Day 176: Rude Interruption

Should be Day 195.

The Prompt: You are singing with the congregation during worship, but the lady next to you is whispering on her cell phone.  You realize it’s a pretty deep conversation.  What do they say?

At first, I was irritated to see her on her cell phone.  Of all the nerve!  We are in the middle of worshipping the Lord, and  she can't even be separated from the outside world for an hour and a half.  Can't she at least step outside to talk instead of disrupting everyone around her?

I tried to ignore my mounting indignation and focus on the only person who mattered at the moment (I still wished someone would come by and tell her to put her cell phone away) when I overhead her mention something about a "mortgage payments" and "hospital."  I let my singing die off and strained my ears to listen more.

"-that we are having the meeting tomorrow.  With the chemo treatments, he's too sick to be bothered by our financial troubles right now. (pause)  He wouldn't be able to help us anyways.  (pause)  And what did the bank say?  (pause)  He won't give us an extension?  (pause)  There's no way we can get all the money in time, not even if we sell the car or jewelry.  There's no other options?  (pause)  Where would we go?  (pause)  If it's a job, I don't mind that we'd have to move-  Well, of course I mind.  I love it here, but we don't have much of a choice now, do we?  Okay, I'll talk to you later.  Bye."

I quickly looked away as she hung up and stared at the projector to pick up what part the congregation was singing currently.  She has a lot more troubles than I thought.  Someone sick in the hospital with cancer, an unemployed husband.  They probably are at risk of losing the house.  Even if things do work out for her, she'd have to move away and leave whoever is sick.  I still felt upset at her for not talking outside, but my compassion for her and her tough situation outweighed any bitter feelings I held.

Worship was already over, and it was time for everyone to turn to your neighbors and greet them with a hug or handshake.  Normally, I felt a little odd doing this, but I was eager for it today.  

I turned to the woman on my right, and even though she was still seated, I gave her a hug.  "I'm praying for you," I whispered near her ear.  "God will help you get through this.  Let me know if you need anything."  As I pulled away and returned soberly to my seat, I saw her brush away a few tears from her eyes.

"Today," announced the pastor, "we are going to talk about judging people by their appearances."