Simple Man

- THIRTYONE -

   It was early Sunday morning and Little Bethlehem Baptist Church was packed to the point that late comers were standing in the back by the open door. It was stiflingly hot and despite the languid spin of the fans overhead people fluttered their own to relieve them of the sweat on their faces. Iyana caught Ozzy's eye as she and Kyra found a seat on the opposite side of him. He winked at her before he gingerly sat down, propping his cane against the end of the mahogany pew.

    He, like everyone, was dressed up. His thin hair was slicked back, and his pristine white buttoned shirt was embellished with a black braided leather bolo tie that sported a large turquoise and silver concho. Ozzy was flanked by Vin, Taz and Kahuna who were also presentable and Iyana felt that had more to do with respect for their employer than respect for the House of God since the three large men looked very uncomfortable in their clothes. She scanned the crowd for Rowan and was equal parts relieved and disappointed not to see him.

   She didn't have time to admonish herself for feeling that disappointment because Pastor Tripp casually strolled up from where he was seated next to his wife to make his way to the lectern at the front of the congregation. The pastor caught Iyana's eye and he winked and smiled at her, but unlike Ozzy this wink felt inappropriate somehow. She curtly nodded her acknowledgment of him but that was all she would give him as her eyes immediately went to Kyra who looked far away and unreachable as she stared at her dress shoes. "You okay?"

  Iyana knew she had dropped a bombshell on the little girl last night—She had an uncle, a very famous uncle no less.

"I'm fine" Kyra replied, the monotone in her voice said just the opposite.

   Before Iyana could press the matter further Pastor Tripp cleared his throat, his thick blonde hair was styled so that no hair was out of place, his smile was blindingly white and slimy like the pastors who were on television asking working class people for their hard earned money. His suit was in the shade of powder blue; he looked like he belonged on an infomercial more than in a church, "What makes a leader? I ask myself this all the time and have come to the conclusion that discipline alone makes a leader not," Pastor Tripp said to his flock, "without faith in God a leader cannot hope to lead for long because the discipline that once carried the very best of the leader among men will surely wane without it. With that said, please follow along as we look at Judges, we'll start on passage fourteen-one and go from there."

   Everyone who possessed a Bible turned to Judges and read along, listening as Pastor Tripp regaled the congregation with the early success of Samson, the legendary Israelite warrior and judge; the last of the Israelite judges. He had it all, but losing the discipline to fulfill God's purpose for him lost so much more, "Samson lacked the discipline to continue on the righteous path God had intended for him, he was beguiled by a woman and deceived. He deviated way from that of God's will and lost it all." Pastor Tripp said with grave seriousness.

   Iyana was listening intently she looked down at the Bible in Kyra's hands. She wasn't strong in her faith, more agnostic than a true believer but the story of Samson struck a cord with her in that hour. She saw herself in the story of Samson. Perhaps Rowan wasn't here to deceive her but he did beguile her more than she cared to admit out loud—especially to him. She was a warrior who's sole purpose at this time was to protect Kyra from any harm and she only needed to remain disciplined to see her purpose fulfilled.

   Iyana was so deep in her own head she barely noticed Pastor Tripp finished his lesson, "Now if you all will bow your heads and join me in prayer."

   Everyone in the congregation bowed their heads except for Iyana who was staring a thousand miles away. "Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that You guide our hearts on the path of righteousness. You have a most awesome design for each and every one of our lives. Let us not stray from Your plans for us, may we remained disciplined and faithful to Your will, and Your will alone. Touch our hearts that we may find the strength to let go of the pride of thinking we know better than You Lord. Thank You for every breath, and the next breath until our last—may we use those breaths to hold Your name up high. In Jesus's name, Amen."

"Amen." Repeated the flock.

The choir was already up, Iyana was surprised to find that Justine took the stage in front of them. She was dressed in a off-white chiffon dress with her natural curls swept away in a matching head scarf. She looked like an angel. Iyana felt a tinge of jealousy which she knew was stupid, she and Rowan hadn't seen each other in years. Their romance was the romance of youth, she was sure both were different people by now. Despite the lack of logic she still silently traced the delicate, finer features on her face as she opened her mouth to sing "By Thou My Vision."

   She not only looked like an angel, she sung like one as well. Iyana tried to focus on the song and not compare herself to the woman singing them. They led very different lives, and it was evident merely looking at Justines' face just how different. It was kinder, softer where Iyana felt she had her face set in a permanent scowl. Iyana shook her head and just focused on the words.

"...Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one..."

Iyana felt as she turned her focus away from Justine that someone had their focus on her and sure enough her eyes met those of the Pastors'. Iyana couldn't believe how bold he had to be to stare so blatantly at another woman as his gorgeous wife and mother of his child stood just six feet away singing. Especially after all he said of Samson was the parallel lost on him or did he not care? It unsettled her. Iyana went to church a lot as a child and knew the importance of it in a small town like Juniper but if it wasn't for the sake of trying to blend in she and Kyra would not be in attendance at Little Bethlehem Baptist Church ever again.