As the service was going on, one chain smoker, who thought he could find peace in smoking and drinking but got frustrated the more, walked into the church hall. He had taken in the last straw of smoke and put off the spark from the weed with his right foot just before crossing the church gate. He needed someone who could understand him and not judge him. He was ready to fight the addiction to a stop.
It was a worship section that sunday morning, and everyone was in the spirit with their hands lifted up, and tears trickled down the cheeks of some.
The man felt strange, though that wasn't his first time in a church gathering. His childhood church held more on holiness and righteousness doctrines, giving no room for flaws. He told his pastor about how he lost his 6months old job; things became hard for him that not even his pastor cared to know how he was coping but was quick to suspend him when alcohol was perceived on him. He left finally and gave in fully to smoking and drinking.
He was amazed by what he saw as he looked around. Unlike his home church, they gave no much room for worship, preaching about holiness and righteousness was their watch word. So, he hadn't seen anyone shade a tear during worship.
The woman he stood close to, got her eyes closed and was speaking in tongues with tears streaming down her cheek. Just then, as he was trying to concentrate, he heard a vibration; it was the woman's phone just at the edge of her bag that was resting on her seat. The vibration continued, and the expensive phone was shifting away from the grip of the bag and was about to smash itself on the ground. The man was so quick to grab the phone half way in the air. He raised the woman's bag a little, and was trying to fix the phone under the bag so it would be in between the bag and the chair when an usher that has kept his eyes on him grabbed his hand like he just caught a thief.
"Oga, what are you doing? come out." he ordered.
The man, out of free mind, said he was trying to put the phone in a comfortable position so it wouldn't fall as it almost fell.
The usher called on the attention of about two more ushers who took him outside and then sent for the pastor while they interrogated him. They perceived the smell of weed as they spoke and accused him of stealing. The man couldn't believe his ears, though he held on that he wanted to see the pastor after the service. They walked him out of the church compound before the pastor's arrival.
"He was trying to steal a woman's phone during the worship section." was what they told the pastor when he came to meet them.
The following week, the man committed suicide out of frustration...
The church now is a place for perfect people...
