LOVING THE UNLOVELY

Chapter Five:  The Announcement

by Tricia K. Brown

Hos spent most of the day and many days afterwards wondering if he had done the right thing. Was it really God’s voice he had heard?  Perhaps he was having a nervous breakdown.  He wouldn’t be the first inner city preacher to lose it under the stress of pastoring a church like this. 

On more than one occasion, he had picked up the phone to call a fellow pastor-friend.  Then he would put it down again, convinced that anyone who heard this story would simply laugh.  If they had laughed at Roger Dunbarton’s revelation, he could only imagine the reaction to his.

Hos had not gotten to that point yet.  To him, this was no laughing matter.

A full week and a day later, he had almost talked himself out of it, almost convinced himself that it had been a crazy, misguided notion of his own making rather than a divine command.

Then, she walked into the church.

It was exactly 8 AM. Service was scheduled to start at 9. Hos was busying laying out the hymnals, which were kept locked away during the week to avoid theft or vandalism. He was bent over mid-way through the pew when he felt, rather than heard, someone behind him. He jumped and quickly turned around.

The first thing he noticed was that her face was just as painted up as before.  The second thing he noticed was a new bruise—on her cheek.  In fact, half her face was black and blue, still very visible under the thick layer of make-up.  He looked at her clothes.  She was wearing black lace tights with knee high boots, a bright red mini skirt and a yellow, sleeveless, low-cut tank top, covered by a sweater that looked as if it belonged to a younger sister.

Before he could say a word, before he could even digest her presence, she spoke.

“OK”

Just two syllables, just one word, the implications of which caused his knees to buckle as he plopped onto the wooden bench.

“What in the world am I getting myself into?”  he thought to himself, and immediately began to think of STDs.  Then he remembered God’s message.  “I will use you, Hos.”

 “OK,” he said, as he patted the seat beside him, and she sat down.

It seemed like a very long time that they sat there, facing the pulpit, looking at the colorful stained glass cross illuminated with the morning light. Hos had no idea what she was thinking. He had no idea what to do next.

Finally, he just started talking, trying to pick up where their conversation had left over before—before the awkward proposal. In a bumbling sort of way, they tried to get to know one another, rehashing details of their first conversation, learning each other’s last names, talking about favorite colors and foods and things often taken for granted but seemingly important to know about one’s fiance.

Until the church members began to arrive. 

Hos tentatively took G’s hand and quickly lead her to the front row. Obediently, she sat down as he rushed away to greet his congregants.

These people were accustomed to seeing prostitutes.  They saw them every day on the side of the road.  They passed them while walking to the grocery store.  They almost tripped over their lanky bodies draped seductively across park benches and against light poles.  They weren’t accustomed to seeing them in church.

As the first grandmas started bustling through the door, grandkids in tow, Hos felt his stomach begin to churn. Even still, he hoped, maybe they would be receptive.  Maybe they would think she was here to be converted.

All eyes hung on the back of G’s red head as Hos slowly climbed the platform steps towards the pulpit. He knew what God wanted him to do, but he really wanted to argue this point.  He hadn’t even had time to give it consideration until now.  He wanted to talk to God about it a little more, to discuss this, to make it a point of negotiation. 

“After all, Lord,” he reasoned, “I’ve done exactly what you asked up to this point, haven’t I?  I have been obedient. Can’t I just wait a little bit before making it public? Do I really have to tell the congregation today? Shouldn’t we have time to get to know one another a little better” 

But, Hos knew. 

He knew it before the pianist started pounding out “How Great Thou Art.”  He knew it before Mrs. Sullivan, late as usual, had marched down the aisle toward her seat, second pew on the left.  He knew it before John T. Feltmore had taken off his Sunday-go-to-meeting hat.  He knew it before Miss Tidwell had passed out the candy and crayons to keep her kids entertained. 

God wanted him to introduce G… his fiancée. God wanted him to announce his upcoming wedding.  Hos knew that he needed to do it. He knew that speaking it, out loud, would make it real.  He knew. He knew…

“Before we open our Bibles this morning, I have a very special announcement,” he heard the voice coming out of his mouth, but it was as if he were somewhere else, as if he were hearing someone else.  Sweat beaded on his forehead and pooled above his upper lip. He couldn’t see the congregation, couldn’t feel the Bible squeezed tightly between his hands, couldn’t hear the shuffling of feet against the wooden floor.  All he could do was listen to the voice coming from his mouth but somehow, not entirely from his head.  “I am getting married, and I want to introduce you this morning to my bride-to-be.  Her name is G.  She has lived in this area most of her life, and many of you know her.  G, please stand up.”

For the first time since she had arrived that morning, he looked at G. She was still sitting. He nodded at her slightly, and she rose, tentatively, not looking back at the group, not looking at the pianist still sitting on her shiny black stool right in front of her, not even glancing sideways at the people sitting on the pew across the aisle. She looked only at him, at Hos, with eyes that clearly questioned his motives, his timing, everything about this situation.

“It is my hope and prayer,” said Hos, without breaking her gaze. “It is my hope and prayer that you will all attend our wedding service, which will take place this afternoon here in this church at 2 PM, Lord willing. Please help G to feel welcome among our church family.”

A loud thud echoed through the church as Mrs. Sullivan’s cane dropped from her hands and onto the wooden floor. It was then that Hos woke up and looked out among his congregation, that he really saw their faces and understood. No one was going to hear a word of his sermon that day.