SC: The Company We Keep

THE_COMPANY_WE_KEEP
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“Dad just left, I told him I will be home later,” Monica said. Her face brighter than the sunrise. The main service had just ended and we were required to stick around for a short briefing. I saw Mutale when I was taking my offering to the front but he was nowhere to be seen anymore. “Did you read through the note I sent to you last night?” I asked as we walked to find a cool place to sit. I was so eager to hear what she had to say about it.
“I did, I found it challenging and provoking at the same time.” She said thoughtfully. I wanted a more detailed opinion from her. “I never thought the issue of non-believers and believers was such a big deal though. I mean you can’t force someone to believe in God if they don’t want to.” She added. I knew from that point that she was going to give me a review of a life time, Monica was always good with book reviews and other related activities.
“I was struck by that point too. However, I love how she clearly explained that in one of her paragraphs.” I said warmly. Monica shook her head in agreement, “I like the part where she notes something like, “Your life should be enough proof that there is God, people should look at you and see that Jesus is alive in you.” Monica said as she clapped her hands together. I was in shock, I didn’t know what to say, and I couldn’t help but just lift my hand up.
The note was more than just words organized and put together, it answered questions in a manner that just left me puzzled and I was sure my now best friend was also in that same state. Whilst we were busy quoting from the note Norah sent, Mutale walked in on us. “Hi ladies…” he said confidently. He looked at Monica, he expressed a face filled with surprise. “Monica this is Mutale and yeah.” I smiled. I wasn’t really trying to introduce them to each other but rather to clear off the expression on Mutale’s face. “I think we have met before. The briefing has been cancelled due to another meeting that is taking place right now so you are free to leave.” He said.
“Let me just check on the others and let them in on the change, I will be right back” he added and left. “I also need to meet Kennedy at 16hrs so I must be on my way now.” Monica said. I knew she was hitting me with that ‘you guys need some alone time’ and I wasn’t going to fall for it. Nevertheless, I ended up escorting her to the bus station, she was like a paper full of questions that needed answers.
“So how was church for you?”, that’s one of the questions that gave me a hard time, the idea of her comparing secular music and gospel was a terrifying thought for me. “I was actually wondering when you were going to ask me that. It was great, it was better than I thought it would be although I didn’t know more than half of the songs that were sang.” She said in excitement. “Is it okay if I visit your church even next week?” she asked.
Her request echoed a thousand times in my ears. It never for once crossed my mind that I would see such a day. “sure! sure!” I answered. “There is something that happened at your place yesterday while you were asleep. After your mum finished talking to me she shared a couple of teachings with me. Guess what?” she said with a bright beam. I was never that good when it came to guessing. But it wasn’t going to hurt just to give it a try. “she’s buying you a bible?” I said.
“I think you shouldn’t be guessing”, she said with a confused look. I wanted to know what happened and I wasn’t going to wait, from a distance I could see a small bus coming. “Come on tell me what happened. Don’t make me guess again” I added. “I gave my life to Jesus. I welcomed him and accepted him as my lord and savior.” She said. Her voice was lowered; from her face you could tell it really meant a lot to her. The amount of excitement that rushed through my body was just so great that I couldn’t help but weep.
“Let’s take a selfie” she said. I really want to remember this day, I had read and heard of people who changed but little did I know that such really happens until now. Don’t get me wrong, many are the times I thought staying away from people was going to help my Christian life. One of the thoughts in Norah’s note answered a question which was something like this, “when does one become a new creation?”. Many of us will say it’s after we have accepted Christ. However, in the note she says it’s a simultaneous act. The moment you confess and acknowledge Jesus as your lord and savior, it’s that same moment that you become a new creation.
“Jane! You should remind me to write a note when I get home.” She said. The bus arrived and she entered, she took the window seat and smiled. “What’s the name of your note going to be?” I asked. I couldn’t help but laugh, Monica was now entering the writing business. The bus started off and she got her head out of the window shouting, “It’s going to be something like, “Take a picture, take a selfie!”.
Like every good story, I cannot write down everything that followed but I can tell you that It’s been almost two years since my first Sunday service with Monica and I got better by the day. Kennedy and Monica never dated but are now very good friends. Mutale finally changed the type of perfume he wore and is now in Chililabombwe, a small town in the Copperbelt. Katuu on the other hand was caught but Monica refused to press charges on him, he was ordered to leave town or else he was going to be jailed. Norah is still writing her provoking thoughts and ministering in youth meetings with one of the most downloaded soft copy books which she wrote, titled “Person in me”. As for me, I now work for a local newspaper company in Lusaka.
“We all have someone who’s out there waiting only for us to preach to them about Jesus.”
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THE END!