A modern fictional story inspired by Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4.
Annalee Morgan has travelled this long stretch of desert highway many times. In the middle of nowhere was a small gas station that she stopped at on every trip.
The old pickup truck of hers always got her to the destination. But, siding on the side of caution, stopping here to fill up and getting some refreshments was mandatory.
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Her stop here was mandatory... -- Image created by ChatGPT imaging.
The hot summer desert sun beat down on her. The old pickup truck's air conditioner had died a long time ago. Annalee went inside to cool down, grab a snack, and a cold soda drink.
While looking around for a snack, she would tug lightly on her turquoise necklace. The necklace is a family heirloom, passed down for several generations. Recently, her mother gave it to her. Her mom told her that her mother passed it down to her when she was old enough to care for it.
After paying for the snack and drink, she stepped outside and sat down on the picnic table, well placed in the shade of a giant poplar tree. As only someone born to the desert can do, she would look across the hills and see the perfect beauty of the desert.
It was getting close to the time that she needed to leave and head to the big town across the desert valley to get next week's supplies.
As she finished her snack, a black, cherried-out SUV rolled slowly into the station. The driver parked on the west side, near where Annalee was sitting.
Her mind went off. Not another one of those annoying city types again. These rich people come here like they own the place, demanding this, demanding that. Looked down on us, like we were the servants, only here to please them.
Out of the SUV stepped a man. Sharply dressed in clothes that looked like they were tailored. His hair was perfectly styled.
Annalee chuckled to herself, looking at the man. He was definitely outside his comfort zone.
He started to head towards the gift shop entrance when he noticed Annalee sitting in the shade of the large poplar tree. Pausing for a moment, then shifting direction, he approached Annalee.
'Sorry to bother you,' he said, 'but could you help me. I feel like I drove too far. Have I passed the Casino out here?
She laughed, 'No, you have not gone far enough. It is about 20 more miles east of here. You can't miss it. There is a giant sign on the left, turn there.'
'Thank you,' he replied, 'I have a business meeting there with the most annoying business partners.'
Annalee laughed and asked, 'Then why do you have them as partners?'
'Good question. As annoying as they are, they get the job done better than anyone else.'
He looked away from her and scanned across the desert. Looked at the hills, the rocks, and the desert fauna. Turning back around to Annalee, he stated, 'The desert has a unique beauty to it. Sometimes, though, you need to just stop and look down at the small wonders on the ground.'
Annalee could not believe the words that came out of the mouth of this man. A man who looked more like a 'Jet Setter' with his fancy car, stylish clothes, and a hair-do with too much hairspray. After a quick pause, she replied, 'Yes, there is more to the desert than meets the eye travelling at 70 plus miles per hour.'
He lightly laughed, 'So true. Let me introduce myself. I'm Stan Kimmel. May I ask your name?'
'Annalee Morgan.'
'Well, Annalee, if I may, are you in a hurry or do you have time to chat a bit more?
Again, Annalee wondered why Stan was even talking to her. She felt like she was lower than the lowest right now. But curiosity got the better of her, 'Sort of, but I can hang for a bit.'
'May I sit here?'
'Yes.'
Stan sat down, took a deep breath, then continued, 'That smell of food from the diner is grabbing at my stomach. Can I buy you a sandwich or something? That smell is making me hungry.'
Her first thought was to say she was out of time and had to go. Then, the thought; what the heck, a free lunch, why not, this dude can definitely afford it, 'yes, I can stay a bit longer and have lunch.'
Reaching into his coat, Stan pulled out his billfold. He handed Annalee $40, 'Whatever you want to eat, get it. I'll have a cheeseburger and fries. Also, a bottle of water.'
Annalee was taken aback. Immediately, she thought, how dare he make me go get lunch? He could get off his fancy behind and do it himself. I could just take the money and leave.
But her upbringing made her do it. Her parents did a good job with her. She smiled and went in to the diner.
Annalee returned with their lunch. She placed Stan's meal in front of him and sat down with hers. She reached out with the change, 'Here's your change.'
'Keep it, you earned it.'
She got a bit upset, then sternly said, 'I don't need any handouts!'
With that, Stan took the change and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. He looked towards his lunch and was quiet for a moment.
He looked up at Annalee. She was taking a bite of her hamburger. He looked back at his lunch in a box, then back to her. She took the napkin, wiped her face, and asked, 'Is there something wrong?'
'No,' he replied. He paused for a moment, then continued, 'When I asked you to take the money and buy us lunch, there were three outcomes that could have happened. One, you would get really mad and leave. Two, you would get upset and tell me to get my own dang lunch. Three, you would just take the money and do it. Also, when you returned with lunch, there were three outcomes. One, you would just pocket the change, take your lunch, and leave. Two, you would hand it back to me, and when I told you to keep it, you would. Three, if I told you to keep it, you would get upset and make me take it back.'
She was wondering where this was going as Stan took a French Fry and ate it.
He finished eating the French Fry, 'You have shown me great integrity, and your parents taught you well. That is a quality you don't see often these days.'
'Thank you.' She grabbed a French Fry and twirled it in the Ketchup a bit.
Silence fell over them as they enjoyed lunch.
Annalee was looking at her phone, checking the time, when Stan pulled out a business card, 'I know you need to leave and I have a meeting to get to. Here is my card. I would like to offer you a job at one of my companies. I believe you would do well. We pay generously, and there is a sign-on bonus, too. If that interests you, call me next week. I'll be back in the office on Wednesday.'
She asked, 'Thank you, but I don't want to leave my family and definitely do not want to live in the city.'
'I understand, but think about it.'
With that, they departed.
Much later that day, about the time of a late dinner, Stan was wandering through the maze of the hotel/casino. He saw the back side of a woman with the company uniform on. She was talking to a gentleman.
Stan tapped her on the shoulder, but before he could say anything, she yelled, 'Stan! Hi! We were just talking about you. This is Miguel, my husband.'
'Annalee, what a pleasant surprise.' He looked directly at Miguel, reached out, and shook his hand.
He looked back at Annalee, 'I can't figure out where this restaurant is.' He showed the text message on his phone.
'I'll take you there.' She grabbed Miguel's hand, and they started walking.
Annalee talked softly to Stan, 'Pretend I'm telling you about all the good things to do here. But I want to talk about that job offer.'
'I will. What are your questions?
'Well, the big one is this: if you hire me, can I stay here and take the long commute?
'No problem. By the way, the encounter we had with lunch was really more of a pre-job interview. You passed with flying colors.'
She looked at him with that look that only a woman can do, 'That explains a lot. Next question, this is what I earn here.' She showed him a figure on paper, then continued, 'You would need to pay more than that to offset the cost of the drive.'
Stan chuckled, 'Would this be acceptable?' He pulled a pin out and took her note. The amount he wrote was nearly three times her current pay.
Her eyes got wide. She looked at her husband and showed him the offer. He shook his head up and down in a firm agreement to take the next step.
'Yes, I'll take the next step. What do I do?'
He smiled, 'I already spoke to my administrative assistant, Barb, that you might be calling. Simply call her, and she will take care of everything else.'
'I will do that.'
They arrived at the restaurant. Stan asked, 'When is your next run to the city?'
'Next Tuesday.'
Good, let Barb know that, and you can kill two birds with the same drive.'
They parted ways, again.
On Tuesday, Annalee was almost home from the trip to the city. She had the music up loud and was singing every song. As she pulled up the dirt driveway, something seemed off. Her entire family was standing on the porch. They had the happiest faces she had ever seen.
As she parked the truck, she noticed a car that she had never seen before. She yelled at them, 'Who got a new car?' Everyone smiled, but didn't answer.
Her mom handed her a vanilla envelope, 'He said to give this to you when you got home,'
'He who?'
Mom didn't answer.
Annalee opened the envelope and pulled out a handwritten letter.
It stated:
'As you know by now, the lunch was your job interview, and you are now employed with us. I told you there was a sign-on bonus. To make your commute easier, the new maroon car parked in your drive is your bonus. See you tomorrow morning.
Signed Stanley Kimmel
CEO of Kimmel, Jacob, and Stern Enterprises'
Annalee fell to the steps of the porch and cried happy tears.
On Tuesday, Annalee was almost home from the trip to the city. She had the music up loud and was singing every song. As she pulled up the dirt driveway, something seemed off. Her entire family was standing on the porch. They had the happiest faces she had ever seen.
As she parked the truck, she noticed a car that she had never seen before. She yelled at them, 'Who got a new car?' Everyone smiled, but didn't answer.
Her mom handed her a vanilla envelope, 'He said to give this to you when you got home,'
'He who?'
Mom didn't answer.
Annalee opened the envelope and pulled out a handwritten letter.
It stated:
'As you know by now, the lunch was your job interview, and you are now employed with us. I told you there was a sign-on bonus. To make your commute easier, the new maroon car parked in your drive is your bonus. See you tomorrow morning.
Signed Stanley Kimmel
CEO of Kimmel, Jacob, and Stern Enterprises'
Annalee fell to the steps of the porch and cried happy tears.
Four months later, Annalee was fitting in nicely with the new job. She was in the Hospitality Concierge division. There was a lot to learn, but she was really enjoying her position.
Her drive home that evening was more difficult than usual. The day had been extremely busy, and she was tired. It was late fall, and the sun had already set. The dusk sky was fading to dark. She pulled up to her home, saw her mother's car there and another one that she didn't recognize. She thought to herself, what now?
She walked inside. Her husband and parents were there. Then the surprise, the Secretary and a Tribal Council member was there too. She put her head down, thinking, what did I do wrong to bring a Tribal Counsil member here.
He spoke firmly, but softly, 'Annalee Morgan, your presence is required at tonight's Tribal Council meeting. Be there promptly at eight.'
She kept her head down, 'Yes, I will be there.' She knew better than to question the Elders.
He left. Annalee was in an absolute panic. She asked her husband, her mother, and her dad if they knew what was going on. They all said no and were not invited.
She arrived at the meeting and took a seat in the back. She was trembling with the negative thoughts of why she was here.
The council meeting had completed its agenda. The Council President called out, 'Annalee Morgan, come to the podium. She walked to the podium, which was centered in the council. She kept her head down.
The President spoke, 'Annalee Morgan, lift your head and look towards us.'
While her legs were shaking hard, she lifted her head.
The President continued, 'You have brought great honor to our tribe, you are well-liked by many here and, also, by Mr. Stanly Kimmel. He has talked very highly of you. His company is going to build a large addition to the hotel, along with a large indoor hall for more music and other entertainment. He believes you would make a great general manager of the new unit. He told us of the lunch encounter so long ago, and how you were the only one who did it right in all the times he tested people. You will be tested again and again, in your new direction. We have decided. Learn all you can while working with Mr. Kimmel's company. We want you to head up the new addition.
With that, the meeting ended.
Annalee was still standing there, staring at empty chairs behind the tables. Her parents and husband enter the room.
Miguel asked, 'Is everything OK?'
She looked at Miguel. tears rolling down her face, 'Better than good,' she said softly. 'Much better than good.'
Based on John 4:1-26
Synopis
The encounter, where Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman, centers on a conversation that moves beyond surface assumptions to recognize the truth of a person's life. Twenty Miles East explores the same idea through a modern meeting between strangers where character quietly emerges through everyday choices. In both accounts, recognition arrives through conversation rather than circumstance.
Tap to read the actual Bible passage:
Story of Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman
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