A couple set out to reopen a church in suburban
Brooklyn, but the building was very run down. They set a goal to repair it in time for their first service on Christmas Eve and worked hard to repair pews, walls and the floors. They were ahead of schedule and almost done, when a two-day storm caused the roof to leak, causing a large area of plaster to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit.
The pastor cleaned up the mess and headed home. On the way he saw a local business was having a sale, so he stopped in and found a beautiful, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite workmanship, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall.
He bought it and headed back to the church, but on the way he bumped into an older woman who was trying to catch a bus. She missed the bus, so the pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.
I had to get some groceries and heard Elvis singing, "suspicious minds". I rocked and rolled down the aisles ejoying the delightful melody and the rhythm of his music, but then got to thinking about the lyrics.
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced and he practiced, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. 
Katy Perry popularised the catchy song, but until recently that's all it was. Then I saw the video version and realised that it carried a powerful message. Her Vegas setting is an allegory for our dreamscapes and illusions, the utopian places where all our dreams can be fulfilled and where we all live happily ever after.
Heaven bent to take my hand - and lead me through the fire
