#churchhurt

“Who Has Bewitched You?”

Are you ready for my raspberry and garlic sticky chicken? I’m just going to drop the wings in the bowl and coat them just right! Mmmuah! Yummeeee!”

Mrs. Lueth loves the kitchen almost as much as she loves having young adults over for Bible Study.  When you put the two together, like they are tonight, you get one happy woman.

“When I was young like you lot, I didn’t have time to be bored. I was busy planning the next young  adult lyme.  Come now, on the balcony all of you!”  Her balcony was like a big open room under the stars.  Efraim, Jonathon and Abe helped to carry out more chairs for the almost 30 young adults who were attending another one of Auntie Lue’s events.  Jala was preoccupied with who was coming to the gate as Aunty Lue raised a song to get everyone settled. 

“Where is Chari?” Abe asked Jala.

“That’s what I am wondering.  I was going to swing by her after work before coming here but she told me to go on and she’d meet me here,” added Jala.

“Odd, she’s usually in the kitchen with Auntie Lue preparing before the event.”

“I’m not getting her on her phone either and that’s not like her.”

“Well, she knows we are here and it’s not too far from her house either,” reassured Abe returning to the group.

The Bible Study was about the purpose of a renewed mind according to Roman 12 and the discussion was open and honest, though challenging for some.

As Mrs. Lueth riveted the truth, “Unless you are intimate with the Word, the Bible, you will not know His perfect will.  His will is His Word! Besides, when you read this Word, you should ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate what He is saying to you, so you can grow in relationship with God,” she summed.

Jala was distracted all night waiting to hear from Chari.  It wasn’t until she got home that she saw a shallow message on her phone.

“Sorry, I couldn’t make it.  I got caught up!”

Jala was even more disturbed and wondered how her friend could waste her evening and blow it off with such a flimsy excuse.

She couldn’t wait to call her in the morning.

As the phone rang, Jala quickly answered and told her friend, “Before you get mad! I have such exciting news!”

“Yes and No!  So, I’ve met these wonderful people who are all in business and they help each other build their businesses.  Trust me, I’ve brainstormed with them concerning Vibe and woooo!  It’s an entire vibe! They are super brilliant and well-established young entrepreneurs  and you won’t believe this…they are Christians!”

“No way!”

“You’ve got to meet them.  I told them about you and the guys and they are excited to meet you all!

“I’m excited to meet them too!”chimed Jala.

For the next couple of weeks Jala saw less and less of Chari, as the appropriate meet-up time with her new business Christian friends became more elusive.  Even the guys noticed that Chari was not present at benevolence but Jala was doing everything to keep the operation on par.

Efraim and Abe insisted that after benevolence this Friday, they were taking Jala out to her favourite French café.  As she closed up, she tried to dissuade the fellows.  Jala wanted to feel low all by herself, but the guys were not allowing it.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! harped Efraim as Abe took her handbag.

“I think it fits me, it brings out the blue in my eyes.” Abe modeled his way down the hall, while Efraim laughed and dragged Jala along.

“C’mon, cheer up. Chari isn’t gone anywhere.  We all have other friends and our friendship still survives.”

“I know that…you guys, but Chari is like a different person now.  She doesn’t return my calls and when she does it’s bla la la…about them!  ‘Oh, you’ve got to meet Todd and Mishka’ she mimicked.”

“You’re not jealous though?  I know you feel bad but…she is about to launch her magazine and we know that she has been waiting for this from forever.  If they can help her, why not?” reasoned Abe.

“Abraham, do you not know how far we have come from with these dreams? Of course, I know that!  The truth is that I am happy for my friend but something just doesn’t feel right.”

Efraim opened Jala’s car door explaining, “If you ask me, I’d say she still needs our support and we have to be there for her.  So, if that means showing up where we’re not invited…

“Speaking of not invited!” Abe interrupted. “Isn’t that Chari?”

As the three took their seats near the sidewalk, they could see a large party of people celebrating inside the café.  There was Chari, obviously the center of the celebration.  Jala sunk in her seat and covered her face with the menu.  Abe popped up and exclaimed. “We finally get to meet them!”

“No way! I’m not going!”

The two guys headed inside and Jala was torn.  She definitely doesn’t want to go in but it looked really childish to sit outside and ignore her friend.

“Ok, fine!”

Chari screamed with her hands over her mouth as she saw them coming.

“These are my friends, guys! Abe, Efraim and Jala!

“Wow, we heard a lot about you all,” greeted a mature lady in the group.

 The group consisted of mostly young professionals who politely greeted the three before resuming their evening activities.

Jala returned to her table with a question mark on her face. Before she could get out a word, Efraim started.

“Well you know what I’m about to say…not I told you so, but we need to pray!  Though I was so distracted at Auntie Lue’s Bible study, it hit me that the Word of God helps to grow my discernment.  I’ve been troubled and I judged my motive.  Is there any jealousy in me? Now I know that God was calling my attention to something that has been off with my friend.  These people say they are Christians but something is not adding up.  We’re hitting a fast guys.”

“I noticed that a few of them had on a symbol on their chains.”

“Ok, Efraim, draw the symbol and let me google it,” said Abe. Efraim started doodling on his napkin and Abe took a picture.

Before long the guys had found the society associated with the symbol and the gravity of Chari’s situation was magnified.

Abe and Efraim considered physically going for her but Jala’s wisdom overruled that decision. 

“We cannot fight a spiritual battle by physical means!”

“Why doesn’t she see it?”

No one had an appetite after their discovery.

For the next three days the friends fasted and prayed, meeting in the wee hours of the morning to pray for Chari. 

The Friday night before the launch of Vibe Magazine, the three friends were serving in benevolence ministry when Abe’s phone rang.

“Please come and get me!”

“Come guys let’s go. It’s Chari!” 

As they hurried down the hall they nearly bumped into Auntie Lue.

“Why the hurry?”

“It’s Chari!”

“I’m coming!” 

Jala had filled her in concerning Chari’s new company of friends and their discovery about the society.

When Abe pulled up alongside the building Chari told him she was in, he could see her working her way down the external staircase in a hurry.  He hopped out the car and opened the door for her to enter.  As soon as Chari was inside the vehicle, she gasped and let out a holler.  Jala and Auntie Lue hugged her, being patient for her to share when she got to it.

“Why? Why can’t I get a break? Why?”

Abe drove hard and fast since he did not know what the back story was.

 They told her she did not have time for friends at a certain level since God wanted her to grow and be about his business.  Chari said she felt uncomfortable at times but she was seeking to be diligent in doing the groundwork needed to launch the magazine company. 

At the last meeting, they asked her to make a higher level of commitment to ensure that they could also commit to back the magazine company.  They explained that they would be her church now and that their members were from varying religious backgrounds and orientations and should be accepted as she wanted to be accepted. Chari explained how she began asking questions that got the leader angry.  She was to have a commitment service tonight but after raising a plethora of concerns the members began giving her the cold shoulder and she was given an ultimatum. She could enjoy a failure-proof magazine company or be cut off from them and continue feeling stuck in her career.

Auntie Lue and the friends formed a circle around Chari and began praying fervently. Chari coughed incessantly until she was lying on the ground like a wet rag.  Auntie Lue led her in prayers of repentance and prayed fierce protective prayers over her as her friends agreed.  Without realizing it, they had prayed until after 1 am.  Though Chari felt too weak to walk, her mind was clear and joy and peace were hers again.  This was supposed to be the day of the magazine launch but she had refused to be in covenant with darkness.

Since Chari’s involvement with the business group she had nightmares night after night about being married.  As she approached the altar the scene would become ugly and the beauty of the place gave way to darkness with eerie creatures scampering about.  Finally, she could sleep in peace and continue her faithful steps toward one day owning her magazine company.

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Jala was almost finished helping Mrs Lueth prepare for all the young adults who were coming over for fun and fellowship that Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Lueth’s house was big enough to accommodate several groups of young adults at the same time and she enjoyed having them over. Jala could hear Mrs. Lueth calling her softly as she finished cleaning off the kitchen countertop.

Jala sank into one of the plush brown outdoor chairs on the balcony, suspicious of what might be coming next.

“Auntie Lu, what’s going on?”

“Something’s been on my mind recently since you introduced me to that young man.”

“Oh dear!” Jala let out a sigh as she cuddled one on the cushions placing one hand under chin. “Do we really have to talk about Ephraim?”

“Aaah… we don’t have to talk about Ephraim, but we do have to talk about you. I’ve been praying for you, asking GOD what’s happening? Jala…You are in a series of reaction. I only wonder if you can see what you’re reacting to.”

Jala felt something in the pit of her stomach. This conversation has gone so deep so fast. She knew she could not be surface her answers to Mrs. Lueth. She was motherly with a dark chocolate complexion and pleasingly plump, with deep dimples that created apostrophes around her smile.

“Auntie, I don’t want to go back to where I’m coming from.” The tears started welling up in Jala’s eyes but Auntie Lue was not letting up. Her gentle countenance was most disarming, backed by her evident love. She folded Jala into a side hug which softly communicated that there was no getting away.

“You’re in quite a fight Jala. I see you waging a war against what started on the inside of you. When you end the war inside you’ll end the war outside.”

“These people hurt me! They dragged my name through the mud. Hardly any ever asked me to my face what happened. People I trusted spread lies about me and him. I’m still so embarrassed. I genuinely thought Jonathan loved me and was interested in being married to me. We got prophesies, Auntie!”

Jala was breaking and tears were flowing from her broken heart as she struggled to control her usually well guarded emotions.

“People said I slept with him! Oh my goodness Auntie. I felt like a church floozy! Me…a virgin!”

“It’s ok precious. It’s ok!” Auntie held her the more but Jala heaved until they were both on the tiled floor.

“Just let it out.”

“I never talked about it! I felt too ashamed. I messed up! I went too far with him. I could hardly talk to God after my repeated offence. Again I felt ashamed. Auntie….only to find out I was just one of the girls he was with in the church?

Her mouth opened with no words or sound, just tears. All this time Jala toughened up and blamed herself for being this foolish.

Auntie moaned alongside Jala like a midwife helping her to give birth.

“Let it out,” she comforted.

“It wasn’t even a month later he was engaged! I looked like I was trying break up their union…Auntie I wanted answers! Why did he choose me to make a fool of and why didn’t I see? How did I miss God?”

After many tears and snot, Mrs Lueth prayed her red hot fiery prayer for Jala, who was like a soaked handkerchief.

“You must forgive yourself Jala. You’ve repented for you part. Receive God’s forgiveness and freely give forgiveness to those who hurt you. The more you hold on to the pain, the less able you are to move forward. Your healing has started.”

Mrs. Lueth wiped her face.” Jala, remember that Ephraim was not there. He should not be punished for what others did.

“I knew that in my head. I felt I could not allow him to think for a moment that I was interested in him. I realized that I really enjoy his friendship once there was no threat of a relationship or others thinking there was.

Mrs. Lueth could hear the cars pulling into the cul de sac and got up to remotely open the gates from the balcony so that the early birds could park in the yard.

Walking back to Jala she added, “Don’t waste your energy trying to get people not to talk about you. My mother once told me, ‘Live free and let people be.'”

Jala quickly got off the floor, to fix up before everyone was inside the house. “Thank you Aunty Lue. I feel so light. Yes, and free!”

As soon as she disappeared in the bathroom, Chari’s loud voice filled the house.

“Auntie Lue, I smell something good!”

Abe and Ephraim followed behind carrying all the bags Chari gave them to take in the house.

“Hello my children,” Auntie did a dance coming down the stairs. She greeted them one by one and made effort to especially welcome Ephraim.

“Where’s Jala, Aunt?”

It’s been a hectic morning. She’s gone to shower.”

“So Ephraim I hear that you go to the Baptist Church not far from us.”

“Yes, mam,” answered Ephraim trying not to appear awkward while fighting the memory of his first introduction to Aunty Lue.

The three sat around the island in the kitchen, while Auntie Lue plastic wrapped the trays of food and chatted about her friends at the Baptist Church that Ephraim attends.

The bell rang again as Jala came into the kitchen greeting everyone and she grabbed the remote to open up from the balcony.

“Can I help you with anything,” asked Ephraim.

“Great, thank you. Ephraim, you take the igloo out to the balcony, Abe you get the ice from the deep freezer and Chari you come with me.”

As Ephraim headed to the balcony he hesitated as if he wanted to make a u-turn.

“Fraim, sang Jala, I’m so glad you came.”

“Really, cause I don’t want to embarrass you anymore.”

“You don’t embarrass me, but I’m embarrassed about my behaviour toward you. Could we please start over?

Jala extended her hand for a handshake.

“Nope,” Ephraim turned his back.

“But we can pick up from the where we left off in benevolence.”

Jala slowly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly shaking Ephraim’s hand.

“Friends,” they both agreed.

Auntie Lue glanced at them and gave out a “Thank you Jesus!”

Chari and Abe were just in time to create a huddle and a strong bond was formed.

Hey, we’re not done. More Church Girl Series coming. Tell us if you can relate these characters and scenarios. Jot us a line and be sure to share the story with friends. Thanks in advance!