Chapter 46
The
group was excited. They had
planned to start the meeting at seven but at seven no one was there but
themselves. Having brought an
amplifier and a small generator with all the foodstuffs and cooking gear,
they felt ready for a crowd. Disappointment
began to set in, as it seemed no one would show up; but George suggested
cooking anyway and they got a fire going and began to put on some hot dogs.
George
tried a couple of Christian folk songs on his guitar as he sang over the
microphone, and even though his voice was deep and rich for that type of
music, Shawanda saw the need to take over.
She
first versed them in tapping in a two-four beat and had them clap together
as she rang out a rousing Pentecostal song:
I feel good
when I think about
What He's done for me
I feel good
When I think about
What He's done for me
Over
and over again and again she belted out the tune until a crowd began to
gather. when she stopped the
small crowd of twenty or so gave her a round of applause.
George sat back in amazement as he admired this multi-talented woman.
Shawanda
then went into a rendition of 'Give me a Clean Heart', not the Charismatic
version, but the Pentecostal one which included plenty of soul and feeling:
Give me a clean heart
And I follow Thee
I'm not asking
For the riches of the land
I'm not asking
For high men to know my name
But give me Lord
A clean heart
So that I
May follow Thee
Give me a clean heart
And I'll follow Thee
At
the end of the song, they could see tears in the eyes of many in the
audience. Shawanda then decided
to give her testimony.
"Some
of you out there are just like me. You
were brought up right. Your
parents and your grandparents and your aunts and uncles told you about
Jesus. You got older, like I
did, got out on your own, and you strayed away.
"Well,
let me tell you, it's time to come back.
It's time to reaffirm your love for God and your faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
"Now
I know, some of you like playing Mr. Tough guy and Ms. Tough Lady.
You don't like to admit your need for anyone or anything.
But you need Jesus! And I need Jesus!
"I'm
going to kneel down here and pray and admit my need.
Those of you with enough guts to not care what people might think,
come on kneel with me."
Aaron's
fellowship group looked on in awe as the majority of the group moved forward
to pray with Shawanda. Aaron was reminded of when Charles had preached at his
church. Shawanda had some of
that same mysterious power to almost mesmerize people with her words.
He wondered why he didn't have it, although he didn't like admitting
that he didn't. Still, he
determined to ask Charles about it at a later date.
He knew he would have an answer; a real answer.
Shawanda
had barely finished praying when someone who hadn't come forward called out.
"What
you doing with those white oppressors?"
She
recoiled in horror realizing it was Jesse's voice.
Still it had to be answered and only she could do it.
"Jesus
didn't die for just black people or white people or red people or yellow
people." She called back.
"The
Bible says, 'God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life'.
These people are whosoever and so am I.
"This
is about love and not about hate. Yes
I know there are some white people that have done evil things but there are
people in every race that do evil things.
We must not let skin color or facial features or hair texture put a
barrier between brothers and sisters in Christ!"
By
now there were choruses of amens between each sentence that Shawanda spoke.
These hearty amens came from the very people that had just a few
moments ago prayed with Shawanda.
"You're
coming with me!" Jesse
commanded as he lunged forward to reach her.
George
immediately jumped between the two facing Jesse.
He had determined he would not hurt her again.
"You
want the goods, but you don't want to pay the price of commitment."
Shawanda yelled back. "We're
through! I'd thought you
understood that!"
In
a rage Jesse drew back his fist and came across George's face with a hard
right cross. The force of the
blow turned George's head and began to buckle his knees.
"Oh!"
Shawanda gasped. "Jesus
help us!"
George
stood back up straight. He wouldn't move from his position. Jesse started with a left hook, but this time out it stopped
in mid-air. Slim had grabbed
his arm and the others quickly surrounded him, picked him up and removed him
from the park amid his screams of protest.
Shawanda
fell to her knees and began to belt out another song:
Thank you Lord
Thank you Lord
Thank you Lord
I just want to thank you Lord
The
second time through everyone joined in singing, "Thank you
Lord......"
Afterwards
the people ate together, talked among themselves and told one another their
backgrounds. Aaron explained what he believed God was doing and most
expressed an interest in returning the following week.
After
the newcomers had left and the old crew began cleaning up, Shawanda went
over to George, threw her arms around his waist and planted her head against
his chest.
"Muscles,
you're my hero," she
proclaimed.
Judy
looked on realizing that Shawanda was a real rival, and one that could be
tough to beat, but she had a few tricks of her own that would very soon be
put into play.