| |
Esther
Esther was on her knees in front of the altar. She didn’t know how long she’d been there and had stopped praying a while ago but had lingered in the peace of it.
She hadn’t realized anyone else had entered the church until Rachel said, “I can’t believe you can still get on your knees.”
Esther jumped and then started to pull herself to her feet.
“Or you can get down, but can you get back up?” Rachel stepped closer. “Do you need a hand?”
“No, I can do it.” She came to a wobbly stand. “What brings you here?”
Rachel shrugged. “It’s Sunday morning. I don’t have a church. I figured I’d come here and pray.”
Esther smiled. “Great minds think alike. Don’t let me stop you.” She gestured toward the altar.
“No thanks. These knees have done some hard living. I can pray in a pew.”
The door opened, and Barbara and Cathy came inside. “Well, hello ladies!” Cathy said.
“Good morning,” Esther and Rachel replied in unison.
“Just couldn’t stay away, huh?” Cathy sang out.
Barbara looked around. “Wow, it’s looking better already.”
“It’s amazing what a little Pine-Sol can accomplish,” Esther said.
“Indeed! Well,” Cathy said, “we thought we’d come pray for a while. Then we’re going out to lunch. You want to join us?”
They both agreed and were arguing about which restaurant they would patronize when Dawn and Vera came in. “Did someone invite you?” Dawn cried, obviously worried she’d missed an invitation.
“No one other than the Holy Spirit,” Esther said quickly.
Dawn’s face relaxed. “Oh good.”
Barbara looked around. “Vicky is going to have a fit that we’re all here and she’s not. Should we call her?”
“You don’t need to,” Esther said as Vicky walked in.
“What are you all doing here?” Vicky said accusingly.
“Good morning to you too,” Esther said. “We’re going to pray.”
“All right then. Wait for me.”
The ladies settled into the front pews.
“Nice hat,” Vicky said to Rachel.
Esther flinched. Vicky’s sarcasm sounded especially harsh in their new sanctuary.
“You’ve always been jealous of my hat collection,” Rachel said with her tongue in her cheek.
Rachel had an extensive collection of ridiculous hats straight out of the seventies. While Esther had never been jealous of the hats themselves, she’d often envied Rachel’s nerve. The hats often clashed with the chunky beads she wore around her neck, making the hats appear even more brassy.
Esther was prone to elastic-waist navy blue pants and light blue t-shirts. Boring.
Vicky rolled her eyes at Rachel and then looked at Esther. “Are we praying aloud or silently?”
“Either, or, or both,” Dawn said.
“Fine,” Vicky said, and then began to pray aloud. “Father in heaven, I pray for this building. I pray you will sanctify it and bless it. It seems you have called seven old broads to get these pistons firing again, so you’d better equip us to do so because we’re all running a little low on fuel.”
Esther snickered. There was the Vicky she knew and loved.
“I pray for this neighborhood. I pray we can make a difference. I pray you show us how to make a difference. I pray you get people through the doors, but also give us the ability and the courage to go out through the doors and reach people outside. If there are needs, use us to meet them.” She laughed. “Oh, what am I saying? Of course there are needs, so use us to meet them. Use this building. Use these women. Use the gifts we have, those we know about and those we don’t yet. If Cathy is meant to preach, then you’d better help her do so. I’ve got my reservations about that one, Lord, but you are in charge.”
Esther resisted the urge to peek at Cathy.
“I pray you protect this property from those who don’t want us to succeed, from those who don’t want you to succeed. And please send us some young blood to help us fix the place up. We ask you for a new wheelchair ramp. We ask you for a new furnace and the fuel to fill it. We ask you to help Alex fix the plumbing and help Kyle fix everything else. We ask you for money to pay Kyle, although it would be even better if you could convince him to work for free.”
Esther could almost hear Kyle’s mother rolling her eyes.
“I pray that you help us find windows. I’d prefer they be stained-glass, but that might be complicated, but at least get us windows, Lord. Windows to let that beautiful sunlight in. Windows to let people look inside and see this beautiful sanctuary. I pray for flowers in the flowerbeds and children in the Sunday school rooms. And most of all, God, I ask you to take charge of this ridiculous project. Don’t let us get in the way. Have your will done here, Lord, or all of this is for nothing. We want all of the glory to go to you and you alone.” She took a deep breath. “And all of his people said ...”
“Amen.”
