It was a hectic day at my place of work. There were lots of customers. My normal closing time was 6:30PM but my employer told me to wait till 7:00PM because one of our major customers was coming to make purchase. I was not happy with the development. The reason being that an emergency meeting of praise team leaders would hold by 7:00PM. I tried calling the president’s phone to inform him that I might be coming a bit late to the meeting but his phone was switched off.

I rounded off at the mall by 7:05PM and boarded a bike straight to church. I arrived at church and met all the executive members seated. I quickly tried to apologize and explain my reason for coming late but the president halted me.

“Kingsley!” he yelled. “What is it by your time? You are supposed to write the minutes of this meeting, yet you came this late. Anyway, just go home. You are suspended from this executive committee till further notice.”

“Presido please calm down. Give me few minutes to explain my reason for the lateness. You know that I am not a habitual late comer.”

As I said that, he gave me a venomous look and screamed out my name.

“Kingsley! Kingsley!! Kingsley!!! How many times did I call you? Don’t get me angry. This meeting was already in session before your rude interruption. Don’t cause more confusion.”

Lawson attempted to plead on my behalf but the president warned him to stay clear of trouble and not carry any cross that does not belong to him. I decided to leave in order not to disorganize the meeting.

However, I did not go home. I stayed in the church premises. I was praying silently that God should touch the president to forgive me and call me in.

After a long while, Godwin came outside. “Haaa…a”, he exclaimed in surprise. “Are you still around. But presido asked you to go home.”

“I can’t go home like that. Remember that I came for the meeting. I decided to wait, hoping that Presido might have a rethink and call me in.”

“You are expecting your president to have a rethink? If you expect that Justine will relieve you off this suspension without interference from higher authority, then you must be dreaming.”

I remained outside till they concluded the meeting. On their way going home, I ran to the President to plead again but he warned me to keep off to avoid embarrassment. I was deeply hurt. Tears stood in my eyes as I watched him walk away.

“Don’t worry about him let’s go home,” Lawson encouraged me as he noticed my state of devastation.

“How will I not be worried? My greatest problem is that I don’t know why he detests me,” I cried out in frustration.

“Oh… You don’t know why he hates you? The reason is that you sing better than him. Your talent is extra ordinary. So, your president is fighting to protect his office,” Lawson explained.

“Then he is fighting me for nothing. I am not interested in his office.”

“We all know that you are not a politician. Justine knows too. But he thinks that if he does not make you look useless in the eyes of singers, they will eventually vote you in to replace him. His target is for you to stop singing.”

“I’m confused. I just pray that God will grant me sufficient grace to handle this matter. His attitude is driving me crazy.”

“You are worrying yourself for nothing. The solution to this matter is attack. People like Justine don’t understand meekness. I will beat him on your behalf.”

“You will do no such thing. Don’t fight anyone for my sake. This is my cross!”