Needing an emotional bailout ...

It is forty-five minutes before the service.   Only a handful of people are there ...the choir, an elder and his wife, and the pastor.   Walking up the steps slowly, she recalls how it has been years since she has been to church.  She hesitates at the front door, her three small children shielded behind and clinging desperately onto her.  She wonders if this is a good idea after all. 

She wants to run away, but something inside her draws her to the door.   Perhaps it's because she remembers as a child, how much a happy and peaceful place it was.  But that was so long ago ...it's just not the same anymore. 

She is about to leave, when the door opens. 

She is greeted by an elder, followed by his wife, and then the pastor.   Mostly fear grips her, but some distant relief, trying to unlock itself from within her deep refines, manifests itself into tears.  They usher her forward into church, and more tears gush forth.  Her children stay back, huddling in a corner by the door.  She is about to explain what is on her mind, but as she tries to wipe the tears away, a blurry glance witnesses a man enter through the door near to where her children are standing.  

She breaks frantically in that direction, and herds her children out the door.   The elder and his wife, and the pastor stand in the doorway, watching as she speeds out of the parking lot.   They then turn to the man who had just entered.

The man speaks softly, "I can explain ...".      He is a member of the church, and highly respected, yet the emotional display that they had just witnessed, and her reaction to this man ...is enough to question what mystery, perhaps hidden beneath the exterior of a Sunday church-goer, may warrant such drastic emotions, causing her to flee.  They hold off their emotions the best they can, and fend off any rash judgments of possible condemnation ...looking the man straight in the eye, awaiting an explanation.

"That is my niece,"  the man offers.  "We haven't seen Hope in years ...that's her name, Hope.  They don't live far from us, but they've made it clear that we are not welcome.  I don't believe Hope is the one who had felt that way about it, but families do have to operate somewhat like families, and that often brings about change ...sometimes unwanted change."