Wow! Well, I guess there is a first time for everything. Tonight I was sitting in on some youth services at the church we attend. At 6 pm is the Adolescent Service. It for kids ages 13 - 17. Funny little thing I learned, the word for adolescent in Spanish, "adolescente" in parts holds the meaning of "dolor" or "pain." Adolescents are going through a time of incredible change in their lives, bodies, social structures, etc and for many of them it is a time of great emotional "pain" and distress. - Good reason to minister to them, eh!?
This is followed by the Worship Team Practice at 7:30 pm. It is not only a practice time for later that night and for Sunday, but it is a time of intense intercession for those services as well. Very cool.
Then at 9 pm begins the Youth Service. It is not like a typical youth service in the states. For starters, youth, or "jovenes" doesn't start until you are 18 years of age and runs up well into the 20's and 30's. It is probably closer to a College/ Career Ministry in the states.
Anyways, here is where it all went down.
I don't know how many lessons I have heard, or even taught myself, on faith. But a very common illustration is to talk about or even illustrate it with the use of a chair. There is talk about when we sit down in a chair we have complete "faith" that the chair will hold us up. We don't even think about whether it will or not, we just know that it will, and so we plop down with complete security.
Well, there is an addendum I think should be added to that lesson: Always Listen to the Chair.
Our church uses what are basically white, plastic lawn chairs. They are not the strongest or sturdiest things in the world. I have seen some larger people double or even triple them up to be sure they will be secure when sitting in them. But I have never had any trouble with them. Week after week, service after service, church after church I have sat in them and always been great. Tonight, I learned an important lesson.
I was listening to the speaker intently and that is really where my focus was. I have a hard time tracking with 100% of what is being said and going on so I really try to focus hard. Well, as I relaxed, leaned back, and slouched in my chair, I felt the chair legs kind of slip out sideways a little. Somewhere inside I could hear the small voice of the church crying out to me - "Please readjust yourself. I can't hold you sitting like this!" I don't know why, but, I ignored the poor little cry for help. Maybe I was just too secure in my past experiences. Maybe I was really trying hard to hear the speaker over it. I don't know, but I ignored it.
Everything sent well for another bit of time. By now I had totally tuned out the cry of the chair. Everything was still fine. I am positive it will stay that way. That little, brittle, frail, white, plastic, stacking lawn chair gave it it's all. It hung in there until it's final dying breath. And then, it didn't slowly slump down. It didn't kind of break off one lag and slouch over. It EXPLODED! All of a sudden, it died, and all 4 legs snapped off simultaneously, some parts of them shattering in the explosion and I crashed to the hard tile floor with a horrible crash. It did not just break and drop down - it literally sounded like a gun shot!
Well, I don't know why, but the whole room turned and stared at me. Even the speaker stopped speaking and stared at me. I quickly raised my hand and apologized for the interruption. I hoped that he would quickly start speaking again & everyone would look back up front. No. It did not happen. Instead, concerned citizens started coming to my aid, out of their seats, across the room, helping me up, collecting all of the shattered pieces, and piling them like a heap of bones against a side wall of the room. Then came the ultimate humiliation - they brought me a replacement chair - but not just any old chair, and not another plastic stacking lawn chair. They brought me a brown chair. These are the ugly wooden and metal chairs reserved for the back of the room. The ones that no one sits in unless all of the other chairs have been taken. Sigh.
I spent the rest of the night alternating between, almost laughing out loud, being mortified with embarrassment, thinking about quietly slipping out and never coming back, and trying to pay attention to the message. It was an emotional roller coaster.
The good news is that after the service, Latin Culture took over, which means everyone gives everyone else a hug and a kiss before leaving. Seriously, it is like a rule. You have to do it in latin culture or people feel slighted. I know, embarrassing too, but it gave me a chance to laugh and talk about it with everyone in the room and hear their stories of how many chairs they have had similar experiences in. It was rather cathartic. (I'm not even sure I just used that word correctly, but it sounded real good. : )
I was going to try and fill in several other details of my day, but this story moved the front of the line and there is not time to write about the other stuff now. It is already tomorrow. : )
Good Night All
Love you and God bless you
May His Peace be upon you -
No comments:
Post a Comment