Sunday Rises

Oh my God I wish that incessant phone would stop ringing. I haven’t even gotten outta bed yet. Surprise surprise, what do I see on my caller ID when I pick up the phone? It’s Kasey. She just won’t let me sleep in on this Sunday morning, but dang it I gotta answer or she won’t stop blowing up my phone. So I reluctantly hit the annoying green answer button and give Kasey a hello with a dragging tone. “That hello doesn’t sound like someone who’s out of bed and on their way to church” she says in the most annoyingly lively accent I have ever heard.

“Calm down C.O.” I rebuttal sarcastically. “Don’t back talk me” Kasey answers with her own sarcasm. “You know you’re supposed to be on your way to the church house as we speak, Joe.” “But are you on your way to the church house, Boss Edgecome?” I ask while sounding like a smarty. I’m 20 minutes away, but you needs not be worried about how long I take to do my thing.” “You know, that sounds very hypocritical coming from a woman who’s worried about my every move.” I reply as I get dressed to head out the door.”

As I step out of the front door I begin to hesitate. Do I really wanna go this morning? Or is this peer pressure. Well part of it does feel like pressure, but the other part of me genuinely wants to go this morning. As I slowly shut my car door with hesitation, a big gray jeep quickly pulls into my apartment complex, quickly breaking my concentration and scaring the mess out of me in the process. Of course I’m not surprised when I see the crazy woman at the steering wheel is in fact Kasey with a frustrated look on her face which I’m one hundred percent certain is directed at me.

I take an exhausted exhale as she steps out of the jeep knowing that I’m about to get chewed out for attempting to ditch church this morning. “Well well, don’t you look lovely in that nice blue dress”-“Don’t even try it, not slick and only half handsome, wannabe Casanova.” Kasey interrupted with full fledged frustration. “Well, dang. I’m insulted with the mouthful you just gave me.” I rebuttal sarcastically. “Not as insulted as I am you big fibber.” Kasey hurled. “You were just about to go back inside and ditch church on me weren’t you?”

I then take a brief pause at her questioning because I know the next response could potentially cost me my life. “I mean, I was thinking about. Ya know, I’ve been feeling kinda under the weather lately.” The unimpressed look on her face tells me that she is not amused. “Joe, that’s what you said last Sunday and the Sunday before that. Now I don’t know what weather you’ve been feeling under, but today you are hopping in my jeep and coming with me and the rest of the family to church, even if I gotta drag you by the ears.”

I gulp reluctantly as I realize she ain’t jokin’. So as much as I’m trying to resist, I go ahead and hop in the jeep with her so we can head to church. “So what’s been going on with you Joe?” Kasey asks while breaking my uncomfortable silence. Well, Kase. I’ve just been feeling low on spirit fuel with everything that’s been going on in my personal life and church just ain’t been in my heart lately.

Kasey gives a sharp look to me and then back at the road while she’s driving. “Joe, that’s exactly why you should be going to church. Because you’ve been having so many problems and your spirit has been low. You should be fellowshipping with those of us who love you in the Lord’s presence. I’m not saying it’ll automatically make everything better, but it’s at least worth a shot.”

As I look out the window her word linger strong in my brain. Maybe she’s right, maybe this holy presence is where I’m meant to be. We pull up at the front of the church and the parking lot is packed to capacity. When we park and step out of the jeep, Kasey calmly takes my hand, simmering my hesitation. “Come on friend, I got you. More importantly, God has got you.” She affirms. We both walk in to church together to join the rest of her family and for the first time in months, I actually feel a sense of hope.