Valiant Hope by Donna Fleisher

Author:Donna Fleisher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Array
Publisher: Zondervan

EIGHT

SOMETIMES, JUST BREATHING THE AIR inside the sanctuary of the Kimberley Street Community Church brought her to tears. It carried its own sweet scent, the scent of wood polish and grandeur. Of hope. If ever there was a scent of hope, this was it. Combined with the fragrance of a hundred different perfumes and breath mints. Two hundred people singing with all their hearts to God, blending their voices into one sweet strain.

Chris laughed at herself, though no one heard her as the song carried heavenward. She didn’t feel embarrassed to be the only one not singing. She figured the rest of the congregation would appreciate her not contributing to their impressive work of musical artistry. Her inability to carry a note would toss a clink into their fine work, for sure. That would be bad enough, but it would also most certainly embarrass Erin and Sonya, who sat on either side of her and sang as beautifully as anyone in the church.

So, see? I’m doing them all a favor, Lord.

As she read the words in the hymnal, she moved her lips and pretended to be singing. Sometimes she hummed along. But she fully intended to save her vocal experimentations for the quiet mornings at the gym when Margaret Becker’s Immigrant’s Daughter spun on the CD player, blasting musical prayers across the huge open room. It was okay to let loose then. Chris locked the doors and made sure no one could hear or see. She sang along and even stepped out a dance or two if the moment demanded it. Sometimes the love overflowing her soul did that, made her do the strangest things. But she didn’t mind. It was as if her feet needed to step out and move. So she let them. And, as she did, she knew the One she loved was watching. She knew He was there. He was always there. And every so often she could tell He was stepping out too, just letting the music move His feet as if He couldn’t stop them any more than Chris could stop hers.

Side by side they stepped out. She was sure of it.

Incredible moments making the entire rest of her day that much sweeter.

The hymn they were singing carried out to its end. Another hymn was announced, along with its page number and the request to stand. Chris knew the routine and was grateful for it. The chance to stand one last time before the sermon usually gave everyone the ability to sit and listen to Pastor Andy until that final “Amen.” But the last few weeks at this point in the ser vice, Chris always felt terrible standing when Erin’s feet were so swollen it was so much better for her to stay in her seat. The wide hole her absence created beside Chris sent trickles of loneliness through her entire being. Only Erin’s joyful singing would lift her from that loneliness and make everything all right. Hearing Erin sing made everything right.

The new hymn was a rompin’-stomper, as Sonya’s granddaughter Amanda would say.

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