“Is that your true concern?” Bayard was sharp, his words a blade of spiritual dissection flaying back any sense of pretense.

“We wonder if this is all there is.” Despite knowing this about him, despite wanting his ministrations, we continued to deflect and distract, not quite ready to admit the truth of our pain to ourselves.

“That’s the question that brings everyone here.”

“Not everyone. Those of different faiths…”

“… are still welcome here. They are still people, whom I love. We may disagree, but we can always share conversations and broaden our perspectives. Our faith journeys are about self-development, a tool for us to discover who we are, especially in relationship to what we call God.”

“That sounds good, but when we think of our history with your religion, all we see are shackles. Nothing there to answer any of the questions we might have.”

“Theology cannot be separated from the community it represents. It served the dominant caste well, preserving their status quo. Creating…”

“… an oppressology.” We cracked a joyless smile at our cleverness. “A civil religion of patriotism and capitalism.”

“Can I share something with you?” Bayard canted his head toward us, a measured gesture hinting at connection.

We nodded.

“After the Lunar Ukombozi War, most in Muungano broke with the major O.E. religions. I was at a loss as to what to do with my faith. I wanted it to feel real to me, though part of me wanted to just jettison all of it as, yes, an artifact of oppression. But faith’s tendrils had a way of taking root in one’s heart if steeped in it. Clinging to the tenets of African Christianity, I reshaped my faith practice to where many of the theologians back on O.E. would label me a heretic. But if their god was uninterested in everyone’s liberation, then I was uninterested in their god. Especially one created in their image. I am about the work: to my God and my community. Anyone who’s down for that work I can join alongside.”

“But?” We sensed an unspoken question in his voice.

“But it’s been a struggle. So much of our identity gets wrapped up in and defined by our faith. Our faith has to be about more than just surviving or existing. It was about recovering ourselves, needing to destroy the definition of us they imposed on us by finding new meaning in the old stories and traditions.” Bayard kept his tone light, but we had the impression he was taking our measure, sizing us up to see what we were made of. Where we might fit in whatever puzzle he was assembling. “People are simply opportunities to figure out what it means to love.”