Praise and Worship was over, the Sermon made, the benediction had already been given and the church of God and Christ was near empty, but Angel remained inside the sanctuary, standing in the third pew. She stared at the large cross on the wall, wishing God would give her a chance to speak with her mother. Angel was at a crossroad in her life and needed direction. She felt like people didn't understand the meaning of a crossroad, it wasn’t a single road. There were at least eight directions any one could take and none of them guaranteed the right answer. Divorcing Emanuel was a road she was certain she would take, but Angel questioned is she should take that road.
She had tried her best to hold on to love and marriage. Tried to make it work. When that failed she sought justice, returned his infidelities with those of her own. She learned from her wrong doings. She stopped—not worth the giving of her soul. But his affairs continued, year after year, one affair after another, like worms in a can. Six affairs over a 9-year stretch was too much, Angel was done trying to make it work, over trying to change Emmanuel into a faithful husband.
The church was clearing out, only a few people remained. They stood around talking about the sermon. It was from the book of Hosea. The pastor had spoken about forgiveness. Angel had concluded she was going to be a sinner, her sin obvious, she would never forgive, or forget, or take Emmanuel back. She knew to forgive was the "Christian," thing to do, but forgive the man that had stolen so much from her and was trying to take all the things she invested so much of her time and money into, was out of the question.
It was just like Emanuel to have her standing before the Lord questioning her own salvation. They’ll do that to you. Angel was thinking when an Evangelist Crawford approached.
Evangelist Regina Crawford, was a tall woman with a strange appearance. She dressed like a monk, in home-made gowns with long trains that she draped around her arms. She always covered her dread-locked hair with a hat, or a doily and walked about in loud modesty. This morning the modest acting evangelist, wore a brown dashiki like dress and extra-long earrings. Her hair was pulled back off her face and her doily crowned her head. She cast sincere eyes on Angel, that were supposed to speak of her devotion to the Lord.
“Good day Sister,” Evangelist Crawford said quietly when she approached Angel.
“Hello,” Angel returned. Angel smiled, but she was annoyed at the intrusion on her privacy, but she didn’t let the irritation spill out. “I was just leaving,” Angel said, and she started to head for the doors.
“I hope not on my account,” Evangelist Crawford said, unmoved. “It looked as if you were in deep thought. Are things okay, do you need prayer?”
Always polite, Angel put on her calm face. She didn’t want prayer from an Evangelist, she could pray for herself, “No, I was just leaving.” Angel picked up her black wool-coat and her bag and attempted to leave again, but the Evangelist continued to speak.
“Are you sure you don’t need prayer, my sister?” she asked in a way that suggested the good Lord gave her direction.
Angel glanced between the cross and the lady. Emanuel was still on her mind. She’d gone to Emanuel’s part-time job at the bakery and cut up. She threw rolls at him, went behind the counter and nearly attacked him. His boss held her back and then called the police, she got out before they arrived. All things considered, Angel figured prayer wouldn't hurt.
“Sure,” Angel said. She didn't want to be mean. There was no harm in a sister going before God on her behalf.
“Any particular thing you would like to bring to the Lord?”
“Yes, my husband," she began, "you see we're go to court tomorrow…”
“Say no more, dear Sister,” the Evangelist said. She lifted a single finger to silence Angel, and then the evangelist proceeded, to perform her Godly duties. She retrieved a bottle of oil from a small red bag, and placed a tiny amount in the sign of the cross on Angel's forehead. Then with a smile she grabbed Angel by the hand and began to pray.
Angel bent her head down, but before she closed her eyes, she noticed the Evangelist wore a pair of red-bottom pumps and she smelled of incense and weed. Angel was a little taken aback, but it was too late to run, the Evangelist had begun.
“Lord,” Evangelist Crawford started, “you know our black men are at war with the devil."
Surprised, Angel popped open an eye and raised a brow as the Evangelist continued.
"War with drugs and alcohol. Demon spirits trying to kill, steal and destroy our black men--take down our families. I pray you send a spirit of protection around this child and her husband. I pray against the spirit of drug addiction and lies. I pray the judge sees things in his favor…”
Angel opened both her eyes. The Evangelist had her eyes shut tight and was in the midst of her deep prayer. Sweat formed on her top lip and she started to move up and down. Angel wanted to yell out No! Wanted to stop her, but then Evangelist Crawford started to prophesy.
“The children Lord, protect their Children,” she said. “God is going to move the spirit of addiction from your husband. He's going to win his court case. The Lord wants you to know he’s going to be the judge in the courtroom. This battle is not yours.”
Stunned Angel wanted to laugh. She just nodded her head. Evangelist Crawford was just about to come to a close, when she opened her eyes, and threw Angel an intense stare and spoke in some in tongues, and then she said, “He’s going to deliver him from his addiction. The Lord told me to let you know, if he’s sentenced it will be for his own good, so don’t lose courage. Like Daniel in the fire, he won’t be alone. Touch not my anointed. Father we ask all these things and by faith believe in your words, In Jesus Name. In Jesus Name.” She repeated.
Angel wanted to let Evangelist Crawford know that she was the Manager of a HR Department for a pharmaceutical company, and that her husband, a habitual cheater was pressing assault charges against her. Wanted to let the Evangelist know she had it all wrong. Angel wanted to tell her, because of her husband, her job was on the line, the house they just built was on the line and her family was being torn apart because of it all, but she didn't bother.
“Thank you,” Angel said.
“No sister, thank you. Believe things will turn out in your favor," Evangelist Crawford said, wiping the sweat that poured beneath her doily and down to her brow. "My husband has been incarcerated for almost ten-years, but he'll be home soon. My journey maybe over, but I'm here if you need to speak or if you need prayer."
With that Evangelist Crawford handed Angel a card that had her name and number on the front, the back listed the cost for her counseling services.
Angel took the card and rushed outside the sanctuary and into the brightness of the day. She glanced up at the clouds. The sky was bright and blue, and calm. “Lord I don’t know what that was," Angel said, and she dropped her head and buttoned her coat, "You know I gotta win this court case. I pray you watch over Emmanuel, but I can’t lose the house and I can’t have a domestic charge on my record. I'll admit my wrong. All I can ask for is forgiveness. I need you to walk with me in the courtroom tomorrow.” After she said those words Angel looked around the church parking lot, there were still a bunch of cars, a few people stood outside talking. No one paid her any attention, she got into her car and drove away, still speaking as if God Himself sat in the seat next to her.
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