, "Slow down a bit ---get ready to pull off. Okay, right here!"

Cindy pulls off, "Okay, what is it?"

Fernye's heart leaps for joy, "Don't you see it?"

Cindy looks, "I see a barren field.  You are looking here to the right, aren't you?"                                             

Fernye continues her estatic joy, "It's a field full of golden wheat, ready for harvest!"  

Cindy looks to Fernye, then back out the window, "I'm sorry, Grandma, I still see a barren field. The sun is shining, perhaps casting a slight golden hue across the surface of the field.  But I still just see a barren field."   

Cindy is happy they are on their way to the hospital.  Grandma is usually so sharp.  But she is 113 years old.  It is time for a check-up, for sure.

Fernye turns to Cindy, "Don't you see?  I tried to convince Shannon not to go, but I believe I was wrong.  She did the right thing.  I somehow feel good about it now. There is a barren field out there ---barren of the truth of Jesus. And Shannon is going to help plant, cultivate, and witness a golden harvest. Can you see it now?"

Cindy smiles, "Yes, I see it!  I guess I should have set my emotions aside too.  I know God takes care of us all ---and certainly He will guide those who are most willing to let Him guide them."

Fernye smiles, "If you put another person's needs before your own,  you meet two person's needs.   If you put your own needs first, you meet no one's needs."

Cindy laughs, "Why are we going to the hospital, Grandma?   You're as healthy as you've ever been."

Fernye chuckles, "We're not going to a spiritual counselor.  My body is old. You bring your car in for a tune-up every so often, don't you?"

   Cindy pulls back around and proceeds to drive to the hospital.  Fernye seems to drift in thought, but chooses to share those thoughts, "Shannon was ready to grow.  She wasn't ready to cultivate a relationship with Stan. If you cultivate before the growth begins, you just uproot that growth.  Stan felt a need to be with someone, and that someone at this time was Shannon.   But that would be putting his own needs, or what he felt were his needs, first.  And as I said, then you meet no one's needs.  Stan has gone through so much.  He has matured.  But we've sheltered Shannon. We've attempted to shelter her from things we felt that were not good, but we can't also shelter her from what is good.   This mission experience is good.  And Stan is good.  When she returns, she'll be much more mature.  She'll be ready to meet Stan on his level.  Just wait and see."