Black Church

 

Black Church

 

cold air           

stung his face

on his way

to the Black Church

 

boy walked a country mile

to get where he thought he belonged

 

boy heard the sangin’ and the carryin’ on

heard them laughing … heard them happy

such a beautiful sound

comin’ through the cracks of that ol’ Black Church

 

every Sunday mornin’ … then again that evenin’

found him walkin’ by

the Black Church

 

boy could smell some cookin’

in the crisp country air

mixed with the scent of pine

some kinda hog

some kinda greens

sho’ smelled good

to this unfed boy

up in the Black Church

so he just kept on walkin’ by

again and again

so he could hear ‘em sangin’

and hollerin’

‘bout that fella … Jesus

up and again down the hill

in the middle of the gravel road

kickin’ rocks like he didn’t give a care

but he did …

 

onliest reason he was there

was ‘cause of the Black Church

 

 

 

boy never did tell nobody

‘bout going down there

to the Black Church

weren’t nobody to tell

Granny was old

and mama was gone

on business

was what he was told

 

boy lived all week fer the mornin’ of Sundays

didn’t have to be woked up

didn’t have to be gettin’ yelled at

to get up and go

on his way

to the old Black Church

he just went

on his very own

 

didn’t matter none ‘bout no rain

didn’t matter none ‘bout no cold

didn’t matter at all ‘bout no sweatin’

long as he got to get to walk by

the Black Church

 

sometimes they sang the same songs

other times they’d try a new one or two

sooner than he knew, though,

he could sang every word with ‘em

and sang he did

 

on a summer Sunday mornin’

inside the Black Church

in the middle of a song

the Reverend James raised his hands

and lowered them

hushing them quiet

and bent a curious ear t’ward the outside

as they settled

 

they all heard it

they heard what they could not believe

they could hear someone sangin’

out there on the road

the voice of an angel

a voice like they’d never before heard

surely the voice of God in Heaven

 

the door slowly opened

and the Black Church emptied

they saw him

he was there

just ‘cross the yard

out in the road

walkin’ and kickin’ rocks

and sangin’

sho’ nuff sangin’

 

the dirty faced white boy

hadn’t yet seen ‘em

so he kept right on sangin’

 

the Black Church black folk were stunned

by what they heard

tears filled their eyes

 

they’d seen the boy before

some of the sisters worried ‘bout him

but they was told better not to meddle

so they just prayed for him

but now …

here he was

sangin’ their song

word for every blessed word

in a voice that was as sweet and pure

as the whisper of Jesus

 

boy finished the song

and as if he felt their presence

he turned to them

as saw them looking at him

and he became frightened

like he done did somethin’ wrong

 

 

so he started to run

Reverend James bellowed in a hearty voice

“stop there, boy … do not run!”

 

and he stopped

 

Reverend James spoke to him

 

“boy, please come inside … you are welcome here”

 

the boy was not sure he ought to go in there

up in the Black Church

he had not been told not to

but he didn’t know ‘bout them black folk

he’d been told by his grandfather

that white folks ought stay away from black folks

it was just how it should be

 

so he said to Reverend James,

 

“but I’m white”

 

the Reverend James walked to the boy

slow as not to cause him fear

the Reverend reached to the boy and took his hand

and as he led the boy to the Black Church … he said,

 

“yes, that you are … you are white … and yes, we are black …

we are different … but we are the same … but inside of this church we are all of but a single color … ”

 

the boy interrupted,

 

“what color is that?”

 

“well son … it is an indescribable color … you cannot see it but you can feel it … it is warm and it is comforting … this color that we are is the most magnificent color on earth … it is radiant and it is of peace … the color we are is soothing of the soul … it pleases all who feel it … it is healing … it is bright when you need light … it is dim when you need rest ... this color is for everyone … it does not hurt you … it does not distress you … it does not judge you … contrarily it wraps you in tranquility and gives you great ease …… son, we are the color of love”

 

and with that

the dirty faced white boy walked into the Black Church

and he was accepted

with wide open arms

he was loved

for he had not been before

he was fed

he was cleansed

he was happy in his heart

and on every Sunday thereafter

he walked that country mile

wearing a great big smile

and he sang among them

because he was one with them

and one of them

 

… in the Black Church