Is Our Minister Sinister?

Is Our Minister Sinister?
Written by:  Tim Ross
Illustrated by:  Scott Ross

Early one morning in the middle of May
Two fellas rose early to greet a new day.

Meet Otis the preacher and his faithful son, Art,
But shake their hands quickly they’re ‘bout to depart.

And please, if you will, keep this just between us.
They’ll both do much better without a big fuss.

‘Cause to tell you the truth, both preacher and son,
Feel rather guilty for what they have done.

After all it is Sunday, and church bells are ringing,
And Otis and Art should be praying and singing.

But they reasoned together, “Just one little time,
Then by next Sunday we’ll get back in line.”

These two have a hobby--- it’s their hot air balloon---
And they often go soaring when church ends at noon. 

But today would be different,  ‘cause Otis skipped church,
And a substitute pastor would preach from his perch.

Meanwhile, together, at the far side of town,
Art and ol’ Otis had just left the ground.

As higher and higher the ballooning two flew,
Much more of their city now came into view.

Down on the ground dogs howled with delight
As they yipped and they yapped at this high flyin’ sight.

With a spectacular view in the bright shining sun,
Art screamed to Otis, “DAD THIS IS FUN!”

Onward and upward the balloon rose with ease,
Then began, yes it did, to catch the south breeze.

Swiftly and surely their craft drifted north
As a gust or two blew the balloon back and forth.

Oh it was lovely and our preacher sang praises
And Art joined in as they both exchanged gazes.

Glancing out west on their journey that day
They noticed some birds who were flapping their way.

They winged a lot closer so Art gave a shout
Which scared all the birds who turned quickly about!

Through the chaos and clamor and whirling foul feathers
The birds flipped and flapped then pulled back together.

But when they had gathered again as a flock
I kind of suspect they must have been shocked!

‘Cause in front of them now--- it had happened so soon---
Was Art and ol’ Otis and their hot air balloon!

A big bunch of birds in that faltering flight
Missed the big mess when they zipped to the right.

But five or six others, or perhaps even seven,
Were likely now headed to battered bird heaven.

‘Cause they crashed through on one side then blew out the other,
And there’s one thing I’m sure of... they won’t hit another.

But rather than sharing the details of this mess,
I’ll let you imagine... and I’ll bet you can guess.

The balloon was now hissing from several big leaks
Caused by the slashing of little bird beaks.

Otis looked skyward... and Art looked up too,
Both frantically trying to decide what to do!

And with so many holes the balloon began sinking
Which required Art and Otis to do some quick thinking.

The homes and the cars, and all things below,
Now appeared larger which as you must know,

Means they were falling and coming straight down,
And somewhere below they’d soon hit the ground.

But who would have guessed,  that while caught in this lurch,
Just two blocks away they would spy their own church?

Church had just ended with the members departing
But soon they’d all learn that the fun was just starting.

The balloon drifted slowly toward the church’s tall steeple
Which towered above this group of church people.

Pointing straight up one good brother yelped,
“I think those balloonists just may need our help!”

Church ladies screamed at this Sabbath Day sight---
Would the craft hit their church?--- Well it seemed it just might!

Lower and lower the balloon was descending.
The landing place now on the wind was depending.

A few moments later, when the breeze gave a push,
The balloon hit the steeple and,  “WOW what a WHOOOOSH!”

Now attached to that steeple all deflated and tattered,
There it did swing as below the folks scattered.

Screams of concern were bellowed out loud,
“Is anyone hurt?” came some shouts from the crowd.

No answer was heard so they yelled up again,
And again... and again... ‘til suddenly--- when,

“No, we’re both fine!” Art and Otis declared,
But please, if you would, get us out of the air!”

It was that very moment when the members took notice
That up in that basket was their good Pastor Otis.

But how could this be... their pastor was sick?
One member chortled, “This must be a trick!”

The men gathered ladders, some ropes, and a truck
While the church ladies offered a prayer for good luck.

Choir boys were singing some gospel songs too.
Just what you’d ‘spect good choir boys to do.

There was screaming and yelling and lots of commotion
But all in a manner of good churchly devotion.

And with all of the effort and prayers and some muscle
They got to the end of this ballooning bug tussle!

Though struggle, they did, to rescue their pastor
Rescue they did thus averting disaster.

Yes Art and Otis got some bumps it was true
But it wasn’t the lumps that bothered these two.

Of much more concern, and what made them more nervous,
Was getting caught skipping their church’s church service.

Otis was humbled as he stared at his flock
Who stood there dumbfounded... and some were in shock.

It seemed that the members were all lost for words
‘Til Otis, their pastor, shared his tale about birds.

He told how the flappers had attacked as they flew,
Crashing through one side then flying straight through.

A few girlie giggles now stirred through the crowd
In a matter of moments they were laughing out loud.

Soon the church ladies, and church men no doubt,
Were howling so loudly they almost passed out.

No disrespect was meant by these people
Who couldn’t quit laughing below their church steeple.

But what about Otis and Art in this matter?
Were they laughing too as they climbed down the ladder?

Yes... Otis and Art , while crawling out of that basket,
Were laughing so hard that they ‘bout  blew a gasket!

Be that as it may, though laughing out loud,
Otis soon stopped and his head he now bowed.

To skip church to go flying and abandon his flock
And then to be stuck on the church was a shock.

An embarrassing moment in his life it was true,
Something, for sure , he’d never again do.

He asked their forgiveness for his church skipping flight
But would they forgive him?--- I’ll bet they just might!

With wide open arms they all welcomed him back
And promised to help him get right back on track.

The following Sunday, as the choir sang in church,
Our friend, Pastor Otis, was back on his perch.

He preached for an hour, or perhaps a while longer,
And with each spoken word his message got stronger.

“It’s hard to teach tricks to an old dog it’s true
But ol’ Pastor Otis’ been taught one by you.”

He begged, once again, though still a bit nervous,
For forgiveness for fibbing and skipping that service.

With folks a bit restless and children a-squirmin’
He made a quick end to his great Sunday sermon.

“The moral of this story that I’m trying to preach
Is to be very careful whenever you teach.”

“Words are worth plenty but deeds mean much more
And I promise you members one thing for sure....

“There’ll be no more fibbing from this ol’ pastor’s mouth
I’ll be the most honest of all preachers down south.”

He declared rather boldly, “I’m changin’ my ways,
No longer will Sundays be high flyin’ days.

“And one more thing folks,” Otis giggled these words,
“Please forget all you know ‘bout ballooning and birds!”

With that they all hugged him and they chuckled some too...
Without  good Pastor Otis what would the church do?

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