Page 32 of Solomon’s Temple

I had never been one to judge, even when I wasn't living right, but it wasn't lost upon me that the woman I had already fallen for came with many warning labels.

I got out and went inside the building. I had already called Pastor Daniels before I got here, to ask him for a quick session. After confirming that it was okay to pull up, here I was, trying to gain some clarity about this thing with Temple.

I walked down the hall until I reached his office. The door was already open, and he was focused on his computer. I tapped on the doorframe, and he looked up at me.

“Solomon. Come on in.”

I stepped inside, walked over to his desk, and extended my hand to him.

“Grand rising, Pastor D.”

“Grand rising, son. Have a seat.”

I took a seat in front of his desk and sighed.

“Your spirit is heavy, son. Talk to me.”

“I need some guidance and reassurance. I, um, found someone that I'm very interested in, but already I have done too many things that go against the man that I'm still working on becoming.”

He leaned back in his chair. “You want to elaborate more about it?”

“For one, I know she's not a woman of God, but she does believe there's a higher power. Second, she kissed me, and it took me praying all the way home so I wouldn't go back to her house and give her what I know she's been begging for since I met her. Third, she confided in me and told me that her boss sexually harassed her, so I pulled up, laid hands on him, and made him apologize to her.

“I don't know, Pastor D. Maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew with this woman, but I can't turn away. It's only been a week and a half, three dates, and she’s already disrupting my pattern.”

He didn't speak for a long moment as he clicked his pen a few times before placing his elbows on his desk.

“What are you hoping to gain from this pursuit of her? After knowing what you know about her, what is the end goal that you're seeking?”

I chuckled lightly. “You know I want a wife, a family.”

“And do you see that with her?”

“I do,” I said without hesitation. “She’s beautiful and funny. She’s a good conversationalist and very thoughtful. I can see us going far if she could just brush off the learned behavior and be the woman I know she can be.”

He nodded. “Sometimes, the enemy comes dressed in pretty packages. As long as you walk this path, he’s going to test your faith every day. He wants to see you fall off the wagon, so he’ll send people your way to prove a point that you aren't strong enough for this. He knows that the flesh is weak; he knows what you struggle with and knows where you're trying to go with this.

“She may check every box on the physical list, but is she ready to commit and lean not unto her own understanding of what's happening between you two? Is she willing to make the sacrifice of becoming the woman you need her to be for you?”

I rubbed my beard in deep thought. I didn't think to ask her any of this because I was distracted by her vibe. Temple reminded me of a past I walked away from, and maybe that was why I was so attracted to her. I didn't want to say that the enemy sent her to me to knock me off my square, but she certainly had the potential to make me do things I knew I shouldn't do.

She didn't ask me to go beat up her boss, but I felt compelled to do it because of my feelings for her. That didn't mean she was good for me, though.

“I can't answer that. I just know that I like her a lot and want this to work between us.”

“I'm going to ask you two questions. Do you think the only reason you like her is because of the familiarity she provides? Why do you want it to work with her when there are plenty of women of God who may be readily available to you?”

“I can't really answer your second question, but I see God must be talking to you with the first.” I chuckled mirthlessly. “To answer the first, yes. I think her spirit may be familiar with my old one, but I see her potential. She may need a little work, but I’m up for the challenge of helping her along the way.”

“Are you? If her end goal isn't the same as yours, then it'll only be time wasted when it comes to setting everything in stone. I see you have already made up your mind to continue this pursuit of her, but just be careful with this. You have been doing a great job on your journey, and she's already making you venture off that path. What's her name? I'm going to add both of your names to the prayer list.”

“Temple Newman.”

His eyes bore into me before he smiled lightly. “I knew it from the moment you two saw each other. Her grandmother comes here every Sunday and prays for those Newman girls. Temple used to come here a lot with her grandmother and was heavily into her faith. Once Sister Lula fell ill, Temple found herself on the other side.

“She lost her way, but I don't doubt that with your strength, prayers, and patience, you will be able to draw her back to the winning team should you decide to continue seeing her.”

“Hmph,” I mumbled. The information he provided left me with a lot to think about. I wanted her, that I couldn't deny, but my only conflicting thought was if I would be strong enough to continue to be the man I fought so hard to become.