The Little Note With A Big Pain - CNF

"You are slowing down his spirit and pace. Can you do better please?" This was all I could receive from one of the congregation of a religious gathering.

It was on a Sunday morning during the Sunday service, the church pastor felt the need to have an interpreter since there is now more than a local language worshippers who now worships in the Church of which the church originally was a Yoruba worshipping church.

"There should be an interpreter to interpret to English as a general language to communicate with brethren who do not understand Yoruba dialect" was what my pastor dished out during the additional announcement segment of the service.

The church kept quiet like the question was about "who will surrender to die for the world?". Something in my heart kept pouncing and whispering "Kenny, you can do this. Just raise your hand or stand up." Me as how? was all I kept asking myself back like as if I was referring to someone else, because I was just a teenager with even a very small stature and while I was dragging with myself, a very brilliant and handsome guy and adult we have in our church from the choir was asked to stand up since no volunteer was standing. "Thank God!" was all I could whisper within myself.

We all believed he could do it and trusted the pastor's decision in selecting the guy because everyone knows him to be very very intelligent, and good almost in everything.
Little did we know that sometimes, INTELLIGENCE IS DIFFERENT FROM TALENT OR ABILITY. He was asked to come forward, prayed for him and expected to start but unfortunately he could not.

Is this a spiritual attack? Hell No! It can't be happening in a prophetic church so the pastor laid hands on him and prayed fervently so he could receive the spirit of courage and not of fear. Infact, the whole church stood up in prayer afterwards so that the request can reach heaven for a hasty answer. Remember all these our local churches that would always take everything to be a spiritual battle and warfare.

Handling the microphone again, he was still unable to and that was when it was concluded that he doesn't have the ability to interpret and I decided that not even me can do it then. Another call for interpreter was raised, even if it would be from the congregation and not among the church workers. Even if it's the first timer member and that's as bad as it is.

My mind kept raising the sound "you can do it! Just raise that hand and try it out" but I couldn't just stand. What bro Emma failed to do, is it now me that will do it? That's all I could think of, trying to discourage whatsoever thing talking inside of me to raise my hand.

While I was busy with my thoughts of commando battle, the pastor declared an extension of the voluntary service till the next Sunday and with this decision, everyone thought there must have been an interpreter by then.

All through the week, I would always think yes and no whenever it crosses my mind that Sunday was moving closer and I have to sign up for the role. After all the cat and rat thoughts, I decided on one thing. I was going to stand up after a few minutes of no one standing up so that it won't be that I went to disgrace myself if I eventually could not do it and another person came after me to do it. My thoughts were too shallow then I guess but then you can't blame me because I know the kind of church I am worshipping in or do I say the members of our church.

Sunday came around and it was the time for announcements. The same question was thrown to the church again since there was no volunteer before the week ended.
After a brief silence from the choir, ushers, ministers, and congregation as a whole, I decided to stand up with one thing rumbling in my mind.

"Seems it's your call afterall".

I was prayed for by the pastor and asked to start interpreting the announcement as a kickstart. Funnily somehow, I started and boom we finished with the announcement with no hiccups or pause but there was a CLAUSE to it and that is my pace of interpretation. I was not as fast as this pastor but then it was flowing as a first timer interpreter and last option the church had but the pastor was happy and I could feel it.

After the chorister's special rendition of song for the service, the sermon started and that was when my real problem started. My pastor was a prophetic man in action and in words especially while preaching especially when it has to do with some particular topics. He preaches like fire and you won't leave that gathering the same way you came in spirit.

We started on lower level and pace and I was still flowing until it started heating up and the pace began growing from level 2 to 3 to 5 to 7. It was a prophetic sermon that day but I determined never to get distracted by my slight errors or my pace but rather try my best to flow with him and ensure those who do not really understand the language do not miss out in every detail of the pastor's words.

Just then an usher walked up to me, slowly to my side, and handed me a small note. I knew if it wasn't important then it won't have been brought to me while working so I opened and read while still trying to interpret what the pastor was saying and then I read:

"You are slowing down his spirit and pace. Can you do better please?"

I didn't know how but my spirit went from the level I was still dragging myself to move more higher back to level 1. I don't know how the person did it but the words struck me. It made me feel like I was causing a harm to the speaker and the listeners and even when I thought I was trying my best, those words made me feel I wasn't doing anything. It was a feedback wasn't expecting that early.

I looked at the small note again and eyes became teary. I struggled with the rest of the sermon and then decided that probably I wasn't fit for the interpretation like I have always thought but I guess the pastor and pastor's wife noticed.
Let's say pastor Mrs and a few noticed that everything change after I got the small note from the usher. So they called me to an ongoing meeting, asking for the note I received during the sermon of which they read out aloud with disappointment.

"Who gave you this to give her?" was the next question that came out from my pastor's end to the usher and just then did we know it was from a man whom was part of the reason I was interpreting.

He might have written it out of the desire to understand and feel what others are feeling in sermon but then it could have diminished my new found ability.

Fortunately, my pastor and his wife didn't allow that to happen and now, I can fly with you while interpreting if your pace requires flying.

Some things are better left unsaid or given a second chance before concluding or attacking.

Thanks for reading through 🤗

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