We have a couple of things to review today,” Matthew Payne announced to the clearness committee and to the congregation’s members who’d chosen to stay for the meeting.
Jaidon took a deep breath and rubbed his palms against his thighs, the fabric of his khakis absorbing the sweat. He’d never proposed before. Should he get down on one knee or stand to propose after the church gave its approval?
“We have a request from someone to join the church.” Matthew unfolded Jaidon’s letter.
Evelyn looked at Jaidon from her seat across the room and winked. Her smile offered him some reassurance. Not that her confidence helped to bolster his. He was more nervous than waiting for a jury to deliberate a court case. He would breathe better once Catherine accepted his proposal.
“Allow me to read the letter we received before I give the decision of the clearness committee,” Matthew said.
Dear New Garden Fellowship,
I want to thank you for the opportunity to worship with you and get to know you. I have learned to take quiet time to focus more on God. Having grown up in a fairly large church, I had become so busy that I forgot this simple truth. Your church has helped me get back to the basics and deepen my faith and commitment. It is my desire to join your church, where I know I will continue to grow as I seek Him.
It is also my desire to pursue marriage to Catherine Wall. She has exemplified the Christian faith and proven what a Godly woman and wonderful wife she will make. Upon your approval of membership, I wish to propose in the near future, so that Catherine and I may begin to make plans for our life together.
Sincerely,
Jaidon Taylor
Matthew folded the letter and laid it on the pew. “After carefully discussing these matters with the clearness committee, it is our decision that Mr. Taylor’s request be denied.”
Jaidon turned to Catherine in horror. Her hand flew to her mouth and she gasped. Tears brimmed her eyes. Her shock reflected his own.
“I don’t understand,” Jaidon mumbled. He stared blindly at Matthew. “Why?”
“It is our feeling,” Matthew said, “that your motives for wanting to join the church are self-serving.”
“What?” Jaidon flew to his feet. Anger bubbled up inside his chest. “Because I want to go to the same church as the woman I intend to marry?”
“That request has also been denied.” Matthew looked at him sternly, but his tone remained level. “You two have only known each other a little over a month. Certainly not long enough to contemplate marriage. I knew Catherine’s father for years and can assure you he would not want his daughter to act rashly and marry someone who converted for his own personal agenda.”
His own personal agenda? This was ridiculous. His chest tightened. Unless he convinced the committee otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to marry Catherine. “Since you knew her father, I’m sure you know of the promise he made his daughter make. It’s this promise that prompted me to convert but not the only reason I’m willing to do so. Seeking the church’s approval is important for us to move forward in our relationship. It’s not like we plan to marry in the next couple months. We would just like to have your approval and know we are working toward a common goal.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Taylor,” Matthew said. “You have our decision.” A couple of the men sitting near where Matthew stood nodded in agreement.
Matthew made it sound so final. Like there was nothing more that could be done. Their minds couldn’t be changed. “How can you stand there and dictate who can marry and who can’t? That should be a decision between us.”
Jaidon glanced at Catherine. No doubt the look of shock on her face mirrored his own disbelief. What right did they have to choose whether or not they could be together? This had to be a bad dream. Without their approval, Catherine would never agree to marry him. He felt like a failure. His shoulders slumped.
“It’s obvious you aren’t willing to accept our ways, which only serves as evidence that you do not hold the same convictions as we do or support the committee’s authority and final decision.” Matthew folded his hands in front of him.
Catherine saw Jaidon’s face turn pale. He stormed out of the pew and headed for the door.
It wasn’t fair. She didn’t want to date someone else, or marry anyone else either. Jaidon loved her—enough that he was willing to change—for her. If her father were alive, surely he could see that Jaidon was good for her, made her complete.
She stood abruptly. “Please don’t do this,” Catherine pleaded. “We love each other and want to be together. What’s wrong with us wanting to belong to the same church? After all, marriage is about two fleshes becoming one.”
“We feel that you are both acting on physical attraction, which is a bad way to begin a relationship,” Matthew said. “There are plenty of eligible men to choose from. You need to find someone, like my nephew Michael, who already shares your faith and isn’t making a halfhearted attempt to become something he’s not.”
“Something he’s not?” Catherine glared at Matthew. She’d gone out on one date with Michael in high school. She wouldn’t have even done that if Matthew hadn’t pressed her mother, trying to encourage her to be nice to his nephew when they’d moved to the area. Michael, or any other man she’d met, could never stack up to Jaidon. “I can tell you something he is—he’s kind-hearted and giving. Jaidon lives out his faith in the love and dedication he shows to others. He didn’t think anything of putting himself in harm’s way to protect me—”
“Which only shows he has a violent side,” Matthew contested. “He stood up to someone who was violent and possibly deadly. Was he going to talk his way out of it?” He didn’t wait for Catherine to respond. “We are peaceful, and we avoid violence.”
“He—” Catherine stammered.
“Enough!” Catherine’s mother stood. Everyone stared at her. Normally her mother was very docile…unless her feathers were ruffled enough. The look on her face was one her mother wore when she’d been pushed to her limits. Growing up, when Catherine got in trouble, she knew that look meant don’t press your luck or you’d find out the hard way she’s not the pushover people often mistook her for. Her mother’s eyes had focused on something behind Catherine.
When Catherine turned to follow her mother’s gaze, she saw Jaidon. He hadn’t left; his angry glare remained focused on Matthew. She didn’t blame him for being upset. The committee members didn’t care how she and Jaidon felt. They hadn’t talked with either of them; how could they know their hearts?
Catherine looked back at her mother, silently pleading for her to help.
“You asked Jaidon what I told him that night in church, when he declared before everyone that he wanted to convert.” Her mother smiled. “I told him that no matter what they decide, you have my blessing.”
“Our decision is final,” Matthew said.
“And you’re entitled to your opinion, but in the life of my daughter, I’m the one who can give her my blessing.” Catherine had never seen her mother take such a stand. Not even against her father. “You were only twelve when your father passed away. Way too young to know what love is. Your father should have never made you make that promise to him. It was unfair. You have the power to choose for yourself.”
Catherine nodded. She felt as if a weight had been lifted from her. Her heart soared like a feather, floating in peace. She turned back to Matthew. “I will always cherish my heritage.
But I can’t believe that God would be so stringent to not allow me to follow my heart, or His leading. I choose the love of my heavenly Father and the man He has placed in my life. The man that I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“If you do this,” Matthew said sternly, “you will force us to read you out of meeting.”
“Do what you must.” She didn’t want to live without Jaidon. Even if she had to suffer the consequences—it was better than giving up love. Catherine turned to step out of the pew, intent on leaving, when she collided with Jaidon. She smiled. “Déjà vu,” she whispered. “Like the first time we met.”
Jaidon laughed. He took a step back, held out a small velveteen box, and opened it. “They can’t stop us from being together. No matter what they or their committee decides.”
A woman who sat nearby gasped, and Catherine’s mother clapped.
With shaking fingers, Catherine traced her finger over the large beautiful diamond, gleaming in its halo setting, and inhaled deeply. It was unbelievable. He’d even chosen white gold, which she preferred. “It’s beautiful.”
“What do you say?” Jaidon grinned, the most adorable sheepish grin she’d ever seen. “Will you marry me?”
Catherine didn’t need to look at Matthew, the Friends around them, or the clearness committee to answer. “Yes.”