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We’re praying for Krampus

The church stood frozen as the scene unfolded. An enormous red bag crashed down on two of the dancers on the singer’s right. Security rushed in and whisked her away as police scanned the sky for the source of the bag and paramedics went to the aid of the fallen dancers.

The network switched to the host of the proceedings. He urged the crowd not to panic. That’s when things really got ugly. People began screaming and stampeding away from Times Square. Police barricades were pushed aside and the party people swarmed between and even over police cars.

“Can we turn that off?” The pastor said over the PA system. “Let’s all bow our heads and pray for the safety of those people now. Go ahead and turn off the projector, please. Lord, we know that bad people do bad things. Satan prowls around like a hungry lion seeking whom he can devour. It looks like he may have done exactly that but we pray for safety and healing for those people, Lord. What Satan disrupts, you can unite. Let the people in Times Square know your presence and your protection, Lord. In your holy name, we pray.”

“Amen.”

“This certainly isn’t the celebration we were anticipating, family. What we can do is to provide comfort to those who need it tonight. Pray for the wellbeing of those who were hurt. Pray for the souls of any who might have died, God forbid. I’m going to do something that few people are going to consider tonight.”

“What’s that, Pastor?” Charles asked.

“I’m going to pray for the perpetrator of this terrible deed. I’m going to pray for God to convict him with a sense of remorse for this terrible thing. I’m going to pray for him to turn himself in and seek justice so he might find his way back into the light of the Lord. That’s what I’m going to do, family. Who’s with me? Who is going to pray for the author of this terrible deed?”

“That’s a hard thing to ask, Pastor.” Charles said. “That very same man tried to kill my own daughter.”

The church gasped.

“Twice!” Bryce added.

The church erupted with cries and questions until the pastor called for quiet. “Family, our own Ronni Montes has been in the sites of this person. The Lord has seen fit to spare our sister and bring her back to us in search of comfort and safety. Others were not so lucky.”

“He killed a woman at a charity dance marathon last weekend with one of those bags.” Veronica said.

“That’s horrible! What kind of psycho kills someone for dancing for charity?” The pastor said. “Even so, he needs the healing touch of God as much, if not more, than any one of us, family. Did Jesus himself not cast demons out of the afflicted in His day? Was the Church not commanded to do as he would do?”

“He’s a monster, Pastor.” Marella said. “How do you pray for a monster and a murderer?”

“The same way you pray for anyone else. You pray to God Almighty. You give it to Him, family. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. That means it ain’t ours. It’s his. That’s how you pray for a monster or a murderer or a drug addict or a wife beater or anybody. You pray for them all and let God sort them out.”

Bryce pumped Veronica’s hand. She leaned down to let him whisper in her ear. She smiled and nodded. They pushed their way out of the social hall. Charles and Marella looked after them in confusion.

After a moment, they followed. Some of Veronica’s friends followed her parents out of the hall in search of the couple.

Charles found them in the sanctuary, kneeling at the altar rail. The small group gathered around them.

“What are you doing?” Charles whispered.

“We’re praying for Krampus.” Veronica said.

“He tried to kill you.” Marella hissed.

“All the more reason to pray for him.” Bryce said. “Pastor is right. We need to give it to God. The police have been after this guy for nine years now. This year, the Sentinels joined in. Just the same, Krampus is roaming free and killing dancers for no reason that we can understand. I don’t know if Krampus is a supervillain or a supernatural being or just a very resourceful crazy person but what I clearly understand at this point is that he’s out of our league. I can’t arrest him. I can’t kill him. I can’t do anything but pray for the poor demented soul. That’s all I could ever do.”

“Says the man who saved her twice.” Charles said.

“I thought it was just luck, Charles, but it wasn’t luck at all. This is God’s plan and we have the good fortune to see this tiny part of it.” Bryce said. “That is what’s known as a miracle.”

“Amen. That’s just what it is. I’m going to join you. We’re going to pray for this afflicted man, whoever he is.”

Marella and the others joined in and began praying for the Lord’s healing.

The church community broke into prayer groups and action committees. People pledged money and goods to be offered to those in need in the wake of the night’s events. Everyone offered prayers for those in need of any kind. The committees set schedules to collect the offerings and figure out how to deliver them.

The New Year’s Eve party ran much later than anticipated, but everyone went home filled with joy and hope for the coming year.

Returning to the Montes house, they said good night and headed to bed. Bryce settled down under the covers and started to drift off to sleep when he heard his text notification sound. He was greeted by the sparkling braces and enormous frizzy afro of the Veronica of Christmas Past.

❤ u

He smiled. He typed a quick response and went directly to sleep.

❤ u 2