Bits and Pieces

Day 4 - Church

Write a scene in a church.

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Theo glanced at the flyer in his hand and checked the address. Then, looking up, he compared the building in front of him to the picture on the flyer. When he was convinced that it was one and the same, he folded the paper and placed it back in his pocket. Wrapping the ragged coat around himself tighter in an attempt to fight off the frigid December night, he hurried to the door and let himself in.

Immediately, the warm air inside melted his frozen face and seeped through the holes of his worn clothes, greeting him like a long-lost friend. The air was filled with the scent of rich chocolate-chip cookies and a hint of peppermint. He squinted at the welcoming, bright light illuminating the place, in contrast to the darkened alleys he was accustomed to. There were boxes of Christmas decorations set out, and some were hanging loosely from the walls as if the person hadn't decided if that would be their permanent place.

It was a cheerful and light-hearted atmosphere that his gloomy and depressing life had almost forgotten.

He shifted awkwardly at the door, thankful for the almost overwhelming warmth, but unsure of what to do. And right when he decided that he should leave, a woman walked out of a door, carrying yet another box full of ornaments.

She looked about 26, when in fact, she was actually 23, with a few wrinkles at the edge of her eyes when she smiled and hands that looked like they should belong to someone who had worked all their life. Along with her frizzy red hair that stuck out at weird angles on her head and sparkling green eyes, she looked like she could be a Christmas decoration herself.

She set down the box among the rest and stretched her tired back. Only as she was tying up her hair with a bandanna after, did she notice a man standing at the door. And remembering the meeting the church staff had last Sunday about greeting newcomers, she walked towards him with a warm smile and extended her hand.

"Hello, you must be new here?"

Theo stared at her hand for a second, then just nodded at her, thinking that she wouldn't like shaking his filthy hand.

She awkwardly put her hand back and continued, "My name is Samantha Wesli, and I'm co-head of the staff here. May I ask how you came?"

He pulled out the flyer from his pocket and showed it to her. It was one about the holiday activities taking place at the church. He had picked it up in the subway station 30 minutes from here, thinking that, at least, a church might be okay with him staying there for a minute or two to warm himself.

"Oh, these events don't take place until next week," Samantha replied. She thought it interesting that those petty flyers actually had an effect.

He nodded even though he had no interest in holidays. Those were the times he felt the most alone.

"Would you like some cookies? They just got done 5 minutes ago, so they should still be warm." Without waiting for an answer, she practically skipped to a door and disappeared inside it for a second. When she came out, her hands were carrying a tray with a plate of cookies and a hot cocoa on the side.

"Um there's not really a place to eat these properly..," she muttered to herself. She kicked an unopened box near to where he was and set the tray down on it. Plucking a big plush snowflake from another box nearby, she handed it to him to sit on and seated herself on a mat that read "Merry Christmas!" on it.

He reluctantly sat down, setting the snowflake into another box.

Samantha didn't notice, but instead, gave him the hot cocoa and chirped, "Oh, that's right. I never asked your name! What is it?" She munched on a cookie while waiting for his answer.

"It's Theo..."

"Oh, that's a good name. Come to think of it, that's the first time I've heard you speak. I guess you're not used to friendly strangers, huh?"

He timidly sipped his drink and nodded.

After a few moments of snacking and light conversation, Samantha asked, "Do you go to church often?"

Theo shook his head and replied, "This is the first time I've been to a church."

She nodded and thoughtfully chewed on a cookie. Suddenly, a thought came into her head that urged her to tell him about Jesus, and she quickly swallowed.

"Um, do you know Jesus?" she randomly asked him.

For the next hour, she briefed him on the birth and life of Jesus and why He came to earth. Pointing to the cross on the wall behind her several times, she enthusiastically explained His love for everyone. Theo, at first, showed little interest, just politely listening as if she was telling a simple story. But near the end, Samantha noticed a glint of hope in his eyes that wasn't there before, and her heart swelled at the thought of another unbeliever coming to Christ.

When Samantha took the empty tray and cup back to the kitchen, Theo mulled over what she had told him. It seemed impossible that such a perfect God would love him, a homeless person, someone who has an ugly past.

He stood up when she came back and decided that it was time he should leave now. But Samantha, as if she knew he had nowhere else to go, said, "You should stay here for tonight. I made sure that the heater is going to be on the whole night, and I need someone to protect the Christmas decorations." She smiled at him, her green eyes lighting up as she did.

Samantha knew she had only met him an hour and a half ago and that she probably shouldn't leave a stranger inside the church alone, but she had an odd sort of trust that he wouldn't do anything bad.

"There won't be other people coming here and seeing you, so don't worry. I'm always here first thing in the morning before anyone comes."

Theo nodded gratefully, and Samantha smiled even wider in relief. She wouldn't want him to sleep outside, especially in this cold weather.

After she had given him instructions to call her on the church phone if anything happened and locked the church door on her way out, she waved at him and ran to her car, the red curls that had escaped from the bandanna waving wildly to him too from the blowing wind.

He looked around the small place for a while and came across the cross that Samantha had referred to during their talk. Even though he was still a little bit skeptical, a kind of peace settled on him, and he smiled for the first time that year.

Settling to lie down on the ground beside the opposite wall, he was thankful for the pleasant warmth and continued to look at the cross as the night grew deeper.

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