“Aunty, the hanky is to cover your head,” a little girl beside her responded, “you are in God’s house.”
The service commenced in earnest. Her head ached the entire time as nothing seemed to move her.
The Reverend took the message from a familiar passage in the story of the parable of the talents. The atmosphere became charged the way the septuagenarian delivered the message from the gospel according to Matthew. To reinforce the story of the master who gave talents to his servants, the clergyman engaged some of the church members in a dramatic act.
“Deacon Aremu, please come up here,” he beckoned to one of the Ministers, “you would be playing the role of the master that gave talents to his servants.”
“Ok, sir.”
“Brother Emeka and Sister Alice please join Deacon Aremu here,” he continued, “you would be playing the roles of the servants that were given five and two talents respectively.”
He paused and then pointed at a random person from the congregation.
Mrs. Ikumapayi turned to see who it was but was taken aback when he signaled to her.
“Me?” she pointed at herself.
“Yes, you,” the Reverend replied, “please join them. You would be playing the role of the servant that was given one talent.”
She stepped out and felt odd in her pant suit.
“Deacon Aremu, I will give you and your cast seven minutes to rehearse your roles,” the Reverend announced, as he backed off.
“Ok, sir.”
Mrs. Ikumpayi watched with mixed feelings as Deacon Aremu briefed them on their respective roles. The last time she acted was in her primary school days when she played the role of Cinderella in one of Waltz Disney’s fairy tales.
Deacon Aremu got some books from the bookstand representing, the ‘talents’ which he gave to his ‘servants,’ in the ratio of five to two to one, and with the command:
‘Do business before I come.’
The ‘servants,’ all left with their ‘talents’ only to re-emerge at the sound of a whistle blown by their ‘master’ Deacon Aremu, signaling the passage of a year.
The ‘master’ demanded that each servant gave account of how they utilized their ‘talents.’
The one that was given the five ‘talents’ returned with five more ‘talents,’ and was praised.
The one that received the two ‘talents’ returned with two more ‘talents’ and was equally praised.
When it was the turn of the ‘servant’ that was given one ‘talent,’ Mrs. Ikumapayi swallowed hard as she returned the one ‘talent’ which was initially handed over to her.
The ‘master’ scolded her and forcefully took her only ‘talent’ and handed it to the servant with the five ‘talent.’
The congregation clapped as the cast returned to their seats.
The Reverend ended with the quote from Matthew 13:12
“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Mrs. Ikumapayi felt slighted at the manner the ‘master’ took the ‘talents’ from her to give to the one that has five. Does he know who I am? she muttered under her breathe.
“Sister, please stand,” the Reverend pointed at her.
All eyes went in her direction, the second time.
“That lady must be on a secret mission!” she overheard someone say behind her.
“What is your name?” the Reverend asked her.
“Olayimika Ikumapayi.”
“Olayimika Ikumapayi, the Lord said I should ask you a question tonight,” the Reverend began with a solemn voice, “who told you that you have arrived?”
Mrs. Ikumapayi bit her lips completely puzzled by the question.
There was silence, so much so, that the drop of a pin would resonate within the building.
“Your silence means you have not arrived,” the Reverend concluded. “You need humility to unlock your full potentials. You can have your seat.”
She felt very uncomfortable and wondered the thoughts going on in the mind of the congregation. If not for the appalling traffic congestion, what would have brought her here in the first place? Every other thing which the clergyman said afterwards, fell on deaf ears. From where she sat, her gaze stayed outside; the snail-walk movement of the traffic had not abated. Poor Princess, she would have to sleep without her mummy for the very first time.
The prayer session commenced, but her mind wandered afar off. Suddenly, her gaze went to her phone, and a text message popped up. The hairs on her skin stood at attention, the excitement brimming inside of her eroded. She passed her exams!
‘Wow, I have arrived!’ she leapt before she realized that she was still in the church.
TO BE CONTINUED…
