Do You Hear the Angels Sing? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Do You Hear the Angels Sing?

She turns around once more to look upon the cross, and hears the wretched sobs of the One they used to worship in this place.

121
Do You Hear the Angels Sing?
https://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2017/10/23/6364438561873269891320004229_131.jpg

The carpeted floors soften her footsteps as she slides into the church pew, and bows her head in reverence. It is broad daylight outside, but the church remains dark, save for the rays of sunlight shining through the stained glass windows, casting cracked rainbow lights on the plain floor. Reds dance with blues forming violets—a striking contrast to the eeriness of the empty church. She gazes up at the cross. The sharp, crisp lines of the woodwork distract her from the torture and pain the cross represents—but only for a moment. The way it hangs imposingly is a constant reminder to the members of the church—a warning to follow the Holy Scriptures, lest they burn in Hell for eternity.

She breathes out a puff of cold air, and crosses her arms to keep warm. How different the church feels, compared to the way Christians preach of Jesus’s warm and open arms. Pockets of darkness are tucked into the corners of the church, and if she closes her eyes, she can envision the fallen angels of Lucifer, waiting for revenge in the dark against the God who cast them out of Heaven. Their menacing black, webbed wings stretch behind them, and their eyes shine like that of a black cat in an alleyway. She opens her eyes to see murals of the archangels, Gabriel and Michael, painted on the glass windows, almost daring the demons to come out of their cowardice. With their big stature and white robe, they stand proudly—boasting that they are the angels of God—protectors of the church.

As she walks down the church aisle, the smell of sour wine and yeast permeates her lungs. The wine, representing the blood of the savior, fills her heart with a heaviness. How much blood did it take, until he slipped into oblivion, and into the hands of God? Did his blood flow freely as the Nile River, or did it slowly drip like the morning rain? She cannot feel the reverence people once held for Communion. The depression and helplessness from the world overpower the people’s desire to worship. All she can feel is emptiness. The air that envelops her is not warm or comforting—it is made of bones and sticks, poking into her flesh, tormenting her to get out.

The chants of the believers swirl in her ears. They pray to God with desperation and anguish, but their prayers go unheard, and fall on deaf ears. Every Sunday, the prayers grow weaker and weaker, until all she can hear is a small whisper. A strong difference to the reverend’s booming voice that assaults her ears. He preaches of love and forgiveness, yet when he steps off the lectern, he leads a life of deception and hate. Amen, amen, amen his followers still say. They have long forgotten the meaning of amen, but because they are good Christians, the word amen continues to fall from their lips, piling up on the ground. The original Hebrew meaning of “certainly,” an affirmation of faith, has morphed to that of a listless declaration—void of conviction. The majority are not eager to listen to the word of God, but the guilt that sloshes in their hearts, forces them to wake up on Sunday morning to shuffle into the church. The hymnals sung on Sundays are bleak and lifeless. The angels cannot be heard in the church anymore. All she can hear is the cackle of the fallen that rejoice in the church's demise.

Filth and cobwebs flood the church. Bibles are left untouched, and tucked behind the seats. The sun peeking through only highlights the overabundance of dust. The dust sways to and fro, settling lightly on any surface it can find. As she observes the cobwebs hanging from the high ceiling, she is reminded of the time when people would serve the church, making sure that it was always in impeccable condition. Now, it seems that they cannot get out fast enough, fervent to settle back into their life of sin and turmoil. How strange that I have only noticed these things now.

Finally, she treads out of the church, satisfying the voices that urge her to leave. She turns around once more to look upon the cross, and hears the wretched sobs of the One they used to worship in this place.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1325
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

2741
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

2800
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments