Life and Production: S3 E5: A Green Audience

Addressing

Splinters of light poured through stained glass windows of the Continually Faithful, Always True Nondenominational Church in Wilmington. Pastor Emory Donovan set aside his notes for the Sunday sermon. His gangly hands pushed letters past the margins. He stood up, addressing his office plants (the only living things in the room besides him) as a green audience. His preparedness allowed him to strike out run-on sentences, correct split-infinitives, and clarify, always clarify. His congregation of about twelve on a good day remained. Since the Great Transition, freedom of ideas resonated amongst the populace. Pastor Donovan had struggled to fill pews as most congregants opted to forego faith and support reason. Parishioners flocked by the hundreds of thousands to understand philosophy rather than dogma.

Alleged

Pastor Donovan wrung his hands. Sweat beads and tears mixed and he swiped them away from his temples. He was on his knees.

“Please God, Your humble servant pleads to Your precious and holy name. I’ve fallen from your graces. As You have tested Job, I know that you’ve allowed the Adversary to test me and send away my flock. I am too selfish and am worth nothing. But I know that you care, Lord. Please hear my cry,” Pastor Donovan picked himself off of the floor in his office and recited the Lord’s Prayer. In earnest, he believed that the unknown and unknowable would deliver him followers. A robot came beside him and played a gospel song detailing toil and strife and a better world beyond the grave. He straightened up his collar and placed his glasses on his face.

“That’s enough. Thank you,” he said and the robot whisked away from the room. From the days where his church boomed with visitors to now, Pastor Donovan had taken out loans on his house and his two other properties received foreclosure notices. His wife Taquisha left him just months after the drop in attendance reached an average of fifteen or so churchgoers. She took the children with her. He took it as a sign from something outside the bounds of existence that he should find a new companion. Lourdes Wellby came into his life and they have spent the last few years restoring his shattered life. He felt that his misfortune was at the hands of the enemy, Satan. But he tried to fight the notion that you should love your enemies as this would include the emperor of all alleged enemies.

Ecru

Nevertheless, he carried on, going through the motions, bowing and scraping to score points to secure his spot in the afterlife. With faith-based organizations put on the same playing field as other businesses which were tax exempt, churches like Reverend Donovan’s floundered. Because people sought to incorporate ideas that were sacrilegious, the scant amount who remained rejected the very thought of seeking outside help. One such person was Holtzclaw Wert. Though he frequented whites only bars, hotels, and restaurants in Delaware, Wert had no problem worshipping a nonexistent in the same house as Blacks, browns, reds, and yellows. He happened to be the only Caucasian. But he attended every Sunday, leaving Idette at home to care for Adal. Wert’s goal was to obtain absolution through a consciousness above the realm of the universe. On this Saturday, he visited with Reverend Donovan. Wert’s scaly hands were ecru eggshells. He fidgeted before he raised his hand to knock on Pastor Donovan’s door.

Affliction

“Come in,” Pastor Donovan said.

Wert squirmed and opened the door and slipped into the pastor’s office. He raised his hand to greet Reverend Donovan.

"Brother Holtzclaw, how wonderful it is to see you. I was just wrapping up my sermon for tomorrow. Please, have a seat.” Wert wiggled down in a swivel chair in front of a large oak desk. Pastor Donovan sat as well.

“Please, how may I help you, brother?”

“Well, it’s just that I’ve been coming to this church and don’t get me wrong, but I just need to see God more in my life. I’ve been battling the heroin and I know that you have a program for users, and….” Wert stopped.

“I hear you, my son. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be dismayed. There is a plan for your life. I believe that with whatever affliction you have, you will be delivered.”

“Thank you, Reverend. I feel better already.” Wert raised his hands to the ceiling.

“Now, are you going to be in service tomorrow?” Pastor Donovan asked.

Wert nodded yes.