| BATTLE IN A CHURCH by James (jimjunior2001@yahoo.com) Between Jill Johnson and an angry parishioner I knelt down in front of the tabernacle, made the Sign of the Cross, and brought my hands up to my chin, folded. I nodded my head and said, “Thank you, Lord, for the gifts you have given me, especially my girl power. Look out over all my friends, and the men who I have had to use your gift on, bring them to humility and repentance. Amen.” After saying a few formal prayers, I got up, and headed out towards the church entrance. As I exited the nave, and entered the narthex, I was about to dip my hand into the holy water, when a man approached me. He was obviously a man who wandered the streets; he was dressed in a raggy green jacket, with a hat, and had a long beard. “Hey, young lady, can you spare some change?” I felt bad because I actually I had spent my last money in a store a few moments before. “I am sorry, sir, I do not have any.” “Young whippersnapper, you have no money to lend to your brother, and you enter a church in blue jeans, and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Have you no reverence or decency?” I felt bad for him, and decided to ignore him. However, he followed me to the baptismal font where the holy water was. He grabbed my right arm with both of his; I never thought I would have to do this kind of thing would happen in a church, but if it is, it would be me it would happen to. “Hey, you’ve got a purse, you got to have something in there” he said as he pulled on my arm which had the purse on it. He let go with one hand and used that to pull on the purse. “No, sir, I do not. Please let go.” He would not, so I raised my right leg, and snapped it into his groin area, uttering a kiya as I did. He uttered a loud cry and let go of my arm, but his other hand still had my purse; not for long. I moved my hand into position under his arm, with it open and up, and then thrusted it up quickly. The force caused him to let go of the purse, and now I was completely free. Still staggering, he managed to put his right hand on my neck. I leaned back a little more, put my hand on his and turned it a little, while at the same time moving to my left so that I was perpendicular to him, and putting my other arm on top of his I pulled on his original hand and now he was stretched out beyond his balance point. I pushed down harder with my arm, and broke his elbow, and also his wrist. I let go, and saw the he was too hurt in body and ego to make any more attempts at physically grabbing me. Since I was in a holy place, I made one last attempt at reconciliation. “I am sorry I had to hurt you, sir, would you like me to take you to the hospital?” He looked up, and was quiet for a moment. He then said, “OK” On our way out, we got into a conversation. “Where did you learn to fight like that?” he asked.I smiled and said, “Oh, its just a gift I have called girl power.” “What is ‘girl power’?” “It’s the ability of a girl who appears normal to be able to defend herself against men. It is something extraordinary that really every girl has, but does not utilize.” “I see; can you tell me anything more?” “Well, girl power really resonates with women because we really do not like to fight, and one who has girl power can end fights quickly. It also appeals to us because we do not generally have as strong or big a body as men do, and it gives us the gift to be able to pack power into our small bodies. For example, when I hit someone with my hand or feet, even though they are small, it hurts him!” “I see.” “And it goes beyond just fighting. The ability to maintain eye contact with a man and to speak decisively are parts of girl power, too. It is also psychological; it gives women empowerment while it causes men with inflated egos to lose those, too. You could say it is good for both men and women.” “Well, I certainly lost a little of my machismo today. I will never again attack a woman.” I smiled, saying, “Girl power has worked its wonders here.” “Amen to that!” We both laughed. THE END |