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b'My sandals brush the street as I walk the familiar way to the tavern. I always walk a little faster when I pass by the open door of the King\\u2019s courtyard, keeping my gaze on my dusty toes. But today, something catches my eye. Blue fabric ripples like water in the sun. I look up and see the blue belongs to a woman\\u2019s sari, and she\\u2019s dancing in the courtyard. And I recognize her. I\\u2019ve seen her before\\u2014 where? Then I gasp. \\u201cThat\\u2019s Mira,\\u201d I thought. What is she doing dancing for the King?\\nMemories tumble inside my head of Mira dancing in the tavern, where the air is hot and close and dark. But the way Mira dances now\\u2026is different. Not like she\\u2019s trying to prove anything. Not like she\\u2019s trying to forget anything. The way Mira dances now is captivating. Her graceful movements seem controlled but not restricted. Mira seems\\u2026free.\\nThe blue fabric slows and softly settles, and Mira bows to the King. His smile is the happiest I\\u2019ve ever seen, like Mira is His own daughter, like He cherishes her more than anything in the world.\\nThen the King looks\\u2026at me. He says something to Mira, and she turns toward me. Then she skips, barefoot, across the courtyard to where I\\u2019m standing in the street.\\nI think of the tavern and the relief waiting for me there, but I am entranced by this new Mira in blue, who shines like water in the sun. Mira greets me by name, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Inaaya, it\\u2019s so good to see you.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Her smile is genuine. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153The King would love to meet you. Would you like to meet Him?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nI look down at my dusty feet, memories of all the things I wanted to forget suddenly rushing and pressing in around me, crushing me, and I feel the pull stronger inside, tugging me toward the tavern. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Why would the King want to see me?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I didn\\u2019t mean to say it out loud. But when I look up, Mira\\u2019s eyes are so soft.\\nShe says again, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153He wants to meet you, Inaaya. He wanted to meet me too. And you know me; you saw me cheat and lie and take\\u2026and the King already knew all of it. But\\u2026\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Her eyes are shining with a brightness I\\u2019ve never known. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153He\\u2019s different from anyone I\\u2019ve ever met. He loves me, in a way that\\u2019s giving, not taking.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nOver Mira\\u2019s shoulder, I glance at the King, standing in the courtyard, waiting. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153It\\u2019s alright if you\\u2019re not ready today,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Mira says, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153but He does want to meet you, Inaaya, and I would love to introduce you to Him.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d I feel my feet starting to move me away down the street, but then I look back, and I see the King is gazing at me like no one ever has before. With compassion. \\u201cCould it be true?,\\u201d I thought. I hold still. Mira stretches out her hand. \\u201cCould it really be true?\\u201d I breathe in. Place my hand in hers. Take a step into the courtyard. \\u2022 Hannah Howe\\n\\u2022 Have you ever felt like Inaaya, like you needed to forget, or to escape? \\n\\u2022 Why do you think Mira seemed free (Psalm 51)?\\n\\u2022 How did Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, make a way for us to be free, clean, and full of joy? \\n\\u2026Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25b-27 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nEphesians 2:1-22'