Sunday Morning
Life can take all twists and turns. We can be up one minute and down the next. Reverend Thomas Townsend knew all this, yet it didn’t help. In the next few minutes, he would experience both. Grace Fellowship was his fifth church. They had grown from a small congregation just him and his wife to numbering in the thousands.
This morning, he checked his notes for the sermon. His head was down when the first shot rang out. He looked up stupidly at the young man who had shot him. Then he felt the pain. Like a toothache only 10 times worse. Those eyes filled with hate seemed to bore straight through him. For a second he saw a smaller version of the boy, then it was gone.
The people screamed. Hid behind pews. Clogged the aisles, running for the exits. His security team shouted at the boy.
“Put the weapon down. Put the weapon down.” He didn’t listen. He aimed at Tom for another shot. The killing shot.
Two members of the security team exchanged gunfire with the boy. He didn’t stand a chance. Bullets came at him from both directions. His pistol flew like a bird from his hands. Hit in three places, two to his head, one in his chest, the boy David Allan Cole set down in the front center pew. Townsend thought we’ll have to replace the pew at least the padding and covering.
He tried to focus. His weeping wife knelt beside him. Why was he on the floor? He had a message to deliver to God’s people this morning. “I love you.” Haley said. He tried to smile. To reassure her. Everything would be alright. The pain in his chest. He mouthed the words I love you, but no sound came out. So tired. So very tired.
The medical team came running up the center aisle. It seemed the entire congregation was heading for the exits. All they did was get in the way. Assistant pastor Peter Hanson took charge.
“Folks, please let the medical team through.” His commanding voice boomed throughout the auditorium. “Pastor Townsend has been shot. However, the threat has been neutralized. Please remain in place until the police released you. Thank you.”
He turned and knelt beside Haley. “How is he?” He said. Medical rushed up. Taking her gently by the arm, he helped her to her feet, then back.
“I…I think he’s dead.” She said brokenly. Tears streamed down her face. The nurse applied an oxygen mask over Tom’s face. She put a stethoscope to his chest. Tom took a breath and opened his eyes. Terry and the other nurse. What was his name? She couldn’t remember. They picked Tom up and lay him on a gurney. Then they were gone. They whisk him to the back of the auditorium. Buck, head of security. Why would any parent name their child Buck? Then she remembered his name was Andy, said, “Come with me. I’ll get you to the hospital.” She stumbled after him. Then, kicking off her high heels, she ran with him barefoot.
By the time they were outside, the paramedics were loading Tom into the ambulance. A police officer pushed her into the passenger seat of his patrol car. Taking the lead, they ran through the street with the ambulance 50 feet behind. She dissolved into tears. They flew by their home. The home Grace Fellowship purchased for them five years ago, the home where she made breakfast for Tom this morning. The home where they made love last night. It didn’t matter, not the home, not the car, nothing mattered but her Tom.
They raced into the emergency entrance. Alerted by the police, the staff grabbed the gurney and pushed it through the glass doors.
“I’m sorry, officer. I didn’t get your name.” Haley said. Looking at him as she opened the car door.
“Hertz ma’am. I was one of your first bus kids.” He said, smiling. “Now my wife, children and I attend Grace Fellowship.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Excuse me, I must be with my husband.” She hurried toward the glass doors, following the gurney.
“Of course. We will be praying.” He said.
“Thank you.” She called back.
The staff directed her to the waiting room while they worked on her husband. People from Grace Fellowship filled the waiting room. Yet she felt all alone. Haley tried to pray. The words wouldn’t come. Taking a notepad from her purse, she wrote a simple prayer. Lord; you have guided us from just a few people to where we number in the thousands. You knew Tom was going to be shot before the world began. You said all things work together for good. Please show us your plan for your servants. We are in your hands. Amen’
The TV ever on ran a video of the outside of Grace Fellowship. She watched herself weeping in the front seat of the patrol car. They must have had a camera person at an intersection. The ambulance few by sirens howling. She shivered, hugging herself.
Several hours later, Tom woke up. A machine burped beside him. When he attempted to move his hands, he realized he was tied down. Haley stepped to the bed. She smiled, but there were tears in her eyes.
“Welcome back honey, we almost lost you.” She said.
He moved his mouth. No words came out. Haley lay a piece of ice on his tongue. He tried again.
“What…what happened?” He croaked savoring the ice.
“You got shot. Do you remember?” she said.
“Hungry eyes… I re…remember his hungry eyes.” He said. “Where is he? I must speak to him.” He closed his eyes, so tired.
For a moment, Haley was angry. Then it went away like the morning fog. That was just like Tom. To think of others before himself.
“I’m sorry honey, they…” Her words trailed off.
He spoke without opening his eyes. “He’s dead, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” was all she could think to say.
“Please see if you can arrange for me to meet with his family.” He said. Then he went back to sleep. She slipped out into the hallway. Buck stood up from a chair by the wall. She looked at him.
“We weren’t sure if Cole acted alone.” He said to her unasked question. “How is he?”
She laughed. “He asks me to arrange for him to meet the shooter’s family.”
Buck grinned. “Back to his old self.”
“The doctor said the bullet clipped his lung. But missed everything else, including his spine.”
“Great. By the way, Grace Fellowship is filled with people. Peter Hanson called an impromptu prayer meeting.”
“I must call them with the good news.” She said, taking her cell phone out of her purse.
“Of course. I have a man coming at six. He will be here until morning, then I’ll be back.” Buck said.
“Thank you, Buck. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your team.” She said, laying her hand on his arm.
She called Peter’s personal cell. “Mrs. Townsend, we have been praying for you and pastor. How is he?”
She relayed what she knew. “Just a moment, please.”
Through the phone, she heard his booming voice. “Your attention, please. I have Mrs. Townsend on the phone. The bullet just clipped his lung. It missed all his vital organs. Pastor Townsend will be out of the hospital soon. “
The hallelujahs and praise The Lords from the auditorium drowned his next words out.
Tom did not progress as quickly as hoped but was still home in two weeks. He set in his study overlooking the backyard. The floor to ceiling windows and French doors displayed an exquisite array of flowers. Haley appeared at the door. She smiled. “It’s great to have you home.”
“Honey, it’s great to be home. I didn’t think I would ever see this place again.” He said, taking her in his arms.
His efforts to reach out to Cole’s family were unsuccessful. He received a message from his attorney that they would sue the church and Reverend Townsend for wrongful death.
Upon reading the case and watching a video clip of the shooting, the judge threw out the lawsuit. Cole’s mother, in a news conference, screamed about the church and called Pastor Townsend incompetent and promise to appeal.
The following Sunday, after his release from the hospital, Pastor Townsend was back in the pulpit. However, only for a short time. He stood to a standing ovation. After two minutes, he held up his hands. Quietly, the congregation took their seats.
“Friends, I can’t tell you how much your prayers meant and mean to me. Your love and the love of my dear wife have brought me through one of the most difficult times of my life.” He took a deep breath. This brought a twinge of pain. “And now I ask you to do something just as difficult. To forgive David Allan Cole and his family. Grace Fellowship has offered to pay for Mr. Coles’ burial and headstone. Although the family rejected our offer, we, as a church, will continue to make it. As God’s people, we must love those who hate us. I ask you, as your pastor, to love this broken family.”
After a short sermon on forgiveness, Tom set down. Haley joined him on the platform. They walked off to another standing ovation. Although Cole’s family never received financial satisfaction, they did finally accept Grace Fellowship’s help with his burial and headstone. The story of Pastor Townsend’s forgiveness made national headline and increased the congregation.