11th Dec Prompt from I'm Nova - Singing.
When did I last find the opportunity to attend a church service? I am not of the opinion that one must attend Church regularly to be a decent Christian gentleman - though I believe in God, naturally; as a man of logic and science, I do not believe in coincidence and one cannot choose to believe in neither - however, there is a feeling of restfulness in a church that cannot be found anywhere else, to my knowledge.
"Come along, Holmes," urged Watson, as he dragged me inside. Have we never attended Church together before? Hum! Perhaps we have not. It would appear that the chap does not imagine that I would do so by choice. However, this case has been demanding my every minute and I have not been able to eat or sleep since accepting it - how many days ago was that? Three? Four? - and it is likely for that reason that the good fellow expects me to argue. But I am weary and my head aches; perhaps I do need to take a moment.
Each hymn provides a balm to the weary spirit and the frayed nerves; the singing easing my troubled mind, which has been searching feverishly for an answer these past five days. Our client is nearing despair for her accused husband and I can do nothing! Is it right that I should be comforted at a time such as this? Yet comfort I find - I cannot help it, for all the guilt that I feel as a result.
The sermon washes over me, becoming background noise, for I am not listening. Instead, I close my eyes and pray - for my poor client, God help her, her husband, God help him, and finally for me - I must not fail! Somehow, I must save this falsely accused man from the gallows.
When the final hymn is announced, I feel certain that the all seeing Providence has indeed been listening - it is a relatively new one, the priest says, which I soon discover to speak of trusting our Lord for His guidance and strength - He never grows tired or weary, it says, and those that trust in Him shall not wear out.
I must say that I feel lighter, when my Boswell and I finally leave together, and I have no doubt that the answer will be found.
It takes only a matter of hours, upon leaving that church, for me to realise just what it was that I had overlooked and to place the true culprit into the hands of the local constabulary. Perhaps we should attend services rather the more frequently.