Warfare in Prayer

Warfare in Prayer

By Cynthia Maher

On July 7, 2000, The Lillian Collier Center for Alzheimer Care held its Annual Summer Festival. Kelly was dressed as a clown, and standing at the hot-dog kiosk. Her business was not exactly flourishing. If Kelly was less introverted, she might have been calling out to the crowd of residents, staff, family members and visitors, instead of patiently waiting for hunger to strike. Her supervisor came by and told her she was had hired a man to work with them. "He starts Monday”, she said. "So, you'll have to show him the ropes. He's an excellent team player whom I had the pleasure of working with some years ago. I think you're going to be happy having him on our team." She smiled, “You know, Kel, next year I think I’ll assign you to the dunking machine.” She left to help them, there. Kelly drifted off in thought for a minute or two, and when she looked up, there were a dozen hungry people all clamoring for a hot dog. Monday morning came with a clap of thunder, and the sky above opening up to loose a brief torrent of rain upon the unsuspecting town. It let up just long enough for Kelly to walk to work. As she entered the nursing center, it began to rain hard. "Whew!" she exclaimed. "Another minute and I'd have been a drowned rat!"

Kelly heard the sound of laughter behind her. It was the Activity Director, Irene Garner. She was clocking into work at the same time. "Looks like you just missed getting rained on, Lady!” said Irene. The Director of Environmental Services, Rob Thompson, who had just entered the building, was not so lucky, and was soaked to the skin. "Man, is it brutal!" he said, shaking the water off his head.

The two women laughed loudly. "Where's your raingear, Rob?" Kelly asked teasingly. "In the truck." was he reply.

Kelly looked over at her boss. Both women rolled their eyes, and mumbled something comparing men to small children. Just then, there was a page. “Irene Garner, please call extension 100. Irene,...