The aqua colored walls were covered with an overlay of Christian symbols and scriptural quotes strewn with an attitude of seeming indifference as to where they would land. One could face in any direction and be reminded of the correct direction. These arterial halls were an unequivocal right-of-way.
On the opposite wall from my obsolete pew hung a plastic literature container of brochures in red, white and blue. No need to browse, they were one and same. The cover was titled in bold letters “The One True Church,” and below it, the subtitle, “Jesus Built Only One Church.” The name of the One church was not mentioned on the cover. No need. I understood. I was standing in the one.
I walked over and took one of the brochures, as I folded it and slid it in my shirt pocket, I heard church bells.
Taped to the wall to the right of the patriotic-colored brochures was a near life-size, cut-out poster board figure of a child with moveable limbs sporting the garb of a Crusader.
The blond youngster, perhaps age ten, was wearing medieval military battle gear. It was cartoonish, with eye-catching colors and lacked depth. Groundless, he hovered several feet above the tiled floor charging toward the viewer.
The preppy-looking child was a knight anticipating a definitive fight. The individual parts of his apparel were labeled in a lettering overlay stating the metaphorical meanings of each article of gear.
He carried with pride, on this left forearm, a declared “Armor of God” shield emblazoned with a red cross across a field of white. A hoisted, pointing to heaven and also the drop ceiling, silver “Sword of Truth” was held righteously in his right hand. On his head he wore a silver “Helmet of Salvation” that looked like that of a Spanish Conquistador. Blond locks of cartoonish hair sprouted from under it and spread across his severely Caucasian forehead. He had large spurs on his metal boots. The spurs and boots carried no labeled symbolism. Across his chain-mailed chest was the primary refrain: “PREPARED FOR THE ATTACKS OF SATAN.”