I Am Black November 7, 2025

“Okay, we’re here, now spill it,” his wife asked as they stood holding Gracie. A couple of other – larger, more aggressive dogs cornered Gracie. The owners saw and started walking over to retrieve their dogs.”

Hup, who watched them walk over but was thinking about what happened in church that morning, muttered, “If only… “

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The dog owners leashed their dogs and walked away.

Hup resumed his story. “Anyway, Jones and Wilder didn’t like the idea. They told me outright ‘Do whatever—privately. Just keep your liberality in check.’ Classic antinomian scare. You’d think I came right out and endorsed sin. Love Jesus, keep his commandments. Oh! And I wasn’t towing their programs.” Hup’s eyebrows raised, “They said that I lost my zeal.”

“You apparently confessed that to them, didn’t you? Calling yourself black?”

“Yes, but I told them that they made me black… it was their yoke that they hung about my neck.”

“You didn’t have to take it upon yourself.”

“No, but that’s when I saw my own blackness. I don’t know Jones and Wilder… not who they are in Christ… if they are in Christ. God knows. Who knows anything anymore given how we’re all living under a black out, so to speak.  As far as I’m concerned, when I left Jones and Wilder, the Lord had revealed to me my stumbling block. 

“So you left them there… standing at the altar?”

“To pursue my true bridegroom? You better believe it.” 

“You mean your intimacy with Jesus,” she wanted him to be clear.

“I quenched his Spirit. I hadn’t tended to the things I should’ve been doing… time spent with the Lord in prayer, meditation and study.

“You spend a lot of time reading Spurgeon’s sermons.”

“Yeah, but that’s not the same. Like Robert Bork’s law students—reading opinions of opinions, not the Constitution.”

“Yes, I know Bork,” she said, “but what you’re saying…?”

“How’s that any different from me? Even Mr. Ed went to the source: ‘Ask the horse.’ I’ve spent more time with Bible commentaries than reading the actual  Scriptures and meeting with Jesus.” He paused to consider what he said. “Got to look at myself first, right?”  

“Did you tell Deacon Jones and Wilder?”

“Yeah. I told them I was burnt out… weather beaten… black… like those Nomadic tents that suffer wear under the hot desert sun and blowing sand.” Hup paused as he watched Gracie relieve herself.

“And that’s why you called out, Draw me?”

“Yes. I don’t know where to find him, but  I’m ready to run.”

“And I’m going with you.”

“Yes, Draw me, and we will run.”

Gracie ran up and sat in front of them.