Time to Save Your Soul
Mendoza said nothing.
He must be wrapping his mind around the enormity of what I’ve just told him, Ranell thought. It was hard, even for him, to visualize the magnitude of the situation. Billions and billions of dollars, doubtless illicit cash from unimaginable illegal activities, had been allowed to circulate around the world. Because of my actions.
Finally, Mendoza spoke. “How much trouble are you in, Josef?”
“How much trouble?” Ranell repeated the question, looking absently into space. “How much? I don’t really know, Father. But it’s bad.”
"Treasures gained dishonestly profit no one, but righteousness rescues from death," Mendoza intoned the words as if from memory.
Ranell turned to cast a perplexed glance at his friend. The statement seemed familiar. “Is that from the Bible?” he asked respectfully. But inside he couldn’t help thinking, right now I need a solution, not a sermon.
“Proverbs 10-2.” Mendoza nodded.
“What does it mean, Father?” Ranell demanded, more angrily than he’d intended. “I know I’ve been dishonest. It’s too late for me to be righteous!”
Mendoza wheeled on Ranell and stabbed an accusing finger in his chest. “No, it’s not, Josef! It’s never too late to do the right thing.”
Stunned by the sudden turn in the conversation, Ranell looked down imploringly, “The right thing? I’m going to get caught, Father. I’ll probably go to jail. Everything is lost! GML will be ruined, and all the employees I tried to save will be lost too.”
"Not everything is lost, Josef!" Mendoza's eyes bored into Ranell's as if willing him to consider something he'd overlooked.
Ranell’s jaw gaped open, uncomprehendingly. “What?” he stammered, almost inaudibly. “I’ve lost everything,” he repeated. Then a wave of indignation washed over him. “I was supposed to take care of all those people, but they’ll be out on the street, and I’ll be in jail. What possible good can come now from ‘doing the right thing,’ as you say?”
“You know I’m talking about your immortal soul.” Mendoza’s scowl reinforced his point. “I speak with authority, my son. I was in Venezuela when the bishops led the charge for Maduro’s removal.” He re-clasped his hands behind his back with a sigh. “That was a long time ago, but I remember it well. I went to jail for a long time. We lost everything too.”
They shared a look as deep understanding flowed between them.
For a moment, something in Ranell’s heart loosened. This man has already walked down this road.
But the moment passed too briefly. At his age, Ranell knew that a lengthy prison term was essentially a death sentence, and he couldn't accept that his life would end this way. Frustration and anger washed over him. "How could God let this happen?"
“No, no, no,” Mendoza wagged a finger, “That is not the right question.”
Ranell didn’t answer, but his mind was starved for a fresh perspective. Anything to relieve the panic that gripped him now.
“I’m not saying that you are not going to suffer.” Mendoza continued. “You will.”
It wasn’t the answer that Ranell expected. He reeled and staggered a step before Mendoza caught his elbow to support him.
"I'm telling you that you must trust that they will be able to endure it."
"How can you know that?" Ranell's words trailed off, but he no longer fought to fix everything. He was beginning to accept the facts being presented to him.
Mendoza’s face radiated with intensity. “You are worried about your life, Josef. But that is not what matters at this moment. Remember, you are one of God’s people. It is time to admit what you have done and assist the authorities in their investigation. It is time to do the right thing, no matter how hard. It is time to save your soul.”
Choose Option 1: Attend the Next Meeting
Choose Option 2: Slink Back to Office