Banking on a Song and a Prayer

By Will Taylor

Banking on a Song and a Prayer is the story of James Young, the last bank president that Hilliside National Bank will ever have. The family that has owned the bank for several generations has sold the company to a much larger financial organization. In addition to being a bank president in a small Iowa town, James is a part time farmer on the small acreage he lives. The sale of the bank may create greater opportunities for someone of James's wisdom and experience or could leave him in a dead end job. He has to consider his options.

James is a dedicated Christian and his faith leads him to opportunities in his community to share his faith and help his local church. He also has attracted the attention of two very different women who would like to know James better and possibly develop a long term relationship.

James has a deep faith in Christ thanks to a dedicated and loving mother. Her love for the old hymns has been kindled in James as he works through the many issues of faith, work, romantic relationships and personal desires.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667803777

Will Taylor

Will Taylor is a reader, writer, bee fan, and former trapeze flailer. Maggie & Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort is his debut novel and is followed by Maggie & Abby and the Shipwreck Treehouse. He lives in the heart of downtown Seattle surrounded by all the seagulls and nearly all the books. When not writing, he can be found selling caramels for a local chocolate company or completely losing his cool when he meets longhaired dachshunds. You can visit him online at www.willtaylorbooks.com.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It was early, even for James Young. The chores were already done, and he had cleaned up and was dressed in a dark pinstripe suit, this one navy. James was humble but could easily have chosen a career to model for his suit maker, or any other. He did know that women found him handsome; he just didn’t think about it too much. He arrived at Hillside National Bank, looking trim and fit, just over six feet tall. He walked into the bank at 6:15 a.m. and turned off the security alarm.

As he entered the code on the alarm and began the quick walk-through of the building, an old hymn came to mind. His longtime remembrance of the old hymns, long ago stored in the heart of his youth, had helped him through many trying times. James started to quietly sing the chorus:

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

James knew this day would be an important one, even before it had really begun. For today,Theodore M. Hill IV, Chairman of the Board of the Hillside National Bank as well as its biggest shareholder, was revealing to James the details of the buyout that would eventually swallow upHillside National. James focused on the upcoming meeting which was to provide details concerning his future with the company after the sale was complete. The negotiations had been going on for several months and an agreement had finally been reached.

The meeting was scheduled for 6:30 a.m. in James’ office before most staff arrived, except for a couple of tellers who would soon show up to open the drive-thru lanes by 7:30 a.m. sharp. James knew that he had worked hard over his years at the bank, and especially after he was promoted to president two years ago. He thought proudly of what he had led the staff toaccomplish since then.

After he checked to be sure the bank had remained secure overnight and turned on the lights, James got comfortable in his office. Change was coming, and this morning he would learn justhow much the change would affect his personal position. A sellout had been expected for some time. The Fourth Teddy, as he was respectively called in quiet conversations, not including Mr. Hill, was getting up in years.

The bank had thrown a special party for Mr. Hill two years ago when they celebrated his 75th birthday. The board of directors, bank officers, select bank clients, and community leaders were invited to an honorary dinner at the elite Hillcrest Country Club to mark the milestone. The guest list came primarily from Mr. Hill, himself. The evening served as a celebration for the milestone and also intended to honor the most valued bank customers, as well as some possible elite new prospects, with the invitation. 

James remembered the evening as a very expensive celebration that lavished focus on a man who had been a powerful asset to the community. The event was exquisite, with the menu and entertainment to complement. It aimed to impress those who attended, as well as Mr. Hill. 

It was obvious that every detail had been considered and the event went without error or the appearance of anything missing. However, James noticed a huge gap in the evening that saddened him: none of Mr. Hill’s three children were there. The Fourth Teddy had lost his wife five years ago and with the three grown children living in Chicago, New York and Miami, Mr. Hill had appeared very much alone in a sea of celebration.

At exactly 6:30 a.m., James heard the opening of the employee door, with its metallic base scraping against the metal door frame, followed by the hard slam of the door as the self-closing, hydraulic hinge was worn. Less than a minute later, Theodore M. Hill IV was standing in James’ office doorway. Good morning, James, came the deep voice of the man, who for almost everyone was the Hillside National Bank.  We have some important things to discuss so let’s get to it. Mr. Hill never was much for chit chat, especially with employees. He shut James’ office door, sat down and opened his leather notebook.

As James watched the notebook open, he thought of how much his personal future was outlined in those papers. He said a quick prayer of Lord, give me wisdom, and he watched and listened as Ted outlined the coming end of Hillside National Bank.

The meeting lasted twenty minutes. James was made fully aware of the coming purchase of Hillside National by a much larger regional bank, Midwest Business Bank, an expanding bank that had wanted to become a part of the community for some time. Mr. Hill explained that hehad decided to sell the family-owned bank since he had finally accepted that none of his children or grandchildren showed any interest in coming home to Lewistown, Iowa to carry on the family tradition of bank management.

In the end, James learned as he had feared, that his time as president of this community bank in his small Midwest town was going to end soon. However, the new owner, MBB, did want James to stay on with them for at least a year after the closing of the buyout, and at his current salary. His position would be community president and after a year, his salary would likely be greatly reduced to match the lessened level of responsibility that his new position covered.

Mr. Hill had tried to put a positive tone to it all by praising James for the great shape the bank was in at this time of the coming sale. James, with your leadership, the bank has been very profitable. Our loan losses are down substantially, and our core deposits have been rising. I could not have asked for better numbers, given our market and the low interest rate structure we have had to contend with. 

He was less enthusiastic as he described the change of position that was coming. I did the best I could to keep all the employees in the new structure. I know this will likely be a big change inyour income eventually, but it doesn’t appear we will need to lay off very many staff if we have resignations, as expected, with the coming changes. MBB expects the labor expense to decrease substantially as duplicated positions are eliminated. 

Even though anticipated, James felt his ego deflate as shame and anger fought to be dominant emotions. Just as he was about to voice some of his frustration, Mr. Hill’s whole demeanor changed as he said in an almost joyful voice, It is such a relief to have this decision to sell finalized, and we can now make plans to announce it. I can feel a weight lifted. I want you to know how much I appreciate your leadership and your ability to take what comes. I have noticed you seem to handle stress well and appear to face problems head on with a smile on your face. If I may say so, at times I thought I have noticed you singing. And although I admit that at first I thought it was a little bit odd, I did come to think it nice. What is that all about, anyway? And, please, call me Ted, from now on.

James was not ready for that to come from Ted. After he had taken his flabbergasted look back, he thought, Just great! Here I have a valid reason to be upset and now I have to choose to react graciously because he’s given me an opening to share my faith.

Ted did not seem to notice any change in James and continued, I really wanted to do the best I could for our employees, and I think this merger will do that. I am concerned about the change you will have to endure, but I’ve noticed for some time how you seem to stay above the usual fray and are usually so positive about whatever happens. I remember when the Robbins’ loan went bad, you kept working with them, and although the company had to be sold with a lot of sadness from the family, you were able to work out a deal to help them through it. I’m amazed they are still loyal clients of the bank. May I ask, What’s your secret, young man?"

James now saw this opportunity to share his faith in Jesus and quickly pushed aside his feelings of the coming demotion and, with a quick prayer of praise for this moment and for wisdom, the conversation became one of evangelism and encouragement. For the next 45 minutes or so, James shared the hope that was in him regarding his faith and in the redemptive work that Jesus has done for us all. With all pressure gone from Ted’s mind regarding what to do with his bank after telling James the news, Ted was a willing listener.

James carefully quoted Bible verses which outlined the need for each person to confess their need for a Savior from sin and their acceptance that Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection was the only hope of redemption.

James recited Isaiah 53:6-9: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Acts 31:16: And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. and 1 John 2:1-2: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world ESV.

Ted’s lifelong search for relevance and value was fully understood as he came to increase in wisdom with what it meant to be a Christ follower.

Ted realized he was a sinner and right then and there asked how he could accept Christ as his Savior. Elated in a way he could not have expected possible a mere hour ago, James helped Ted to pray the Sinner’s Prayer, and he led him to the Lord.

Ted then shared his previous thoughts and experience of faith. He had grown up in Lewistown, in one of the wealthiest and most respected families. He had always been told he had a reputation to uphold. The Hill family was to be an example to the rest of the community, and Ted was instructed to always appear as a leader, which carried an air of confidence and strength. His parents attended the biggest and most affluent church in town, at that time, a mainline denomination that has since closed due to low attendance. Ted remembered the formal services and how his family was dressed in their best clothes with fake smiles and hypocrisy in their conversations.

James knew it was this type of hypocrisy that kept many from the Church. He was glad he had stayed with his faith and smiled inwardly at the remembrance of the Scripture: Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ESV James still knew many who did not attend church, who he knew to have previously belonged, and he silently prayed that they would return to their own faith.

Ted recalled that church sometimes seemed to be more about meeting with the other attendees and everyone taking a silent role call to see who was not there. Those not in attendance were, of course, the object of hushed conversations before and after the service. It was not an environment of love and acceptance. Ted said his presence at church began to wane as soon as his parents grew tired of arguing with him about attending.

Ted remembered, as a boy, that the pastors were very honorable and kind men whose messages were about Jesus. There were multiple Bible readings and long sermons. He also remembered a huge Bible at the front of the church on a table. Ted’s parents never talked about the service or the sermon but always discussed their conversations with and about other members of the church before and after the service. Ted just never really saw how Jesus was anything worthwhile. 

Ted explained that it was his late wife who got him somewhat interested in church again. They had met when Ted and his soon-to-be wife, Mille Stuart, were attending an east coast college. She was originally from South Carolina and had a much different background and attitude about being a Jesus follower. Her family was deeply ingrained in church life, and she had given her life to Christ at age thirteen. Her dedication to the church drifted in college when she had met the handsome young man from Iowa, whose family just happened to own a bank. She was smitten.

They married while in college and moved to Lewistown right after graduation. She always felt like she was missing something as they started a family. Ted would have no part of taking his family to church with his history. His wife’s longing to return to church did not influence him. He saw no use for it and would not allow it. Ted enjoyed Sunday morning golf when the Iowa weather allowed, and the family rarely missed the Sunday brunch at the country club.

After the children had left for college, Ted’s wife started going to various churches in town on an infrequent basis. Ted had his golf with his buddies, and she realized she had truly missed the community that most Christians enjoy with regular church attendance. When she was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, she became a regular attendee at the Lewistown Bible Church and was thrilled to be back in a loving community of dedicated believers. She was home and faced the final years of her life with peace and dignity, traits Ted recognized as he mourned the failing health of his beloved partner.

Ted left James’ office a different man. He felt changed by the Bible verses that James had shared with him. Add to that the fact that he had also found what he believed to be a fair buyer, who seemed to represent the same community loyalty as Hillside National had demonstrated for generations, he was almost joyful.

As Ted left, James felt so very honored to be able to lead him, probably the wealthiest person in town, to be humbly broken as his sins were washed away. Suddenly James remembered the hymn:

And can it be that I should gain

An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

The rest of the day was a blur for James.  He did the work he needed to do, but the joy he felt when thinking about Ted coming to faith in Jesus kept a smile on his face. He remembered his mother telling him that when anyone comes to faith in Jesus, Heaven rejoices.

When it was time to go home, he was tired but very content. While driving, he prayed for Ted’s growth in the faith. James was a member of the same church Ted’s wife had attended so an invitation to Ted was easy. James hoped Ted would feel at home when he attended on Sunday.

As James turned into his driveway, a one-lane gravel road, his euphoria from the events of the day changed, and he thought, Now what? He recognized the red pickup truck by his machine shed and the hefty frame of Otto Hess that leaned against the truck bed, with a toothpick in his mouth. As soon as James opened the door of his pickup, he heard the familiar, How’s my banker buddy today? Otto ambled over to James. 

Otto Hess and his three brothers were farmers. They leased the land adjacent to James’ 80 acres. The boys had one sister, Juliane. None of the five were married and were somewhere in their 40s and 50s. The men were well known in the Lewistown area with their bib overalls and often corny humor. Juliane was very well known throughout the Midwest due to her very high-quality cheese production. She also oversaw the grain marketing program and helped at planting and harvest time, as needed. The siblings had expanded the farm they had inherited from their parents. In addition to over 5,000 acres of cropland, the family had dairy cows and a hog confinement operation. The dairy provided the milk for cheese production, and the excess was sold.

The brothers were hard-working but sometimes needed reminding of the benefit of clean clothes, especially when meeting with others. The brothers rarely spent time cleaning their home, doing dishes, or laundry. Juliane recognized that the four brothers were more interested in farming than having a nice home, so she had purchased a small home near the farm base to live in. She handled most of the business operations and also made sure her brothers had help in the way of house and home.

James saw and smelled that Otto must have cleaned out one of the dairy buildings earlier in the day. He feigned a small stumble backward to get some distance, but Otto always wanted to be sure his message was heard and plodded forward to match James’ backstep. It all resembled a strange barnyard dance. Once James realized there was no escape, he planted his feet and asked, What’s up, Otto?

I thought you had banker’s hours, James. You’re home kinda late, aren’t you? Rather than wait for a response, Otto leaned in a little closer. Some cows broke through the pasture fence today and got into your field and helped themselves to your corn. Just wanted you to know. You can let us know the damages. Just as James was ready to respond to this news, Otto continued, You know, you need to let us farm for you. Since we’re on two sides of you, we can easily fit it into ours. You think about that, too, okay?

James was ready to reply, his mouth already open to avoid the smell, but Otto quickly inserted, Well, I need to go. I don’t get bankers hours like you! With a loud snort and a chuckle, Otto turned and headed back to his truck, did a quick turnaround with his truck and drove into the yard to avoid James’ truck. He honked his horn and waved as he passed by.

James drove his truck to a large entry door to park in the machine shed. Once inside, he shut the door and walked through a doorway in the shed, which also served as the back door to James’ home. Half of the building was very nicely furnished as a ranch-style home, which James had built when he built the shed three years ago. The other half was a garage, work area and shed for equipment.

James quickly changed into work clothes and headed for the barn. It was time for chores. He glanced at the nearby barn and remembered he needed to paint it someday. He walked quickly to the door of the barn and entered. The bleating of goats greeted him as his eyes became accustomed to the dimmed light in the barn. He turned on the lights and saw two goats in their stall. They were eager for food and to be milked. The goats seemed to ask, Did you lose track of time? Remember, we also have a schedule to keep. Goats have a very expressive way about them at times. 

Once the milking was complete and the goats were back in the pasture, James walked into the shed to a small freezer where he stored the milk.

After a microwaved meal of a frozen prepackaged dinner, James showered and put on shorts and a t-shirt. He picked up his laptop and settled into his favorite rocker on the porch and relaxed. He could not remember a day with more highs and lows of emotion than the one he just experienced. The kick in the gut he received from Ted regarding his future employer’s plan for him was less painful than he felt this morning. James had to admit that his pride was hurt more than anything.

He knew he was not going to remain president after the buyout, but he still had hoped. In any buyout, there were winners and losers. The customer contact employees had the best chance of keeping their jobs intact, but operations and high-salaried department heads, and of course bank presidents, were prime positions to be sacrificed in the name of cost savings and efficiency. The claim that no employees would lose their jobs was somewhat hollow. There were several that faced drastic change in their job duties and pay scale. 

James prayed that his heart would be open to the changes coming to him and that he would be a good leader. He always hoped to be, above all, a great example of Christ’s love to others.  While he prayed, he thought of Ted. James then praised God and thanked Him for Ted’s confession of faith. James prayed for wisdom for himself and for Ted to eagerly seek to be discipled. James also prayed that he would keep an open heart for whatever was needed to help Ted. James continued to pray until a great peace came over him. When he looked at his watch, he was amazed that an hour had passed. Another reason for praise: God truly was the great I am and also held the deep peace of abiding in Christ. 

He listened to the sounds around him and was thankful for his many blessings, which included his home in the country and the sounds of nature, especially the cicadas, on warm August nights. He also heard the goats bleating near the barn and in the distance a cow bell from the Hess dairy herd. James chuckled to himself with thoughts of his conversation with Otto Hess. After he checked the news on the usual websites and his personal email, he studied his nightly devotion. It was then time for bed.

Chapter 2

James was already awake as he reflected on the coming day when the radio clicked on at 5:45 the next morning. After spending some set-apart time of Bible reading and prayer, James dressed for milking and other morning chores. Just as he was ready to put his boots on, his phone began the play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and James smiled because he knew his mother was calling.

Amy Young sounded effervescent on the phone, even this early in the morning. Of course, it was an hour later in Florida as she began her questions for James. She did not yet know about the meeting with Ted since the merger was still not public, but she wanted to know what was going on in James’ life. She was always very encouraging in everything she said and in the way she communicated. She had been a widow for virtually all of James’ life but never sounded lonely or deprived of joy. 

James’ parents, Amy and Bruce Young, had been high school sweethearts. They married two years out of high school as Bruce was attending Iowa State University. Bruce had big plans to return home and grow the family farm from 80 acres to 8,000. With Amy by his side, he saw nothing but blue skies ahead. He had enrolled in Reserved Officers’ Training Corp to help with college expenses. The Vietnam War was winding down, and Bruce was confident he would not have to serve there. Even if he did, it would not last long.

Even after orders came that he would be going to Vietnam, Bruce and Amy continued to place their faith in God. Then, when he was honorably discharged, after coming back with severe wounds, Amy did her best to keep a positive attitude with faith that Bruce would walk again and even become the farmer he wanted to be. She leveraged her music skills to help financially support her family and taught piano, organ, and guitar to anyone in the area who wanted to learn. She was able to convert the farmhouse to include a music room. There was lots of windows and natural light in their home, and with Amy’s sunny disposition, she provided a bright place for Bruce to recover and heal the wounds of body and mind that war oftentimes inflicts on soldiers.

Amy was also the organ and piano player for the Oak Street Baptist Church in Lewistown. Her music was as much of a draw for the church as the pastor’s sermons. Amy played the piano for Sunday School and then moved to the organ for the church service. James had wonderful memories of his mother playing the hymns in Sunday School and whenever she called, the one chorus that sometimes leapt to mind was:

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,

I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement,

Didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master,

My heart shall be Thy throne,

My life I give, henceforth to live,

O Christ, for Thee alone.

The hymnal she used included grace notes and flourishes which were optional for the pianist, but Amy always played them. When he remembered the meaningful words with Amy’s music, James was moved with the memory.

One very cold wintry Sunday morning, Amy and James went to church while Bruce stayed home, rather than contend with icy sidewalks in his convalescent state. While Amy and James were away, a fire broke out, due to an electrical overload on the old farmhouse. Bruce tried to put out the fire, but his body was weak and by the time the volunteer fire department could get to the house, the house and Bruce had been consumed by the unsympathetic flames. 

Rather than rebuild, Amy rented a house in town and used insurance money to buy a piano and other instruments in order to go to work full-time as a music instructor for the town and surrounding areas. It was a severe blow to Amy, and for several years she was prone to tears and mourned for her dear husband. Her faith and the precious friendships, with other women in the community who remained close, slowly began to heal her emotional devastation. James was very confused after the fire and could not understand why God would allow the death and destruction that happened to his father and their home.

Now age forty-five and his mother seventy-one, James and his mother had a special bond, even though Amy lived semi-retired in Florida. The distance did not diminish the care they felt for and showed one another. She still gave piano lessons to a few senior citizens who wanted to pick up a new hobby or rekindle childhood skills. Amy was not great at masking her curiosity to James in regards to if he was dating anyone, and James had almost always replied, Not right now. Each of their conversations ran a similar pattern, but it was evident that both James and Amy thoroughly enjoyed each time they spoke to each other.

This morning, James did share with Amy the news of Ted becoming a believer. Amy was overjoyed at the news, and it reminded her of an earlier encounter. Oh, James that is so wonderful! Do you remember when Christine Hill was taking piano lessons from me and one of the pieces I had her practice was Amazing Grace? Her proud and belligerent father called me up and quite chastised me for making her play a religious piece of garbage. My, my, my how wonderfully the Spirit works. Now that proud father knows the true meaning of the song. What joyous news! Where is Christine now? She is your age, isn’t she?

James filled Amy in on Christine Lodge, Ted’s youngest child. "I think she lives in Florida near you, Mom.