A Friend

Jack figures out after a while that he's at a religious gathering, a church meeting. And this makes him a little uncomfortable; he thinks Ingrid should have told him what they were doing. But he tries to be open minded, to listen courteously, and to behave the way the others there do. He remembers what Brother Andre suggested; that God is far above all religious divisions, and we should realize we're all His children, no matter what we think of each other.

There are some thirty people here, and they seem to know each other well. After a while Brother Randolph, the young man in charge, asks everyone to sit down. There are couches, easy chairs, and wherever space allows, kitchen chairs in between, some in clusters - all very casual. There's an old piano in one corner, and a middle aged lady starts to play an old favorite, 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus.' Most of the people sing along, and Jack joins in as well. Ingrid smiles so broadly she can hardly sing.

"Friends in Christ, welcome! I'm happy to see all of you, and I thank the Lord for this opportunity to share in fellowship with you. It's especially gratifying to see some new faces here this evening. Praise the Lord! We hope you find here what you're seeking. We have! We all have! Alleluyah."

"Alleluyah! Alleluyah! Praise the Lord!"

A gaunt man Jack has seen on the streets at night walks uncertainly to the front, and looks hesitantly around. Slowly he starts to speak. "I was a drinker… I beat my wife. I took whatever money I could lay my hands on to get booze. I mistreated the kids. I yelled at them for nothing. Just because they were there in front of me, and they wanted something. Did I listen? No, I couldn't think of anything except my next bottle."