Chapter 1: Catching up.

Chapter 1: Catching up.

Dear God, sometimes I wonder if it's easier to speak to you live, as I would to someone physically, argh what is life? I asked myself thoughtfully as I was walking back home from the Thursday evening service at church. A lot is going on in my mind after listening to today's teaching. The sermon just touched my heart and it felt as though the preacher was speaking to my soul. The only thing I could think of is to get home and meditate on it again and again. It was just beautiful. I got off the bus and as I'm walking towards my house which is about 15 minutes to get to, I notice a familiar face.

''Hey is that you Tiya?'' I asked, running up to her as she was a little bit farther. She turned to see who was calling her.

''Hey Dan, wow long-time no see," With a surprise look on her face, she leaned toward me and gives me a hug that lasts roughly about 1.5 minutes, as if she misses me, and I couldn't help but notice her scent.

"Angel" was the smell of the perfume I smelled on her, she looks amazing as always.

"How have you been?" She asks smiling.

"I've been good, just you. You disappeared”. I reply

“What are you talking about Dan? You're the one who went MIA, I don't see you around as I used to, and it's like we don't live three blocks away from each other."

The whole time she was talking I was staring at her as if I just met her for the first time. Her beauty was way too difficult to ignore. She usually has an Afro with a bandana wrapped around it, but this time she had some kind of a rope-twisted pinwheel bun hairstyle.

“Tiya evangelina haha, you haven't changed one bit, but you really look good my Sista” Calling her full name, laughing out loud and hoping she didn't realize that I was checking her out. Seriously what would she think of me? I just came from church, so I'll need to behave, especially within my mind. I haven't been a Christian for too long but I'm well aware that my mind is a spiritual battlefield, and I'm really trying to practice what I learn.

"Oh, thank you," She responds to my compliment chuckling before she opens her mouth to ask, "So where are you going? ... I mean where are you coming from?"

"Oh, I just came from church, on my way home now... well obviously you know that." I don't know why I was feeling nervous talking to her, this is my good friend and we knew each other for a very long time.

"Hmm church huh? That Thursday services?" She said it in a weird way, but without hesitating I reply. "Yeah, you know you should come to our next convention. If you want I can come pick you up. What do you say? Want to come?"

"Hum no I'm so done with churches; I can just go watch a Sunday service at home no? I mean there are so many fake people in churches nowadays, so what's the point? I have lots of questions and you're not the one to answer, I feel like I lost faith you know?" As soon as she finishes her last sentence I proceed with my invitation. For unknown reasons, I was very perseverant inviting her but at the same time I missed seeing her at church, simply because she was the main reason why I would go to church in my early days as a believer.

"Yes, and that's why you should come to this convention Tiya. I believe God will speak to you. It will be nice if you can make it.

After a brief moment of silence, I proceed in a nervous tone of voice. "Anyways it's getting kind of cold. Umm...want to go grab coffee or hot chocolate? There is a coffee shop right at the light, the next light."

"Yes sure. But I'm paying my own drink ok?” She replies with a confident attitude.

"Fine, Miss Independent," Sarcastically I replied laughing.

"Oh, shut up," with a giggle she shot back as we walk.

20 minutes later at the coffee shop.

As we sit at the table after buying our drinks, Tiya sit in front of me across the table and my back was facing the street window. She's having her usual hot chocolate and I was drinking my French vanilla. It was mid-June, but it was a bit chilly. This north-American weather is always confusing, one minute it's hot the next minute it's cold out of nowhere. Anyways as we are talking she continues with her interrogations.

"So how have you been? I mean I haven't seen you for like months. What have you been up to?" She asked with a voice full of enthusiasm.

"Oh, you know... same thing, work, church and home—" Before I was even done, she adds. "Nice, you got something in your field already?"

"Nah not yet, I'm still looking, what about you? You just left church and the choir... what's up with that? Like... fill me in, I want to know everything." I ask while taking a sip from m cup.  "Come on Dan, I don't want to talk about that church stuff. No offence but if you must know, I'm doing just fine. You know... work, chilling and all and yes, I miss singing in the choir, but I couldn't deal with the hypocrisy and the fake people like damn... I've been disgusted with them choir girls, they pretend to like each other, but then again, they talk bad behind each other's back and to me that's not Christ like. Sad but I guess that's none of my business," She sips her hot chocolate and says. "Anyway, enough about me, it's your turn."

"Wow you sound pissed off, what really happened?" I questioned her while laughing quietly, but she cut me off.

"STOP it Dan, I said enough about me, it's like everything is a joke to you, what would you do if you were in my shoes? Huh? What would you do? And don't give me that "I would just pray over it" type of answer. I know you well Dan. Tell me something. How do you stay out of trouble?"

"Well technically you know the old me; I had to laugh at that again. I am a changed man," I continued. "But if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't pay them no mind. I go to church to worship God, not to please people." There was a dry silence between us after my response. Her eyes were wide open and fixed into mine and I could almost see that she was confused. She didn't know what to say to me, she felt lost. The thought of her backsliding never occurred to me. I wish I knew what happened, but it is as if she is hiding something, a secret perhaps. So, I proceeded again with a firm voice.

"Look Tiya, I don't know what happened in the choir or who you got beef with and to be honest I really don't care. But that's not a valid reason to leave church and less to serve God. I mean, you're the one who brought me to church remember? Yo, you were even the one who shared the word with me right? So what example are you setting for me? Look! Even all my boys are making fun of me because I've become a Christian. Is that a reason why I should give up too? No! It’s not like you're an atheist or something. Plus, you know the word better than me, so get yourself together. As I finished expressing myself, she was just there listening. She put down her cup of hot chocolate on the far-left side of the table then crossed her arms and put her right hand to her right cheek. She stopped fixing me with her round beautiful lazy eyes and looks slightly down to the right away from me. I know she agrees with me, she agrees with every word that came out of my mouth even though she wouldn't say anything. Maybe she was thinking, trying to process what I just told her.