Some days

I had a hard time being at church this morning.  I mean that.  I had to fight the urge the whole time not to just get up and leave.  I don't know why that was; just that it was at the time.  It was actually a special day at church.  A young man was baptized today, which is always a blessing.  But something was odd today, and about half-way through the sermon, I was able to put my finger on it.

A couple walked in late, and the woman half of said couple looked an awful lot like the Who.

I didn't leave and I'm glad I didn't.  Another family came in late, and wound up using the balcony.  We haven't had folks in the balcony in, well....ever.  They had kids so they sat upstairs so they wouldn't disturb people.  Our church has amazing acoustics though, but who cares?  If the little children were for Jesus, then I'm all about hearing a baby cry during the worship service.

Kids is the future of my church, not the few who get annoyed.  Bring 'em on!  The more the merrier.

I recognized the young woman in that family.  She'd been to our church about a month ago and sat in front of me with her kids.  I'm happy they came back.  She brought her man this time.   I talked to him briefly.  His little boy lost his toy lion so I went up to the balcony and found it for him.

Lion.  I just read a book about a lion.

I'd like to tell you that seeing that other woman didn't faze me a little bit, but I'd be lying and maybe sometimes that fight or flee thing is a real thing.  I didn't flee.  I stood my ground and fought the temptation to run.

I'm happy I did.  I talked to the lookalike's boyfriend and got a little of their story and shared a little bit of mine with them.  I hope they stay in Ogden and come back.  Sinners are welcome where I worship.  There were familiar faces at church today I hadn't seen in a while at church.  One young woman who I see where she works came today for the baptism.  It was so nice to see her back. 

I also talked to someone who I pray for regularly.  It's funny how two men need the exact same prayers, albeit for very different reasons in our lives. 

I
I saw something last night about getting over stuff vs. getting through stuff.  Apparently right now in my life, I have a lot of stuff to get through.  Case in point:  I ran into the downstairs family today after church at Wal-mart.  I just wanted a case of jars.  I'm making salsa and I didn't have enough jars left to do it.  When I pulled into the parking lot I parked just a few stalls away from the car that's usually parked in my driveway.  The seven year old decided to go home with me.

I got home and was greeted with these words:  There's a leak downstairs.  The seven year old brought the message up from Miss June. 

When the downstairs adult got home, the word flood was substituted for the word leak.  Leak is no big deal.  I'm used to dealing with those.  Flood....Flood gets an immediate response.

The water heater tank is leaking.  I will call tomorrow.  I think it's still under warranty.

I was talking with said downstairs adult, and she mentioned something about deserving stuff and reaping what we sow.  I mentioned something about perhaps wondering what I'd done to deserve everything I'd been through lately.  I got the look.

I mentioned to her I understood that I deserve most of what I get and that my chickens came home to roost.

Literally.

Except they're not my chickens.  They were, briefly, and only on paper.  And I did what I could to take care of them.

This is stuck in my head tonight:  "Greater things are still to come, greater things are still to be done in the city."  It's a lyric of a Christian song.

There were a ton of people at church today.  Lots of visitors.  The two guys that were stoned out of their gourds last week came this week.  One fell asleep during the service.  There were the people I mentioned and lots of guests for the baptism.  There were people in the balcony.  I hope all of 'em come back. 

I don't do the pity party thing.  I just thank God for what He's doing and worship.  I'm trusting that He's doing stuff, and He is.

Waiting.  That's the hard part.