CHAPTER 1

The Turning Point (Story)

Savannah, Georgia—June 1991

He'd just flown in from presenting a week long seminar in St.Thomas, Virgin Islands. Enroute home from the airport, he turnsonto Bay Street from I-516. Driving through the historic district ofdowntown Savannah, he basked in the ease of living in this place ofwarm coastal breeze and meandering brick and cobblestone streets.And for the brief drive home, he chooses not to remember thetension between him and his wife before leaving for the seminar.

The man's name was William Clive Jamison II. Dusk wasfalling as he arrived in the driveway of his home. He immediatelyobserved the signs of his worse fears. Something truly unspeakablehad happened. The house was dark, and the daily newspapers hadbeen collecting on the front lawn for several days. As he turns hiskey to open the front door, there is a knot in the pit of his stomach.There was no response to his greeting—hello, as it echoed throughthe naked entrance way; offering the first answers to some of theimpending questions.

Little by little, from light switch to doorway, from room toroom, his fears were becoming a reality. William collapsed to hisknees in the middle of the living room, emotionally paralyzed by theshock of returning home to find it empty and filled with a disturbingsilence. The common voices of his wife and children mute from theabsence of their presence. Just a week earlier, he was sitting in thatvery living room with his thirteen-year-old son and eleven-year-olddaughter at his feet watching their favorite sitcom, his wife, scurryingaround the kitchen preparing dinner while making periodic remarksin response to the sitcom's dramatic moments. At that very momenthis life was—perfect.

This would be the last perfect evening he would have withhis family before leaving for St. Thomas the next morning. Itwould be the last evening he would spend with them as a family.One week later, after a remarkable week of lecturing, he returnedhome only to find his life dismantled and in utter disarray. He hadalways championed the cause of individuals experiencing personalabundance through the Spirit-filled life and striving to evolve tothe next higher level of fulfillment in the areas of life, love andrelationships. Indeed in the eyes of many he was the example of aloving husband and father, a dreamer, and a man living life fully ina successful ministry unfolding with each passing year. Yet, in onebrief week, with one major decision (unknown to him), this manwho was one of the most progressive voices in the arena of personaland spiritual empowerment—a champion of sorts, had been reducedto a victim.

He was a young up and coming leader. He was well known forhis effervescent personality, and he was distinguished as a publicspeaker. Now kneeling on his empty living room floor with histravel-bag dropped and leaning against his laptop briefcase, he liftshis arms and places the palm of his hands against his forehead as ifhe was trying to keep it from falling off his neck. It was as if time wasstanding still waiting for his disbelief to catch up with the reality ofthe situation. His wife was following through on her desire to be freeof the pressures of being the wife of a public figure. The expectations,the extensive travel, having to share her husband with the world hadcome to a head. She was now seeking a divorce. She was leaving afifteen year marriage; taking his kids; ending the only reality knownto William outside his ministry.

William collects his thoughts and proceeds to search for a note, amessage—anything that would make sense out of what has happened.He slowly lifts from his knees and heads for the kitchen. The phonemessage recorder light is blinking. As William moves toward themessage machine, there is heaviness in his chest. He senses that hisworst fears will be confirmed upon pushing the play button on theanswering machine. He hesitates, as if not playing the message wouldsomehow not validate what is happening. With his heart beating sohard...