This is a story of two people, Mary and Helen, living a comfortable life. Before these last few years they had a rough time. They are homosexuals. Just proclaiming this even in recent times they are still shunned by many people especially those people from God’s church. Whether or not as the reader you agree or disagree with their lifestyle doesn’t matter. Little did they know their comfortable life was to go inside out with a little help from God. Lets see what happens when God gets actively involved with their lives.

Mary sat up in bed with urgency gasping for air as if her lungs could not keep up with her need for air. She tried to gather her wits about her but could not completely. She reached out to her partner.

Panic stricken Mary proclaimed “Helen! Helen! The dream I had was incredible! OMG. I can’t believe my dream, but it seems so real.”

“Mary slow down and tell me from the very beginning.” said Helen.

Mary finally settled down enough where she could tell Helen her dream. She knew she could tell Helen almost anything.

“Helen I dreamt that I went to heaven and saw my deceased Aunt Emily. Jesus was resting his hands on her shoulders smiling at me. In back was other friends and relatives that has died. Even uncle Ralph there. You know it was him who abused me the most as a child. I heard that he had discovered religion near the end of his life. Don’t ask me how I knew that if it was Jesus or any of the other particulars. I just know. The message that I sensed was that Jesus was taking good care of my friends and relatives. He was inviting me to know him now while still living here now? It was so intense. I felt both anger over the past and intense love from the dream. How can I feel both these emotions at the same time. Aren’t they opposite. What do you think Helen?”

Helen looked at her sleepily and said “Let’s talk about this in the morning when we’re better rested.”

Mary looked at Helen as a little girl looks at her mother and said “I guess you’re right. We will be able to think better then.” Helen fell off to sleep but Mary could not even close her eyes. She kept playing that dream in her mind over and over.

Helen will give me the answers. After all it was Helen that got her off drugs. She went on drugs to avoid remembering her childhood. Her childhood was disastrous. Her uncle Ralph used to get her drunk when she was eleven years old so he could sexually abuse her. Aunt Emily was the relative that she could count on as a child. When she found out about Mary’s uncle Ralph, she turned him in where Ralph was sent to prison. Emily died soon after. There were other cases of abuse with Aunty Emily not being around to help her. It seems that when one pervert comes out others followed.

They woke up. It was abnormally quiet as they prepared breakfast. For breakfast they sat down. Mary avoided eye contact while Helen kept looking at Mary wondering what to say.

What Mary said last night brought back memories of her childhood. Helen grew up in a loving Christian family. She enjoyed church with her friends there. She even enjoyed reading the Bible and read it a few times. Things changed when she told people that she was gay. She was ostracized from church and her so called loving parents kicked her out of the house and was subjected to their full judgmental rage. Bad things happen in church when one doesn’t follow the lifestyle everyone thinks you should have. She has not seen her family since then. When she sees a family enjoying each other in a restaurant or in a park or any where else, she wonders what it would be like in a family that accepts you for who you are. A family that shows unconditional love. She was sure that many of the families she saw had their problems and were able to work them out.

“I need to stop thinking like that. I can’t start feeling sorry for myself.” Helen said to herself. It is Mary who is now in a turmoil and needs help. She now needs to show Mary the unconditional love she had lost and help her if for nothing more than a listening ear.

Mary was thinking if she looked into what the dream meant it could go two ways. One way she could get hurt again. She felt fragile. The dream opened wounds that she thought she had put aside. The other possibility is that it will change her relationship with Helen. She had always felt accepted and loved by Helen.

After a few bites with mostly moving the food from one side of the plate to the other, they both started talking at the same time and stopped. They looked at each other and laughed. They both started talking again at the same time and laughed again. It was a great icebreaker to release the tension in that room.

Helen then said “It’s your dream. Tell me about it. I want to hear about it.”

Mary repeated to Helen all about the dream.  She told Helen all about how she was in deep sleep when she heard a voice waking her up.  She thought she woke up but it still seemed like a dream. She repeated what she told Helen last night. There was nothing left out except one thing Mary could not comprehend. Helen would have thought she was crazy. She had an overwhelming feeling of what she thought was love. It was stronger than any other emotion that she had to live through including the hate that she lived with for many years. That feeling of love felt like it engulfed her going to her very core of existence. All these terms was not her normal way of expressing emotions and Helen would have thought she was crazy so she left them out.

“That was one crazy dream” Helen said. “You said that you needed an explanation. Well I can’t explain it except it must of been something you ate for supper.”

Mary said “I can’t explain it also. I do need to get some explanation to that dream. It seemed so real. It was like I was actually there.” She had this intense look on her face. It was a look of despair. Her hands were shaking. She was thinking she wish she could have a drink. She felt she needed it needed it to calm down. She also thought about smoking. She heard that it relaxed you. No cigarettes around.

Helen looked at her with a look of caring. She thought about it. “Because of Jesus and Heaven in the dream the only people that truly know about this are people that go to church. These people don’t like us. They yell at us. They insult us. They spit out words they think is in their Bible.” Helen knew what could happen.

Mary answered “I don’t care. They all can’t be hypercritical. All I’m asking for is one normal person who will listen to what I have to say.”

“Alright already. We’ll go to church this Sunday and take our chances.” Helen knew Mary was setting herself up for disappointment. She was thinking She knew why these people were called sheep. Its because when one leader has a problem with something, every else follows. Now the fashionable issue to be against is gays and lesbians.

Sunday morning rolled around. Helen already had her defenses up. She knew that if she put up a wall she could not get hurt. Mary was so nervous. Her fingers were so clumsy she could not button her buttons.

“Is this outfit appropriate” Mary asked Helen with a faltering voice.

Helen responded saying “Yes It’s fine.” She did not want to get trapped in the fashion contest she saw as she was growing up.

They entered The car and drove to the church in what seemed forever. They picked a church that appeared unassuming and safe to find out what they needed to know. They parked their car into the churches parking lot and walked into the church as if they have been going there for a while. A few people came up to them and welcomed them to the church. They found out the church service was split into 2 parts. The first part was sharing and worship. The second part was the sermon.

They experienced the first part of the service. They saw how the church people worshiped God with passion. Their sharing times were touching. “Maybe they did go to the right church after all” thought Helen.

The break came. Helen and Mary talked to the parishioners. They were asked questions like Where do you live? How long have you been living there? Where is the last church you came from? and other similar non impending questions. Helen and Mary was able to side step all those personal questions. Mary was still on the lookout for the particular person to interpret her dream.

In the middle of break an eight year old boy named Mickey came up to them and held on to Helen’s hand. Helen knew from previous experience that this was the signal he wants to get her attention first chance she has. What a polite boy Helen thought. She looked down at Mickey and said “My name is Helen. What is your name?”

He answered back “Mickey” and then said “My mother wants to know if you are gay? Mickey had no idea what a gay person is. He just was repeating what he overheard his mother and other women were talking about.

Helen defiantly said “Yes I am.”

People who heard this looked at them like they committed the unforgivable sin. They were barraged with questions and comments one right after another.

“What are you doing here?” said one.

Another said “Don’t you know that your lifestyle is abhorrent in God’s eye.”

“Don’t you know that God created man and woman to be together not two woman said another” said another.

The barrage of comments kept coming. Helen wanted to fight back. She still knew enough about the Bible to defend herself. Mary knew this and gave Helen “the look”. It was the same look that women use to communicate. It was the look that said let’s get out of here. They gathered up their items.

As they were leaving one said “Don’t come back until you stop that gay lifestyle and want to know God.”

During this episode a man named Paul was looking on. He felt bad for Helen and Mary and what they had to suffer through listening to the congregation. He knew enough to know he could not stop the altercation. It was like in the movies when a cowboy tries to stop a stampede. The cowboy always get run over by the steers. The cowboys have to wait for the steers to settle down before the cowboys can gather them up. These people were beyond reason. They were being led by teachers that were rock solid in their theology but expound their own convictions.

After Helen and Mary left, the congregation was patting themselves on the back.

“They know now that they need to change their lifestyle.” said one.

“We need to keep this church holy. We can’t let these people come into this church” said another.

Paul saw that the people had settled down. He yelled out “Can I have everyone’s attention?” Paul has always been well respected for his wisdom and love for each other. He always got involved in other people lives when they were depressed and need cheering up. There was hardly a person in the congregation that did not owe something to Paul. Whenever he got involved things got better.

Everyone stopped talking and started to listen to Paul.

In a stern voice Paul said “What just happen here is not like you at all. You went at them with fangs and claws exposed.”

“We knew what we needed to know about them. They were lesbians” said one in the crowd.

Paul answered “Did anyone spend time asking who they really were and why they came to church when they knew that they could be treated the way they were? Did anyone bother to find out their background other than the fact they were gay? Do you think that being gay was like a disease and you could catch it?  When anyone talks to a stranger about God while doing street evangelism or short term missions, do you first ask if the stranger is gay or not? Of course not. It is not important at the time. You are following through with the great commission where you are making disciples of all men. When two women came into this church seeking God, no matter what their background, we should help them find God. I said they were seeking God because they certainly weren’t seeking fellowship.”

He decided to start asking them to recite memory verses. He knew that one of their favorite church pastimes is to remember verse pastimes and test each other on the verse. Let’s see if the people know what the verses they recite really mean and convict them..

Paul said “Let’s do memory verses. What about Matthew 5:7?”

One yelled out “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Another said “Paul we know why you’re doing this. You are so transparent. What about the next verse Matthew 5:8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. How can we be pure when a couple of lesbians come into this church?”

Paul ignored that comment and said “Who can tell me Matthew 6:14 and 6:15?”

Another said “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” He added “But they are not sinning against us, they are sinning against God.”

Paul thought about it and said “Can anyone repeat Hebrews 12:14?”

Still another said “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. We tried to live in peace with them but though the courts and the politicians they are forcing their lifestyle on us.”

He looked at the people’s faces.  Paul thought “one more time.  This is not working. ”

Paul thought this next verse would work.  Paul said “Who can say Luke 5:32.”

Still another said “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

“These verses are not working.  I should have known that taking individual verses was not going to work. People can interpret a single verse to mean anything they want” Paul thought. “I need to be more direct.”

Does anyone know why they came to church?  Paul asked.

“We don’t care.  They were lesbians.  We don’t want them around until they they change.” said one in crowd.

Paul was thinking “Prejudice is running out of control this day.”  He spoke out in a stern voice “What difference does that make”

The people were shocked.  They are not used to hear him speak so harsh.  Paul is usually so mellow.

Paul continued “Yes they are homosexuals but is that sin worse than gossip, pornography, lust?”  He continued listing different sins that he knew individuals in the congregation had.  He did not mention names or that in even existed in this church.  These people should know how it applies to them. They just needed to be reminded on why they go to church. He felt the church should be a safe place where people should be able to confess their problems and not have them come back at them.

Paul continued “Remember even if you tell a small white lie you are still breaking the law the same way as all these other sins I mentioned. Homosexuals need the church the same way you and I need the church.  Everyone out there needs the Holy Spirit for healing or adjustment in your lifestyle.  How is anyone else including the people you drove out of church today is going to know the Holy Spirit, God’s love or the real Jesus unless you show them.  When Jesus died on the cross, He gave each one of us the ministries of reconciliation between the people out there and God.  What I saw today was a poor representation of who you really are.”

The quiet was so thick one could cut it with a knife.

The preacher heard all this.  He was aware that he could not handle the situation as well as Paul did.  He watched on ready to interject if necessary.  Paul did not disappoint him.  He treated Paul as an associate Pastor and the people knew this.  He yelled out saying “Time to continue the service.”

Everyone sat down and the pastor started his sermon.  Paul tried to listen but could not.  He kept thinking on how he was going to make things right.  He knew it was beyond his capabilities so he said a quiet prayer asking God to straighten out this mess.  He kept asking himself how is he going to locate the couple and what is he going to say and how or why he should be involved.

At the completion of the service, he went home with his family. Paul was abnormally quiet. Most times he came home excited from what he heard in the service. There was a time where he would come home exhausted, burnt out from the service. Then he learned who God really was and now enjoys whenever he can be in God’s presence with other people. He learned that the presence of God can be more fully felt when he is with a group of people. Now he was perplexed. Church does not need to be so hard. He wished that everyone realized that. If you had to be sinless to go to church, the pews would be empty.

The whole family sat down for lunch. Paul’s family noticed his quietness. The noise of the dishes and silverware was the only noise that was heard.

His oldest son broke the stillness with the subject was on everyone’s mind. “Did you see the circus that went on during break at church today? I have never seen people act like this before against someone else. Usually they are more kind to visitors. If I ever get like that you have my permission to slap me across the face and send me to my room. It looked so silly.”

Paul’s wife Kate laughed and responded saying “I don’t think I’ll go that far. I’m glad you noticed that. This is what people see when a Christian is walking around acting holier than thou. It is not a pretty sight.”

Kate looked over at Paul and said “I know you well enough that you are not going to leave this alone. After all you are the church activist setting all things right. What are you going to do? First thing where do they live?

She said that somewhat sarcastically. One of the things she loved about Paul was that he had a solid set of ideals and stood by them. The last thing she wanted was that Paul would obtain a superman complex going around righting all wrongs. She still saw Paul with both feet on the ground. She decided that she is going to help Paul if he decided to take on this problem.

Paul’s family finished their lunch talking about the week’s events laughing and enjoying each others company. Paul then got up and made a few phone calls.

Paul then said to Kate “I have a plan. I am going to introduce the girls who were in church today to Elizabeth. She will be able to talk to them without focusing on their homosexuality. She will be able to look at them as people Jesus died for and as people who were created in God’s image. Can you come? It may be inappropriate for me to go alone in a women’s apartment. Beside you might be able to inject some of that girl talk that you are so good at.”

Kate smiled and said “I will be glad to go. I should be good at girl talk. After all I am a girl.”

“Ya I noticed. Let’s go. The less time they have to mull about what happened the better. They signed the visitors book so we will go there.” Paul responded.

They entered the car and drove to Mary and Helen’s apartment. They knocked on the door. Helen looked through the sight glass.

“I saw you people earlier at the church. What are you doing here? Are you gloating over what you did to us? Well we’ve seen the errors of our ways. We’re saved. Hallelujah. Now go away.” Helen said sarcastically. She wanted to protect Mary from any more abuse.

Paul yelled through the door “You have this all wrong. We came to apologize. Also you must have come to the church for a reason. Maybe we can answer any questions you might have.”

Paul and Kate heard the chain move on the other side of the door and saw the door slowly open.

Paul said “My name is Paul and this is my wife Kate. We want to apologize for the treatment you received at church. It was uncalled for.”

“OK. Now you can go back to your congregation and say you have done your Christian duty” Helen said sarcastically.

Paul and Kate did not want to push it. “These people really have been hurt and there is nothing to be done for them. The walls are too high.” they thought. Facing downward they started to leave.

As they were leaving Mary stuttered “I had a dream. Maybe you can explain it to me?”

Helen said “Don’t tell them. They will only laugh and make fun of it.”

Paul was praying for something like this to break to barrier. “I promise we won’t repeat anything you tell us. Isn’t that right Kate?”

Kate raised her head and looked at Mary and nodded slowly.

Getting her dream explained was so important to her that Mary decided to take the chance even though it may backfire.

Mary explained the dream to them. This time she added in the incredible love she felt.

During the telling of the dream a tear came to Paul’s eye. Kate with her motherly instincts wanted to hold her.

When Helen heard about the incredible love said to herself “No wonder she wanted to take all these chances for the dream to be explained. I wish I could have felt that love.”

Upon completion of the dream Mary said “OK what is this dream about?”

There was quiet as all regained composure. Paul said “God is definitely calling you. He is telling you that he is willing to love and take care of you the same way he is taking care of your family. However this explanation is doesn’t give the meaning of your dream what it desires. I know someone who is better than myself to help. She lives right around the corner.”

They left the apartment. During the walk Paul and Kate told Helen and Mary about their family and some anecdotes. Helen and Mary responded with some anecdotes. They all laughed. All was forgotten about the morning altercation.

When they got to Elizabeth’s house, they knocked and went into the house. Elizabeth was an elderly lady wearing clothes that seemed from the 1900s. Her place was impeccably clean with antiques on mantels and other shelves. There were pictures on the wall of relatives both living and dead.

Introductions were performed. Elizabeth said “Let me make you some tea.”

She went to the stove to heat up some water and came back to check her condiments.

Helen did not want to like this woman and have this woman reprimand her. She put her sexual preference on the line and said “One thing nobody has told you is that Mary and I are lesbians.”

“Oh my” Elizabeth said.

Helen said to Mary sternly “Lets go. She is like the rest.”

Elizabeth quipped back saying “I was just commenting that I am running out of sugar. So you are lesbians? You don’t look like dangerous people that is threatening the future of Christianity.”

Helen sat back down. Helen thought “Settle down. I am being too defensive to these people. One could be my grandmother and the other people seemed to be people like I’ve known for my entire life.”

“Sorry” Helen said “I just let some of my past experiences get the better of me.”

They all sat down for tea.

Elizabeth then said “I heard that something is going on with one of you that needs attention. Lets see if there is something we can do about it.”

Mary quipped “I had an incredible dream.”

“Deary, let’s hear it. I am always interested in how God is acting in a person’s life.” said Elizabeth.

Mary told the whole dream from beginning to end.

“Oh my.” said Elizabeth. “I bet you want an explanation for the dream. You have come to the right place but I can’t tell you anything more than God tells me. We can look at the dream together. At the same time you can give an old lady some company.”

The subject of conversation changed. Mary, Helen, Elizabeth and Kate were talking up a storm. Paul was looking on thinking how can women find so much to talk about.

When Paul found an opening, he said to Kate “We should go. We have other things we must do.”

Kate looked at Paul not wanting to go. She was having a good time but knew Paul was right. Mary and Helen need to solidify their relationship with Elizabeth. She finished up their tea. Paul and Kate said their goodbyes and left.

As they were walking back to the car, Paul was showing his boyhood exuberance. Kate noticed that and was slightly taken back by Paul’s outward expression of emotion.

Kate said “You know that there is so much more that needs to happen”

Paul replied “I know but it is in God’s hands. This morning there wasn’t hope and now there is.”

Paul and Kate stopped by the church on the way going home. Paul made up an excuse but wanted to give thanks to God in the church. He knew he could have done it at home but there is something extra special about being in a place where people congregate and worship God together as one.

Paul entered the church and sat down in one of the pews. A teenager named Matt came over to him and said “Did you see what happened to those two girls this morning?”

Paul wanted to lecture Matt on that these girls were people too and deserve the same respect. Instead he said that these women were introduced to someone who sees them as Jesus sees them and going to show them who God really is.

Matt then responded “You mean they are going to be taught not to be lesbians.”

Paul looked at Matt in disbelief. He knew Matt was not been listening to anything he has been saying. Instead Paul said “I am not God but I’ve seen how God has worked in other people lives. First God will strengthen his relationship by showing those women how much he loves them. Then he will heal the women on whatever emotional or psychological wounds they have. After all one cannot live to their age without having some previous problems.” Paul did not want to get into specifics. Those women deserve more.

Paul continued “Who knows what is to happen next? God knows what He is doing. It is in His hands. You just need to trust God.”

We saw what could happen when God is put in the center.