We open this chapter in a black limo with a “plump middle age man” and his secretary having a conversation. The man is asking his secretary about a package he hadn’t received from the professor, its a small book. Its just a small paragraph kinda out of place. Marshall is on his way to a meeting with Chief Bremmel. This is where we get a great contrast of Ashton “ For generations Ashton had taken pride in its grass-roots warmth and dignity and had striven to be a good place for it’s children to grow up. But now there were inner turmoils,anxieties, fears as if some kind of cancer was eating away at the town and invisibly destroying it.” the end of the paragraph goes on “Crime was up especially among the youth. Simple common trust in one’s neighbor was diminishing: never had the town been so full of rumors, scandals and malicious gossip. In the shadow of fear and suspicion, life here was gradually losing its joy and simplicity. And no one seemed to know why or how” that is a lot to dissect but who can’t relate. I look at places that i lived at and the changes the rise in crime. How that effect how you act you towards your neighbors and those in the community. But I also had to pause and think about how Peritti doesn’t just say gossip but MALICIOUS gossip. I can’t help but the think of the source and the motive. We as Christians shouldn’t gossip but we all do it.
As Marshall is headed into the police station we meet Brummel’s secretary Sara. We learn that Brummel has redecorated his office and his secretary inherited the old stuff.
From the conversation between Brummel and Marshall we learn a lot of back story (A lot of these things come into play later in the story so I am pointing them up now):
- Brummell comes off likable, but Marshall never trusted or liked him.
- In the middle of confronting Brummell Marshall just stops doesn’t know why.
- Marshall is an observer and gatherer of information and can read upside down.
- Brummell has a meeting with Pastor Young
- Pastor Young is Marshall’s Pastor not Brummell’s
- Brummell attends Ashton Community (Hank’s Church)
- Brummell is easily flustered by Marshall.
- We get Bernie’s back story. Bernie came to Ashton after her sister committed suicide at Ashton College. She came to Ashton not believing that her sister took her own life and wanted to solve the mystery of her sister’s death.
- After looking into Brummell’s eyes Marshall starts to feel a little numb like he is dreaming.
- Marshall starts to force himself to focus ( we see the inner battle he is having trying to clear his mind)
- Brummels “strange look” is mentioned
- That the “town” had an issue with the previous owner/editor of the Clarion (the newspaper)Brummells descriptions/comments:
- “Rather injurious to the mood of the town, especially toward the end”
- Pathological soap-boxer
- He destroyed the faith of the people in the local government, & public servants
- He was accused of molestation. Charges were never pressed. He was just told to leave town.
- Marshall still can’t think or “feel straight” was just tired
- Marshall started thinking of the past.
- Why he moved to Ashton things that had nothing to do with what he was talking about he ended with he just was he was tired and didn’t want to fight.
- Marshall didn’t even realize he left.
Ok so lets look at everything in this section as a whole. This conversation is all over the place. Even the points. We had emotions Marshall suddenly couldn’t focus and at least 3 different times mentions he feels like a dream or tired. There is something about Brummell that he just doesn’t trust. Remember the Malicious gossip that we mentioned. We see the example here. We see the second Marshall start to regain focus; he starts remembering why he moved to Ashton. I see spiritual warfare here. I see God’s discernment in that just doesn’t trust Brummell. He starts looking around and feeling that something just isn’t right. We see that devil is trying to confuse him, Then emotionally drain him.
After Hogan leaves we are still with Brummell as he celebrates his small victory over Marshall. He thinks to himself he needs to get ready for his real test as Marshall was just a warm up. Then Brummell picks up his phone and calls Hank. He is calling Hank to see if he has changed his mind about Lou. I find it funny that Brummell also tried to use peer pressure. The town is going to be against you and then against the church, If you cared about the church, Brummell tells Hank that he needs to learn from the last pastor. They go into a conversation about love. Hank says “ I want to save souls, I want to convict sinners. I want to help newborn believers grow up in truth.” Brummell responds with “I don’t call that Love” Love is an interesting concept. Its an emotion that always unless from God seems to come with conditions. Different people view it different ways. I see things the way Hank does because I love you I want you to succeed so I have to correct you when you are in the wrong. I accept the same from those who love me. Again its about the heart the source.
When playing on Hanks emotions doesn’t work Brummell goes to trying to use threats and fear what does Hank do he prays for patience and wisdom. The problem with for praying for patience is you are also praying for the opportunity to practice it.
As we draw to the end of Chapter 3 we get some wise words from Hank. “Too many people don’t know-or want to know- what truth is anymore.” This chapter really is foreshadowing where we are today, a society that is ruled by emotions. That are so easy to manipulate.
Hank continues with “ We don’t stand for something, we fall for anything and now guys like Lou get themselves into a fog where they can hurt their own families, start their own gossip, ruin their own reputations, make themselves miserable in their own sin… then look for someone else to blame! Just who’s doing what to whom” Truer words for today could not be said.
The verse that pops into my mind reading this chapter is 1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints..
According to learn religious . Discernment is the ability to see and instinctually recognize subtle differences. Discernment allows one’s knowledge to penetrate the cloudiness and cut through layers of confusion and ambiguity to perceive distinctions accurately. Wisdom is the product of insight and understanding gained through the ability to discern.
Discernment is a one of the gifts of God. Marshall has used this in his newspaper career. He using it when he says he doesn’t trust brummel although he says he doesn’t know why he in the inner dialogue we get to see Marshall goes through the toothy smile, the loopy gaze. How the new office looks expensive for a chief and how easy it is for him to rattle Brummell. Also that he has pushed enough for one day.
Books and Things 