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Nancy’s clutched the
Bible and stared at the verses she was to read aloud. Song of
Solomon 7:7 and Song of Solomon
8:1-----Seriously? I am supposed to read
THAT aloud??
Nancy whispered to
Sister Opal, “Would you trade verses with me?
I would really appreciate it.”
She must have sounded
too desperate, for Sister Opal turned her down flat, holding onto her Psalms
42: 1, 2 tightly.
Preacher began
calling on the verses to be read.
'What'll I do...what'll I do? I can't say those words.' Her mind raced. 'Should I go to the bathroom? Throw up here in the Sanctuary....' The answer came from something her Speech and Debate teacher told her. So she did exactly that.
Nancy’s turn came. She stood tall, pulled her shoulders back and tilted her chin up. Clearing her throat, while making eye contact with the expectant faces turned to see her, Nancy spoke in a clear and loud voice, pausing at the commas. She emphasized the important nouns, and let her voice reach to all. Just as she had been coached during Speech Contests.
'What'll I do...what'll I do? I can't say those words.' Her mind raced. 'Should I go to the bathroom? Throw up here in the Sanctuary....' The answer came from something her Speech and Debate teacher told her. So she did exactly that.
Nancy’s turn came. She stood tall, pulled her shoulders back and tilted her chin up. Clearing her throat, while making eye contact with the expectant faces turned to see her, Nancy spoke in a clear and loud voice, pausing at the commas. She emphasized the important nouns, and let her voice reach to all. Just as she had been coached during Speech Contests.
“Song of Solomon 7:7, This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and
thy breasts to clusters of grapes…chapter 8:8, O that thou wert as my brother,
that sucked the breast of my mother…”
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Silence fell across
the small sanctuary, then some snickers erupted and throats cleared. Flustered, Preacher looked at Nancy and then down at his list. “Let’s move on, shall
we?”
Sister Opal leaned
over and whispered to Nancy, “There are some verses that shouldn’t oughta be in
the Bible. That there is some of ‘em.”
