2-in-1 Yada Yada by Neta Jackson Read Free Book Online Page A

seat.”
    â€œOh, girl, I got there late and didn’t want to walk all the way up to the fifth row.” She leaned toward me with a conspiratorial whisper. “We gotta deprogram Avis, you know. The fifth row isn’t any more spiritual than the fifteenth.”
    I chuckled. My sentiments exactly.
    To my surprise, everyone from last night’s circle showed up for this prayer time. Even Adele. Even Yo-Yo. Maybe Ruth dragged her since they came to the conference together. Again there was a bit of awkward looking at our shoes, wondering who would start this thing. I sure wasn’t going to jump in again.
    Finally Delores Enriques spoke up. “Why don’t you get us started, Avis? You’re the senior señora here, I think.” She looked around the circle. “Si?”
    There were murmurs of assent from several in the group. I was sure Avis felt put on the spot. But Delores was right. Avis was the natural spiritual leader in the group as far as I knew.
    But the woman with all the earrings—Leslie Stuart—spoke up. “Why do we need a leader?” she said. “Let’s just start, whoever wants to.”
    I wasn’t the only one who glared at the woman with the long blonde hair who wanted to be called “Stu.” She had a right to her viewpoint, but it felt like a put-down after Delores had suggested Avis.
    Avis got off the hot seat. “Well, Stu is right. We can just go right to prayer. We don’t need to know specifics in order to pray for each other. We can pray in the Spirit, mention each person by name. God knows better than we do what our destiny is, or the obstacles in our lives.”
    True, I thought, but I felt disappointed. I liked being able to pray specifically for a person—and sharing was a way to get to know each other.
    But Stu wasn’t finished. “I didn’t mean that. I think whoever wants to should share what they’d like prayer for, and then we can pray for that person. I just don’t see that that needs a ‘leader.’ ”
    Now I was really irritated—especially since I half-agreed with her about the sharing part and praying specifically. But I felt defensive for Avis.
    Adele, on the other side of the circle, was sitting with her arms folded and foot tapping. “Leslie, is it?” she said in a voice that made me think of a teacher with a ruler. “I think I heard most of this group agreeing that we’d like to appoint a leader, and Avis is it. Let’s not waste a lot of time here. I think you’ll agree.” The woman who operated Adele’s Hair and Nails nodded at Avis. “Go ahead.”
    Zingo! Good for Adele, I thought. She had just redeemed herself in my eyes—for the moment anyway. But I sure wouldn’t have wanted to be in Stu’s shoes.
    I felt a poke in my side. “Adele knows how to kick a little butt, don’t she?” Florida whispered. Again I wanted to laugh.
    â€œWell, I don’t know that we really need a leader either,” said Avis graciously. “But why don’t we quiet ourselves and get in an attitude of prayer. Then if anyone has something to share that needs prayer, just speak out. No one has to share if they don’t want to, but let’s try to pray for each person during this time. Let the Holy Spirit be our guide.”
    She closed her eyes, lifted up her face, and began to murmur, “Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for who You are . . .”
    Others around me began to pray in a similar way, all at the same time. Beside me, Florida rocked side to side, her eyes squeezed shut. “Thank ya, Jesus!” she said. No murmuring there. “Thank ya!”
    My heart felt stretched. What had just happened here? I couldn’t close my eyes. I just wanted to memorize the faces in this group. Even Stu seemed pacified. For a reason I couldn’t fathom, I felt teary. I thought I had just seen spiritual leadership at work—