Three shadowy figures crested the hill on the trail far ahead of us. It was getting dark and most of the forest had blended into a uniform green-brown, with the exception of the dogwoods, which were bright floating white in the gloom. Deer crashed willy-nilly through the brush at our approach. The figures coming towards us on the trail were fellow people, though all we could see were silhouettes.

“Three teenage boys,” I guessed. “No, two boys and a girl.” They got a little closer. “The guy in front is stockier, I’m guessing a dad and two kids.” In a moment we heard a low, droning voice. “Definitely a dad, hear the lecturing?” He had a staff with which he seemed to be slamming on the ground for emphasis. We were almost upon them before the situation became clear.

There were three men of varying ages. The man in front with the low voice was speaking rhythmically in tongues and keeping time with his staff: Tchucka tum tum alla lala be. The man in back was singing in a high, passionate tenor: Jehovah Jireh, My Provider! The man in the middle was muttering a string of praises: Amen. Alleluia. Praise God! They waved their bibles at us and grinned, veering off into the woods, still singing.

“You were way off on that one,” said the Mister. Yep, I sure was.

In other news, I updated my spam blocker and turned comments back on.