One Sunday Morning - Short Story

Sunday Morning

It was a wonderfully breezy cool early Sunday morning.  Mrs. Dawson got up early ready to go to church. She was soaring with happiness that morning.  Life could have never been better.

She kept singing "Thank you for the cross, Lord / Thank you for the price You paid/Bearing all my sin and shame /In love You came / And gave amazing grace…."

Later, early morning, she and her husband got into their black Ford car, and her husband drove through silent empty roads with no traffic.

They were on their way to their church, the Love, Joy, Peace Church.  Mr. Dawson said, "Early Sunday mornings are great, no traffic!"

As Mr. Dawson drove the Ford smoothly through the cool grey clean streets, Mrs. Dawson patted her hair afraid the breeze would ruffle her hair.

 She was dressed beautifully with her hair coiffed and groomed with an aroma of a sweet garden perfume exuding from her.  She browsed through her walnut-brown Hidesign bag looking for her List.

The List was an important appendage to her life with names of people she had to target.  Without it, she felt her world would crumble as she was leading the Mercy Missions Ministry, so she was an extremely busy woman.

This morning she sang gustily again in the car, "God is good to me, using me in a wonderful way, praise you Lord."

Her husband was quite amused at her radiant joy that Sunday morning.

He remarked, "Well, that’s nice to be so happy early in the morning, better than the grumps."

Mrs. Dawson replied, "Life is good, so I got to be happy."

They finally reached the Love, Joy, Peace Church.  As they were walking in, they noted a new girl and smiled at her and she smiled back a little nervously.  They went forward to find a good seat in the front, but the front seats were taken as a famous preacher was visiting the church.  Disappointed, they sat towards the back.

The girl they met at the door walked slowly and sat somewhere in the corner in the back.  Her name was Sheila.  She was a young girl who just moved to the city and was living in a hostel.  As Sheila was new in the city, she had specifically sought out a church as she was homesick and hoped to find some comfort in the church.

Sheila suffered from paranoid fears that sprung deep within her, uncontrollable panic with no reasoning and pounding racing thoughts.  No counseling had helped her.

She had asked God that Sunday, "Do you hear me?  Do you care?"  There was silence from the Heavens.

Soon the church filled up and the worship team took their place on the pulpit.

Distractions Abound

The song leader sang beautifully, his eyes looking heavenward, occasionally lifting up his hands.  He looked a picture of serene holiness.  Suddenly, he looked down and noticed many people not lifting their hands, clapping or singing in a half-hearted way.

Irritation hit him, and he started bellowing at the people, "Worship God, church!   Is that all you got church, did you eat your breakfast this morning? Come on louder, clap your hands, clap your hands!!!!!"  Some people laughed politely and tried clapping..

Some people who had not been lifting up their hands were in deep pain with a lot of troubles.  At the same time, they were silently concentrating on the words of the song in a heart relationship with God.

Some others who were lifting their hands were doing it out of routine habit and their thoughts were far away from worshiping God.  One lady was even wondering what to make for lunch as she sang gustily at the top of her lungs, "Our God is an awesome God!"

Just then, a family trooped in, and some chairs were moved around noisily.  The noisy racket jarred the senses of many people in the church.

Half the people in the church turned back to see who this noisy family was and frowned at them disapprovingly.

After the worship, they all sat down.  Mrs. Dawson got into a mode of distraction.  She stained her eyes towards the left hand front corner of the church as she caught sight of a new lady and was trying to make out who she was, "Who is that lady, someone new, with a hairdo like a bird's nest, must find out who she is," she thought curiously.

Mr. Raj, the church treasurer, sitting a few rows ahead in the front turned back to smile at some people he knew coming in.

A little later, a shill-sounding short man announced the events for the week.  He stood in front and sort of squeaked out all the events.  He then paused and said, "I have a special request, church.  The church's Whatsup is not meant for any other news except the events concerning the church.  Last week, someone sent a message of a kidnapped girl.  I mean, if church members send messages like this, important events in the church will get missed out, please restrict the Whatsup news to church events only!"

A tall new man in the church stood up and said loudly, "I had sent that message last week because this child was kidnapped.  In fact, many churches sent the same messages of this girl on Whatsup and the wonderful miracle was that girl was found because of the high alert!"

"Yes, yes, yes," said the shrill announcer fussily, "but you should send this in your private Whatsup, not on the church Whatsup!"

The tall man looked at everyone and said "Would you say the same thing if it was your child?  Do you realize this child was saved not only because of the prayers, but also the vigilance of everyone looking out for her?"

The announcer glared at the tall man and left the pulpit indignantly.

The church squirmed in discomfort at the embarrassing situation and verbal exchange of words between the two.

The new powerful preacher got up later and preached a heart-warming message about God's incredible love and how that love must be shared between one another.  Everyone felt greatly uplifted at the end of the message.

The Sudden Shift

After one hour, service was over.  The minute service was over a strange shift took place.  People were instantly transported towards a people's consciousness, busy seeking out one another.

They had not met for a week or more and had a lot of catching up to do.  Very few did seek out the lonely and new or quieter people who stood in corners like wallflowers.

The music ministry team congregated together...and did not speak to anyone else.

A new lady, Zarine, stood in the corner.  Many people smiled at her briefly and then hurried past to catch an old friend.  A little later, two girls came up, smiled at her, and gave her a card to fill in for contact information and before Zarine could say "Jack Robinson", they disappeared.  They took the card with them.

The pastor of the church came up and spoke a few kind words to Zarine and went off.

Zarine retreated to a corner.  She watched the people in the church quietly.  They were rushing around busily and talking to one another.  As she watched a group of 4 women talking, she heard cacophonous noise that sounded like clacking hens, talking like tins and laughing like tinkling bells with artificial joy.

Ram, a new boy also stood in the corner and smiled nervously around.  He looked like a sweet thin rag doll, small in stature with hair spiked up and enormous glasses.  Mr. George, leader of the men's ministry spotted him. He patted him warmly and said, "Wonderful to have you here my boy, wonderful, what is your name?"

"Ram," he replied.

"How are you Ram this morning?"

Ram lit up; he particularly felt he needed to talk to someone that morning as he was having a hard time at work so he answered," Not too good, sir, some difficulties in work…."

Mr. George interrupted quickly, "I'll catch you later, I just have some work to do!".  Mr George hurriedly made his way up to Mr. Sinha, an important CEO of a company.  "I can't have Ram waste the time talking about his problems at work, I need to talk to Mr. Sinha before he leaves the church," he mumbled to himself.

Ram felt snubbed and was embarrassed.  He shrugged his shoulders and decided to go home, but just then Jordan, another young man came up.  Jordan had a look of warmth and he really spoke with Ram with sincerity, so Ram started to feel better and the smoke in his heart subsided.

Geeta, carrying her 3-month old baby came to church.  Geeta had come to the church a year ago.  No one seemed to know her much.  They vaguely remembered a new lady coming to the church and after her pregnancy, she could not come much as she had severe bouts of morning sickness.  "Oh, how sweet" cooed the ladies seeing the new baby.

Mrs. Joye recognized Geeta.  "Nice to see you Geeta, I was just going to call you on the phone yesterday, I was just thinking about you."

"You should have, Mrs. Joye" replied Geeta a little tiredly.  Geeta had been hearing this from Mrs. Joye whenever she met her the few times that she had attended the church.  Geeta stopped believing it.

Just then, another lady Mary came running up.  "Hi Geeta, how are you?  What a sweet baby!"  I wanted to ask you something.  My husband and I started a ministry for orphan children, started six months back.  We are building a new better unit for the girls.  Can you donate some money for the new orphanage we have started?

Mary had a piece of paper with the donation amounts written on it.  On top was a donation of Rs. 1000.  Geeta felt anything less would be inappropriate, she happened to have Rs.1000 note in her bag and pulled it out and gave it to Mary.

"Thanks" gushed Mary.   "So lovely to see you, and how are you and the baby", and before Geeta could reply, Mary spotted Mrs. Dawson and rushed to her.  Mrs. Dawson would definitely give a generous amount for the orphanage.

Geeta did not understand why she suddenly felt hurt.  She tried to talk herself out of her hurt.  "No one meant any harm!  Stop feeling so bad," she chided herself.

In the meantime, Mrs. Dawson was gliding along the church as she needed to catch the crucial key people before they left the church.  She had important tasks to accomplish to meet targets on her List.

Going Home

Zarine continued to watch every one merrily chatting and felt very out of it.  She decided to go home; anyway, she had to warm up her lunch and eat it.  She felt weary and defeated inside as she walked out slowly from the church, oblivious to all the people.

 As she stepped out of the door, she nearly bumped into another girl who was also going out.  "Oh sorry," she gasped, "I didn't see you!"  She looked into the face of a girl with the saddest brown eyes she had ever seen.  Zarine was shocked.

"What's your name?" she asked her, wondering how anyone could look so sad.

The girl replied, "My name is Sheila".

"Are you going home, Sheila?" Zarine asked.  Zarine did not know why she was being so probing but something made her feel Sheila was broken and lonely and really needed help.

"Not home, I live in a hostel, yes, I was going back," replied Sheila.

"If that is the case, why don't you join me for lunch if you wish?" suggested Zarine.

Sheila looked surprised and then a little fearful.

"Don't worry" replied Zarine, "I live close by, just if you feel okay with it".

Sheila looked into Zarine's kind eyes and felt safe.  She felt there was depth and love in this young lady, unlike many of the people she had met that morning.

Sheila agreed and said, "Okay, I will, what is your name?"

"Zarine", replied Zarine.

The Breakthrough – Beauty Out of Ashes

The two went together by bike to Zarine's tiny, clean well-furnished pretty apartment.  Zarine changed her clothes and insisted Shiela wear something comfortable, and gave her a T-shirt and cotton skirt to wear to feel fresh and relaxed.

Zarine headed straight for the kitchen, lunch was ready, and she just had to warm it up.  She came back to the drawing room and flipped on the TV in the drawing room for Sheila to watch.  In the news, the horrific story of a 5-year-old child brutally raped was flashing.  When Zarine heard this, she turned white, and bowed her head, after a while, she said softly, "Lets pray for the little children to be delivered by such evil people, and also for the tide of evil in this nation to be stopped, may God send more angels to intervene and also help people turn to God as never before."

Sheila was uncomfortable.  She never saw anyone praying over the news even though it was a disturbing evil event.  She said, "Will that really make a difference?  God knows it all, He can stop it if He wants, what can our little prayers do?"

Zarine replied, "Have you heard of the dark ages?  People lived prayer-less lives at that time.  There is a commandment to pray for the people of the nation" she then quoted, 1 Timothy 2: 1:2"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity."

Zarine continued:  "We also need to pray for the intervention of God's angels to deliver little children from evil. The tide of evil will be reduced through our prayers, for more angelic intervention in worldly affairs to bring eternal change for God's Kingdom.  If we do not, more evil will overtake the nation.  If we did not need to pray, the Bible would not be commanding us to pray for our nation and governments and to pray without ceasing.  Our prayers will make a difference.

Sheila asked slowly, "Do you really think that will make a difference?"

Zarine replied, Definitely, see history and the people that prayed and the differences that happened in those nations, Sheila, it is recorded in history.".

Sheila said wonderingly.  "It seems you know a lot, Zarine."

Zarine replied, "Not really, but I depend on God for everything.  Come let us pray!"

They joined hands and started praying.  They both were praying for the protection of little children and God's intervention in the nation, on the leaders and government and the people of the nation.

Sheila suddenly felt some off her soul start to lift and something snapped and she saw a dark ominous shadow leave her.  She gasped in shock.  She then felt a deep peace surround her like never before.  She could not help shouting, "Something just left me, a dark shadow!"

"What happened?" asked Zarine in wonder.

Sheila exclaimed, "For years, I had a fear that something horrible was going to happen.  I used to feel it all the time.  I was so frightened and no one understood how I was feeling.  They call it a panic disorder in medical terms.  Today, I saw this black shadow leave me and for the first time in my life, I feel so light and so much peace inside!" Sheila started weeping with joy.

Zarine held her and then quietly said after a while.  "I think I know what we should do from now on".

"What?" asked Sheila.

Zarine replied, "From now on, we will be prayer warriors, intercede for one another, intercede for the church and intercede for the nation and nations and governments as the Spirit of God leads us, not through programmed prayer."

Sheila nodded her head, she understood for years she wanted someone to pray for her, but no one was able to really help her because perhaps they were not spiritually tuned in and did not understand what she was trying to say.

Zarine continued, "I think we should be praying for one another and genuinely care and carry prayer burdens for people we may not meet everyday, or speak to regularly."

"How can that be?" wondered Sheila.

As you continue to talk, walk, and obey God, He will speak more to you and direct you.  You can go to another level and fast and pray.  Fasting breaks chains and opens locked doors and set's people free.  It is very powerful, it can bring revival in a mighty way!" replied Zarine.

They thoughtfully ate their lunch together and drank some ginger tea a little later, sharing their lives and situations.

As Sheila was ready to go, they both made a solemn pact; they would go to church early the next Sunday and spend time praying for the people in the church and even fasting as the Spirit led them to pray and fast for nations.

Ultimately, Zarine and Sheila started to experience this new wonderful way of life of intercessory prayer, which was exciting, refreshing and challenging, and it started to spread like fire to other people in the church.  People started to come out of their cozy club comfort zones and came into a new relationship with God.

The church was revolutionized in a year!  Mrs. Dawson was the first to experience this awakening.

This only started because prayer was revived in a Spirit-led way when two girls took a decision to pray and fast for others.  Because of that obedience, they experienced beauty out of ashes.

© Rita Farhat Kurian