My mind wanders and I find it hard to focus on the words she’s saying.
God, I don’t know what I’m doing here, I say in my head. I feel like I need to be here, but I’m more confused than I was when I applied. I’m scared, I admit as my closed eyes fill with tears. The worst part is…I don’t even know what it is I’m scared of. Help.
As I finish my private discussion with the Unseen, I realize Maggie has finished her prayer and the group is enjoying a moment of silence. I assume there are lots of private prayers being sent up.
A minute later, a humming causes me to look up and find Eden with a smile on her face. Slowly, smiles spread around the circle like fire, as more voices join in the still-wordless song. Thanks to my independent study in Christian music, I recognize the tune, but bow my head to make it look like I’m praying, which will—at least temporarily—excuse my participation.
Eden’s voice rises above the hums, as she sings in breathtaking melody:
“It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
She starts that verse again, a few voices in high pitch joining with her. They sing, “It is well,” and several more girls join in in a round-style, echoing my roommate and those who had joined her earlier.
They sing in a slightly lower octave, and it’s beautiful. They repeat the verse again and again, more of our floormates joining in each time, the volume increasing along with the size of the lump in my throat.
Soon, everyone is singing except for me. This time, it’s not because I don’t want to. I can’t. My chin falls to my chest and my lip trembles as the pressure in my throat and chest sends tears streaming down my cheeks. Then, I feel it.
Goosebumps. “Hugs from God,” I always called them as I sat in the dark wooden pews on Sunday mornings. They don’t always come, but when they do they typically accompany tears, and immediately follow a specific prayer I’ve sent to God. The goosebumps now explode across my back and race down my arms as I fall into the tears.
You’ll be okay.
My eyes fly open and I look left and right for the source of the voice. Everyone is still singing. All of them. A fresh wave of goosebumps close my eyes and pull me back into the place in my heart where I’ve always found solace.
I might not know all of the words to the songs, or the right things to say in prayer, and I certainly don’t know the right words to say to those around me but, in this moment, the one thing I do know is God is with me. The same God the women to my left and right are singing to. He’s with me, and I really will be okay.
As the song comes to a close, I beg God silently to let this feeling of contentment and grace stay with me as the school year starts on Monday, when my knowledge and faith will be put to the test. I beg, with tears rolling down my cheeks and chin, that when I finally come face-to-face with Roland, I will know what to say.
And that I won’t be hurt.
“Amen,” Maggie whispers before we all squeeze hands and take our seats.
Looking around, I see several girls wiping under their eyes, and I grin in relief that I appeared to have an appropriate emotional reaction.
“Thank you, Eden, for that lovely addition to our prayer time,” Maggie says as she pulls a clipboard onto her lap. It doesn’t surprise me that she knows Eden’s name already.
Typically, I’d roll my eyes at a girl like Eden—thinking her a brown-nosed snob. I’m physically incapable of thinking these things about my striking and spiritually connected roommate. Her love for God seems impassioned and genuine. She likely helped our RA with something the second she moved in, making sure to introduce herself and get connected. Not for selfish desires, I assume. But rather to create a community for herself, something I know Christians are instructed to do. Encourage fellowship.
One thing I’ve always been horrible at.
Stick with Eden, I think as I tuck my hair behind my ears. You need to learn from her.
“Okay, ladies,” Maggie continues, “I assume you’ve all familiarized yourself with the student handbook?”
Playful groans and chuckles ripple through the group. I partake in the group grumbling. Maggie makes eye contact with each one of us, seeming to allow us our group complaint.
She chuckles and shakes her head. “Okay, okay. I’m sure most of you are familiar with these guidelines—or versions of them—from your high schools, church groups, or camps. Regardless of how you each individually might feel about them, you all know that these guidelines are designed to help the student body, as a whole, function safely and Christ-like.”
Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father
Andrea Randall's books
- Sacred Sins
- Sins and Scarlet Lace
- Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
- Bed of Roses
- Son Of The Morning
- Cover Of Night
- Affairs of State
- A Profiler's Case for Seduction
- Because of Rebecca
- Conflict of Interest
- Eclipse of the Heart
- Flames of Attraction
- Illusions of Love
- Keeper of the Moon
- Keeper of the Shadows
- Legacy of Love
- Love Proof (Laws of Attraction)
- Miles of Pleasure
- Of One Heart
- Off Limits
- Off Sides
- Out of the Dark (The Brethren Series)
- Out of the Depths
- Pool of Crimson
- Prince of Wolves
- Rules of Entanglement
- Shadow of My Heart
- Something of a Kind
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Taste of Desire
- Taste of Love
- Translation of Love
- Web of Deception
- Words of Love
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- The Scars of Us(Scars Series)
- Dreams of Lilacs
- House of Ivy & Sorrow
- A Question of Honor
- The Owner of His Heart
- The Heir of the Castle
- Tower of Glass
- The Last Prince of Dahaar
- Terms of Engagement
- Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage
- David Lord of Honor
- Return of the Prodigal Gilvry
- Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)
- Starting Over(Hart of Seattle)
- The Resurrection of Aubrey Mill
- OFF SIDES
- Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom
- Stolen: Warriors of Hir, Book 3
- The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)
- The Law of Moses
- A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)
- Arouse: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book One)
- Awaken: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book Three)
- The Art of French Kissing
- Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Echoes of Scotland Street
- Stinger (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)
- The Song of David
- The House of the Stone
- Ashes of Honor: An October Daye Novel
- The Weight of Feathers
- Blood Brothers
- Face the Fire
- Holding the Dream
- The Hollow
- The way Home
- A Father's Name
- All the Right Moves
- After the Fall
- And Then She Fell
- A Mother's Homecoming
- All They Need
- Behind the Courtesan
- Breathe for Me
- Breaking the Rules
- Bluffing the Devil
- Chasing the Sunset
- Feel the Heat (Hot In the Kitchen)
- For the Girls' Sake
- Guarding the Princess
- Happy Mother's Day!
- Meant-To-Be Mother
- In the Market for Love
- In the Rancher's Arms
- Leather and Lace
- Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark
- Seduced The Unexpected Virgin
- Southern Beauty
- St Matthew's Passion
- Straddling the Line
- Taming the Lone Wolff
- Taming the Tycoon
- Tempting the Best Man