Goods and Services

The last person Bastien had ever expected to criticise his Church was this small girl, her words about his choices sharp and cutting. For a moment anger rose up in his chest, an old reaction to people trying to stamp down on what he considered perfectly acceptable expression - but he swallowed it. She was not criticising his actions, after all, just his reasoning. Which he would be the first to admit was flimsy. Not what he was going to admit it here. With a casual shrug, forcing a smile back over his slightly shocked expression, he replied: "You do not understand the power of transcendental beauty. It is not just something being 'pretty'....but you are right. I have no way to know if I what I am doing is correct. But where I am from...that was how everyone worshipped. With no feedback, no correspondence. Simply trying to do what they could. Which is what I am doing." He put a hand to his chin, quietly thinking for a moment before he continued. "If Safrin wants calm, normal, boring churches...she will let me know, and I will take my work elsewhere. But she asked me to help her, to get people knowing her name...and this is a method that will surely work. It is the only method I have. I have never been a typical preacher." BASTIEN This tiresome desire to shock and amaze Perhaps I’ll grow out of it one of these days