Marcus Redding's Sunday Morning

He woke up to the smell of Sunday morning coffee. As usual, Lauren was up early and made coffee for him. She didn’t drink coffee herself. More of an orange juice girl. But she made him coffee every Sunday morning.

After he got ready he sat down across from her at their kitchen (card) table. As she finished her Raisin Bran, she said, “You were asleep when I got home. What did you do last night?” Marcus looked at her and smiled an embarrassed smile and sipped his coffee. “I almost burned myself,” he said. Lauren frowned, “Well let it cool down before you drink it then.” “No, I meant last night…I almost burned myself last night.” And he told Lauren about going to Ron’s house to watch UFC 101. And how he left when he realized that he couldn’t be holy and also watch guys beat the tar out of each other. And how the smell of the beer they were drinking brought back bad memories for him. “So I left,” he concluded.

Lauren reached across the table—which wasn’t that far a reach—and squeezed Marcus’s hand, “I’m proud of you.” “I shouldn’t have gone in the first place.” “I’m proud of you.” “Thanks, Lauren.” He glanced at his cell phone. “Time to go.”

They drove to the church building. A ten minute drive from their apartment. Marcus parked away from the front door, just like his dad always did. He would explain, “Leave the closer parking places for older folks and families with little kids.” His dad was always doing things like that. In fact, his dad (David) and mom (Abigail) pulled up and parked right next to them. They all got out and greeted each other. Lauren held Abigail’s hand as they walked across the parking lot to the building. Marcus and his dad walked behind the ladies.

“How’s your song coming?”

“I’ve got the tune, I’m just working on the lyrics”

“Come over after evening services tonight and play it for me.”

“All right.”

As they approached the door, Marcus walked a little slower and let his dad go in front. David knew what was going on. He reached out to open the door and held it for the ladies. Marcus hesitated. David knew why.

This door to the church building was the same door David held open for Marcus and Bruce five years ago, the Wednesday night after he got his license, the Wednesday night when Marcus wanted to take his friend for a drive, the Wednesday night of the car wreck in which Bruce died. David had stood in this very same doorway five years ago and reminded Marcus to be careful and to check in on his cell phone or at least text him and to be home by 10:00. Since Marcus had only regained his faith less than a year ago, it still bothered him to walk through that door. And to see his dad there again. It brought back haunting memories. Some Sundays he would just take a right turn and go through the side door. Some Sundays it was all Lauren could do to hold his hand and keep him from walking back to the car and leaving all together. The flashbacks to the accident, remembering Bruce’s parents at the graveside, it was all too intense.

But this Sunday he was all right. Lauren had walked in with Abigail. She glanced over her shoulder at him. Then he saw his dad holding the door. The door into the place of assembly where he could worship the God who had saved him once…and rescued him again. “Come on, buddy,” David said, “Remember…Philippians 3:13-14.”

Marcus took a deep breath and walked in.

More about Marcus Redding’s journey of faith next week.