God sent his anger. That’s what our preacher said. These storms don’t happen by accident. For it is God’s wrath upon us; a nation of sinners, he continued from the pulpit. This is what we’ve come to. A country, a world of violence,  homosexuality, children disobedient to their parents, parents disobedient to God, he slammed down his fist. We looked on in horror. 

Folks talk of Jesus’s love. However, they forget God’s anger. God does not love the sinner. He wants us to follow his rules. His teachings. The  Holy Father says that we are to be baptized in the name of Jesus and leave our sins behind. This is what we must do, he stepped away from the altar,came down to the crowd, and said, Who will follow me down to the river? Come. Come and be replenished. Saved by accepting Christ as your lord and savior, the preacher man walked down the red carpeted aisle. He walked past the one-legged man who gambled on a Saturday night. Placed his hand on a woman who sought pleasure through fornication.  Gazed at the drunk who still smelled of alcohol.

Who will follow? he asked. A line began to form from the back of the church to the front.  You are all sinners, the minister said. And today, you say no more. The shackles of sin will be lifted. And everyone nodded their heads. Except for me.

As they marched down to the river, I stayed behind, closed my eyes, and asked God to forgive him. He knows not what he does.

Later that evening I went swimming in the cool waters of the river. I listened to all that surrounded me; took it all in. The cicadas sang, frogs croaked, birds whistled. And I was at peace.