Excerpts from the Christian novel LOVE ON THE PULPIT will be posted throughout this month of May!
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LOVE ON THE PULPIT – a novel
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
(Day 5)
“To be a pastor’s wife?” Teni shook her head. “I know what pastors experience and what their wives go through. I know! It’s a big responsibility.” She added, with Damilola’s words ringing in her ears.
“It’s not bigger than what every wife faces.” Mrs. Dawodu said encouragingly.
Teni smiled, “No way, Auntie.” She was not interested. Not Mr. Dawodu’s nephew. She would prefer her man to come from another family.
“Teni, I’m surprised you’re talking this way.” Mr. Dawodu rebuked. “If one of the members of your fellowship should come to you for advice, what would you tell her?”
“Uncle -”
“Is it a crime to be a pastor? Maybe you don’t realise you are a pastor yourself. You’re the pastor of this house fellowship. I must say I’m surprised at your reaction, in fact, I’m disappointed. Is it a sin to be a pastor?”
Teni knew what she was saying didn’t portray her as a Bible study class teacher but she didn’t know a better excuse to give.
“No, no, Uncle, it’s not a sin, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just that -” She thought of what to say. “- I don’t think I’m cut out for that sort of thing.” She leaned forward.
“Who are the people cut out for that sort of thing?” Mrs. Dawodu asked.
Are they serious about this issue? “Auntie, please try to understand.” She appealed to Mrs. Dawodu, searching her face for understanding. “You are a woman like me; you should know what I’m talking about.”
“I’m sorry but I don’t know what you’re talking about. Teni, you’re like a sister to me -”
Teni tried again, “It’s just that I don’t really like the idea.” She insisted, “I don’t want an arranged …”
“We are not arranging anything, don’t you understand?” Mrs. Dawodu said impatiently. “He saw you! In fact, he said God spoke to him about you!” She adjusted her dress at the shoulders and went on. “Okay, let me ask you, are you in a relationship now?”
Teni laughed.
“No, I’m serious.”
“Not yet.”
“Good. Where or how do you expect to meet a man, only from your church?”
Teni shook her head. “No … of course not.”
“Okay, where could one meet a potential partner?”
“It could be in the Church, at work, at programmes, through friends …”
“Good. They could meet through friends, you could even be introduced …”
“Yes but I would have to consider who the friend is, and who I’m being introduced to.” Teni quickly said.
“Precisely! So, let’s assume we’re introducing you to Olamide, what’s the problem?”
Teni considered the couple she was talking with. They had been like a family to her family since they moved into the compound. They were mature and not meddlers in other people’s affairs. She could trust them. Should she meet the pastor?
Mrs. Dawodu was still talking. “But that’s not even the case, he’s the one who came and said he would like to know you better.”
Teni smiled. “Hmm … it is well.”
“Anyway, he’ll likely call you this evening.” Mr. Dawodu said.
“What’s his name again?”
“Olamide.”
Ugh, Olamide … such a feminine name. He might be boring too. God forgive me.
“That’s okay, Uncle.” Teni said.
As she walked back to her apartment, she felt a little rattled. Mr. and Mrs. Dawodu were obviously disappointed in her and she didn’t like that. Why did this issue have to come up?
Suddenly she found herself irritated by the whole idea of being introduced to a man. Should that be done at all? She asked herself. Where is God in it? If God wants people to meet, surely He knows how to orchestrate the meeting without human involvement? She knew that some couples met that way, but she wasn’t sure she wanted that for herself.
What could she do in this matter? It was not that she wasn’t ready for marriage. In fact, she had been praying for the right man to come and the loneliness she sometimes felt was overwhelming.
But besides the reasons she gave Mr. and Mrs. Dawodu, there was another fear which she couldn’t tell them. There was this fear in her that if a man got to know more about her, he might dump her or that something would go wrong in the relationship. Even though she had been praying against it, the feeling had refused to leave, and it was because she had had two failed relationships already.
She would not encourage this Olamide and she hoped the Dawodus would not be offended. They had been nice to her family and especially to her. Or … should she ask Olamide to come for the next fellowship so they could meet? She shook her head and dismissed the idea. No, she wasn’t feeling settled about the whole thing, it might not work out anyway. Let Olamide go away.
Moroun let Teni in to the apartment and told her, “That man has called, Mr. Dawodu’s nephew. He said he’ll call back.” A pencil was stuck in her hair.
“So, he called.” Teni said under her breath.
Walking back to the table where she had been studying, Moroun told her, “Surprisingly, he has a cool voice. You never can tell, he might be good looking too.” She made faces at Teni.
(To be continued.)
In this novel, you will realise the importance of being led by the Spirit of God.
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