The Preacher's Piece

"It's been a long time," the caller on the other end of the line said, "but when I was a kid, my grandmother took me to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Martintown Church. I heard all the stories, from the creation of the world, to Noah and the Ark, to Daniel in the Lion's Den, to the baby Jesus, to the crucified Jesus, to the risen Jesus. But I don't know what happened, because somewhere between the ages of 15 and 48, whiskey became my god. I don't like it. I want to come back. (long pause) Can I?"

That call came out of nowhere. The man never gave me his name. He hung up before I...