Dancing-with-Baptists-Createspace-Final--A4

DANCING WITH BAPTISTS
fact that Greg hung out with a Black guy was points in his favor; but he was still a cracker
from Texas.
Greg saw Franklin as a privileged, educated Black man who was pretending to be one
of the oppressed so he could bitch about all the cards being stacked against him and use it for
an excuse were he ever to fail. Just as Chap stayed prayed ahead, Franklin stayed pissed ahead.
Chap saw both men as children of God struggling to survive life in a world that
wanted them both dead.
“Why don’t you give Greg a little insight into what’s going on back home from your
point of view?” Chap moderated.
“Like he gives a-,” Franklin said.
Greg grabbed the edge of his tray and started to rise and move to another table.
“Wait,” Franklin said. “I know the docs and nurses and the white techs think I’m a
Black Panther or something.”
“I never heard anybody say that,” Greg replied.
“You just think I’m a stupid field hand wanting to break into Master’s house for some
Virginia ham and corn pone, don’t you?” Franklin asked.
“No, I see you more as a fried trout and hush puppies kind of guy.”
“This ain’t funny white boy. People are dying back home.”
“People are dying here too. All colors.”
“But here, we are armed by the government. If we fight back we are not thrown in jail
or given the
electric chair.”
“What do you want from me?” Greg asked sincerely.
“I don’t want anything from you. I just want to serve my time, get out of here in one
piece and get back home to help.”
“I think that’s something we can all agree on,” teamed Chap.
“How ‘bout I pray for our food?” Chap offers. “Father God, father to us all, we pray
for the oppressed and wronged people everywhere. We pray for safety and if it is your will
that we do get back home to help. And Lord God, I pray for by brother Abidemi,”
That was it, Abidemi, Greg thought. Chap did know it.
“Give him peace and discernment to take on causes anointed by you and to love
where he can. But if he is called to be a deliverer like Ehud of old, I pray that his fight is your
fight and that injustices are righted by your mighty hand. And I pray for my brother Greg.
Thank you for his friendship and struggle to understand all that he is being exposed to here
and for his Melinda back home that they can be reunited to serve and love together under
you. Oh, and for whatever this is we are eating. In Jesus name. Amen.” Chap finished.
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