Public Speaking… Barefoot

I love church. I really do. I just hate speaking in public.

So. Just picture me biting my nails off in despair, frustration, and, ultimately, fear. And looking so scared that I might throw up. And sliding my feet in and out and in and out of my highly uncomfortable, even painful, “church shoes.”

 

“Madeline?”

Panic sets in. I can’t breathe. I can’t move. I just can’t do it.

“Madeline,”

No! I can’t!

“Madeline.”

Deep breath. And somehow, it just happens. I’m getting up, and I’m walking towards the stage. Up the dreaded carpeted stairs. And now I’m standing behind the wooden podium. I’m handed the microphone. Which almost slips out of my sweaty palms. And then I open my mouth.

“Um…” I look down. Uh-oh.

No! No, no, no, no! I can’t be! My shoes! Where are they? Am I really standing in front of everyone in my stockings?! This is not how I die! Is it? Is it?!

“Um,” I look back up. Bzillions and bzillions of people are staring right at me. Really. I’m not exaggerating. The last thing I would ever do is exaggerate. Especially when I’m nervous.

“Um!” And that’s it. That’s when it happens. I look straight up, take a deep breath, picture myself screaming, “I volunteer for tribute!” and say,

 

“Well, like they said: we have Girls’ Bible Study every Tuesday night at 6:00. We have anywhere from four to twelve kids show up, but a total of fifteen girls have come to the program. Two of the girls are Christian, three of them are Catholic, and the rest of them claim no religion at all. We look at an English lesson, learn the words to some contemporary Christian music, and Abigail makes snacks and stuff for us to eat. Then we read out of the Bible, talk about what the passage means, and sometimes even act it out. It’s definitely been a great way to get to know the girls and for them to get to know God.”

 

And then I breathe again.

And then I go find my shoes.

 

So All May Know,

Madeline Studebaker