He woke up with a headache.
His head was pounding like a pestle was being used to hit it.
He checked his watch: 8am!
Ah! He'd slept for just about 2 hours.
He looked around: where am I? The room looked very unfamiliar.
He stretched out on the bed. His hand hit a head...
He froze: who is in bed with me?
He pulled the duvet: he saw braided hair.
Who is this, he wondered.
He tried gathering his thoughts.
He remembered he was in Port Harcourt for a conference.
He flew in from Abuja earlier yesterday.
He remembered he went clubbing last night...
He got drunk & returned to his hotel room.
He had no idea who this lady in bed with him was, but he was sure he came back with her from the club.
He was still very groggy, he tried going back to sleep.
The lady turned & smiled at him: "Hey, Boo."
He stared at her...
What am I doing with this girl, he thought.
She's not even half as pretty as my wife!
His mind went back to the family he left behind in Abuja.
Suddenly, he felt very bad.
He had been married for almost 10 years, but he was faithful to his wife just for the first 2...
He always looked forward to these out of station conferences where he could do whatever he liked without any fear of getting caught or seen.
He never kept a permanent side chick: any available one is fine.
In that moment, he heard the music coming from the hotel banquet hall...
He listened.
It seemed a church meets in the hall!
The praise & worship session just started.
His mind went back to his teenage days when he used to be zealous for God.
That was 25 years ago.
He had drifted far off from God & he knew it.
He could remember the songs being sung...
Suddenly, his heart was cut. He felt very remorseful.
He woke up the lady.
"Please, you have to leave NOW!"
She was surprised.
But one look into his eyes told her not to bother trying to make him change his mind.
She got out of bed & dressed up.
He gave her some money.
She left.
He went to take a shower.
He decided he'll go to the church downstairs.
He hadn't been to a church service in over 5 years!
But today, he felt a strong desire to go.
As he showered, his heart went to his wife.
How much he had hurt that woman, he thought.
I don't deserve her...
He finished his shower, dressed up & prayed: "God, I'm so sorry! Please, forgive me! I want to change my ways, please help me! I am going to church right now, please touch me in any way you can, set my heart aflame for you again!"
He started crying profusely...
After a while, he composed himself, got up & walked out.
He followed the sound from the church.
He got to the hall.
It was closed.
2 men stood in front of the door.
"Good morning, gentlemen!" he greeted them.
"May I go in?"
He reached to open the door.
"No sir! You can't!"
He was confused. "is this not a church?"
"It is, but you can't go in, sir. You're late! Once pastor goes up to start preaching, nobody is allowed to go in or out. It disturbs the flow of the Spirit. Next time come early!" one of them said.
He couldn't believe what he just heard!
I can go into the church because I'm LATE????
Seriously?
He was late because he was crying out his heart to God in his hotel room!
He wants to change the trajectory of his life!
He wants to go in there & rededicate his life to Jesus!
What nonsense church law is this?
Nobody can go in or out when the pastor starts preaching!
What if I were inside & I want to ease myself? I can't even go to the toilet?
He looked at the 2 men at the door in anger.
"You guys are mad. You, your pastor, your entire church- you're all mad!"
He turned & walked off.
He got back to his hotel room, seething in anger.
To think he was remorseful & wanted to change his life!
He sat on the bed.
He noticed the lady who left earlier had scribbled her name & number on a piece of paper on the side drawer.
He picked his phone & called her:
"Babe can we continue from where we stopped?"
She replied, "I'll be with you in 30 minutes!"
This happened to a friend.
I invite him to church often.
He always declined.
Last month, he told me of this experience.
Today, he's so pissed off with church & he's back to his old ways.
I don't know which Church that was, but I think we should be careful about these church rules we churn out.
I honestly don't understand how people coming into church late "hinders the flow of the Spirit."
People have different reasons for coming late- rain, car issues...
Or like my friend, crying & confessing their sins to God in their closet.
He came to my office this morning.
And as he left I thought, there goes another one the Church has damaged with unnecessary rules!
May God give us wisdom & understanding.
And TACT!
Amen.
Shalom...
😖
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