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It was 9:28 am when I reached Three Maples Church, named after its beautiful trees, planted out front, with service starting at 9:30. I’d hoped Judy would be waiting for me inside, holding my spot in the pew. I parked and threw my keys in my pocket, a place I’d likely forget later, and raced up the church steps. The ushers nodded and smiled at me as I entered. Thankfully, I was not the only one living on the edge this morning, as the lobby was still full of people. The music softly started, and everyone slowly shuffled to their seats.
“Well, I suppose I’ll call off the search party,” Judy smiled as I slid into my seat next to her. “Up late again? Anything to report back?”
Judy well knew I had been browsing a few dating sites, but that was nothing new. I’d been casually looking for years to no avail.
“My new jigsaw is 1,000 pieces that are all the same color, just slightly varying in hue,” I smirked at Judy. I knew that would get a rise out of her.
“When I was your age, I was out dancing three nights a week!”
“Oh? I didn’t know that! What kind of dancing?”
“Well, back then, my husband’s parents were swing dancers. So my husband grew up learning it and very much enjoyed the dance, but he himself had two left feet, and I had no desire to accidentally be thrown through a window. I’d always been more of a country girl, so he compromised and learned to line dance, which we did every Thursday night for the next fifty-odd years. As much as he enjoyed it, I’m afraid he never quite got the hang of it. It all came down to his feet. And boy, were theyodd.”
“What do you mean, odd?”
“Well, his two left feet weren't figurative, dear. It’s the reason the military wouldn’t take him. Thankfully, he found a great career as a shoe salesman. Foot irregularities are much more common than you know. I remember one client had asize seventeen left shoe. The right was a size ten. They became great friends. He’d started an adult basketball league with my husband; they called themselves the “Flat Footed Flyers.”
“That name!” I laughed it off as Judy went on.
“I know, dear. Word caught on fast that an irregular foot team was forming. At the peak of their league, they had twenty-six players. It was large enough that they could split into two teams, thankfully, because they needed an opponent. So not only were the Flat-Footed Flyers playing, but now we had the Bunion Busters coming in opposition. And my guy recruited them all.”
“Wow, he sounds like he was an amazing guy.” I took her hand. “While I’ve never been professionally diagnosed, I’ve alwaysfeltmy feet were irregular. Maybe I should find a basketball team?”
“Anything social would be good for you, Katie. I only wish the line-dancing place was still around. I’d love to show you my moves.” Judy smiled.
I had no doubt she knew how to dance, as her everyday movements were fluid and easy.
“Well, in that case—maybe we should let Pastor Bill know what we want at the next church social. A shot caller for line dancing!” We giggled about our ideas when Pastor Bill came to the pulpit.
“Good morning, friends,” a woman we hadn’t seen before tailed behind him. “This morning, I wanted to start us off a little untraditionally with a new project that Three Maples has been involved in. I know it is something very dear to all of our hearts. We’ve been asked for help from a local animal shelter in their efforts to save God’s creatures and find them loving homes. I’d like to introduce the Marshall’s daughter, Samantha, from the Newtown Animal Shelter. Samantha?”
A woman about my age took a small microphone from Pastor Bill as he remained at the pulpit. I could see the resemblance to the Marshalls, the couple who always sat beside Judy and me every Sunday morning. She had her mother’s beautiful blonde hair, and it was tapered into a similar bob. Samantha nodded and, still standing adjacent to Pastor Bill, spoke sure and loud.
“Thank you, Pastor. As he said, I am with the Newtown Animal Shelter. I am here to ask for your help. You see, our shelter is full.” A small gasp was heard. Cue the Sarah McLachlan music. Is someone cutting onions in here?
“We have beautiful, loving pets who desperately seek a home of their own. We are so full that we can’t take any more in, and the situation is dire for those we turn away.” She paused, stammering her words as if she might cry. She looked up at the crowd.
“I ask that if you’ve ever considered adopting a pet, now is a wonderful time to do so. You wouldn’t just be adopting, but you’d be falling in love. Gaining a best friend.” Pausing, Samantha pulled the microphone closer to her lips. “You’d be saving a life.”
The voice of someone choking up behind Judy and I started off the crowd. We all felt the emotional plea of this woman who was here as a last resort. I certainly felt it, too. Judy and I looked at each other with big eyes, and it was clear we both wanted to do something to help. I just didn’t know what thatsomethingwas.
After Samantha spoke, Pastor Bill thanked her, and she stepped down the stairs leading from the pulpit, walked down the aisle, and left. In passing, she looked as emotional as the attendees, and my heart broke for the animals.
Judy leaned into me. “I want one.”
I smiled, considering she’d always commented about the dogs we saw people walking on our outings, so I knew she was a dog lover.
“Just one? How about a few?”
Judy didn’t say anything as the Pastor started his sermon, a very timely one about kindness and compassion.
“We know that the Lord hears our cries. But He also hears that of the animal kingdom. Open your bible to Matthew 10:29.‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.’Wow. Isn’t that remarkable? Not one sparrow—a small bird that people used to sell for half a penny falls to the ground without Him knowing.” Pastor Bill closed his bible and came out from behind the podium.
“The Lord created everything in existence. Think about the grains of sand for a minute. Are any two pieces the same? Have you ever seen a snowflake under a microscope? Have you ever cut open an artichoke and truly admired its intricacy? Or scrape your skin, only to watch your body heal itself? It’s enough to make anyone believe in the Lord’s existence.”
“Now, what about the beautiful animals He has graced us with? We have such diverse beauty all around. From the colorful tropical birds in the jungles, the incredible song of the sea's blue whales, to the Smith’s intelligent labradoodle.” He smiled at the mention of the rambunctious dog that ran off with the potato salad at last summer’s picnic. “They are all God’s creatures.” Pastor Bill went back to his podium and took the microphone. “And some of them need our help.” He smiled at Samantha.
We ended the service with a prayer for the week.
