ESCAPING THE FISH BOWL: CAMPAIGN SEASON

WORLDS COLLIDE

We are now at the end of the service meeting, car groups have been decided on, everyone has stocked up on the latest “spiritual ammunition”, and the gas tanks are full for a good day in service to the master. Unsurprisingly, cevonte and AJ wanted to be in the same car group. They both ended up with brother and sister Rodrigo. A married couple. They are the ones who plan the big gatherings during certain parts of the year. To keep the jw youth active, and not around worldly associates doing the exact same activity. Regardless, the territory the group was assigned to do was an apartment complex near a college campus. At this point in our story, the group has done one section of the complex and they are about to start the second section.

“Ok, it’s your turn cevonte, and you can go with my wife on this one,” announces Brother Rodrigo. “You ready to present this one cevonte?” she asks eagerly. “Uhh yeah for sure”. He says unsure of himself. Why? Well this particular door had a symbol at the front. At the front of this apartment room was an extra large, bright and beautiful looking, pride flag waving in the wind. As if it was saying hi to them. They finally made it out the car, up to the doorstep, and gave the door a nice, loud, knock. *KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*. It took a good 20 seconds until they knocked again, when suddenly, “umm who is it?”, yell’s a voice from inside. “Bible students!”, says sister Rodrigo to the voice. The door within a matter of seconds is immediately swung open with a bit of a squeak noise.

Standing in front of them was a very tall and lean young black man wearing a tank top. “Uhh hi there, is this for a charity?”, the man asks. “Hi!”, starts sister rodrigo, “no we are Jehovah's witnesses, and we are here to spread a bible message with you this morning sir!”. Now it was clear that it was cevonte’s turn to present. But for some reason, he could not take his eye’s off the rainbow color flagged in his gaze. “Woah, i’ve never actually seen a pride flag in person before”, he thought to himself. “Oh i see,” he started, “i've heard good things about yall.” he says enthusiastically. “Yes thank you,” says sister rodrigo. “Sir are by any chance familiar with Jesus and what he died for? She asks. “As a matter of fact ma;am, i sure am familiar with that.” he then points to his chest. “Why do you think i’m wearing this cross on my neck?” he asks bashfully. “I love my lord and savoir, and that’s on period poo”, he says with a chuckle. “Well i’m glad you have this enthusiasm” starts sister Rodrigo, “because we are having a memorial service this coming-” she stops her sentence because she couldn’t find any memorial handouts. They were left in the car by cevonte, he was just too mesmerized by the flag. “Excuse me one moment please,” she says a little flustered. As she walks back to the car, there is a brief moment of silence between cevonte and the man at the door. Finally, cevonte says to him, “hey, i like your flag, it’s uh, very expressing of color”, he says nervously. “Oh, thank you young man, it is after all pride month, so I like to represent those whose voices are misunderstood and not taken too seriously,” he responds passionately. “Wait there’s a month for-”. And before he could finish his question, sister rodrigo was already back with the memorial handouts. “Ok got em!”, she shouts,”sorry i took so long.”, she says chuckling. She then shares a few bible scriptures and the time and place for the memorial. ‘Hmm, I'll see how my schedule looks, he says to her. “Well we hope you can make it, and by the way, what’s your name?”. “The names Carl,”. At this time, they said their farewells and everyone went about their day. It was time for a lunch break.