Late Night Lesson

I can pinpoint the events of tonight straight back to one incident. My wife had to work today and the baby and I spent the day at my parent’s house. We all got home about the same time. Shortly after getting settled in, I let our loving, part of the family toy poodle out to “relieve” himself. His endeavor didn’t last long and I should have seen the potential for disaster but alas I did not. Right before the family bedtime I was alarmed, first by the smell, then by the sight of our poodle’s day long collection of poo on the floor. Having too much going on and not really knowing how best to handle the situation I decided to create a disposable glove with a wad of paper towels and then flush the feces down the river.

An hour or so later my loving wife bursts in the den in that angry/cute kind of way stating that she believes this to be outside her marital vows. She accuses me of clogging up the toilet and tells me she has been working the plunger for minutes with no success. Being the MAN that I am, I assure her that I have the situation under control and to have no fear. After making my own assessment of the biological disaster in our bathroom by a vain attempt to plunge it, I realized I needed heavier artillery. This would take a late night trip to wal-mart.

The selfless sacrifice I would make seemed to alleviate my wife’s aggravation into a more sympathetic tone as she sent off on my journey to the local super center.

Upon entering the gates of the mega store I immediately went to the home repair section praying that would have the tools I needed. On my second aisle of rubber neck shopping, a nice gentleman asked me if I needed any help. He was probably in his late twenties, well dresses, charismatic, black with corn-rows. I told him I had just started looking but I could definitely use his help, and I needed what I’ve always referred to as a “pipe snake.”

He knew what I was talking about and quickly led me to the aisle this tool was located in. We start looking and I find the part I needed. I thanked him and he said it was no problem. Then with a huge smile he reached his fist out toward me initiating the fist bump procedure. I laughed a little and then politely bumped fists with him. We then separated.

I hurried home and fixed to clogged toilet. Then sat back and reflected on the late evening (to which I’m still awake typing at this very moment.) I keep thinking about that polite gentleman at wal-mart. I think about the fist bump, and how that was a perfect opportunity to give a simple risk free “God bless you.” Yet, I let it pass.

It should be important to remember that often the only bible people read is us. Don’t let a good chance pass to share Jesus with someone, if nothing more than to let them know that they are loved.

Amen.

Christian Family

There’s a Christian man I really respect. Although I don’t really know him that well I was privileged enough to get to talk to him about faith, religion and theology. I have to say that during our conversation I truly felt the Spirit shake within me. Something he said that has taken me some time to soak in has really been on my mind for the past few weeks.

He said, in regards to denominations Christian are still one large family. There’s Aunt Sally, or Uncle Joe, Cousin Mark and Brother Bill. And just like a family, as individuals we have our preference. Some of us might like Aunt Sally a little more than Uncle Joe, while others can relate to Cousin Mark as opposed to Brother Bill. The most important thing to keep in mind is that we’re all family.

This being in mind I’ve also been dwelling on why we go to church. Personally… I don’t go to church to worship God, I worship God daily. I don’t go to church because attendance maintains my salvation, for it does not. I don’t go to church to learn about the Bible, because at my fingertips lay a mountain of knowledge and wisdom available for me to study. So why go to church? There’s one thing (of many) I lack as a Christian that I need as a Christian…. fellowship. It’s so important to have a church family.

As it turns out I’m really praying and hoping to regain a church family and to get back into a rhythm of fellowship and congregation.

Late One Night

The other night I wasn’t quite ready for bed. I let the dog out, drank a glass of milk and figured that while I wasn’t sleepy yet I’d shave. After shaving I crept down the hall and just as I was about to enter the bedroom I turned the hall lights out, leaving me completely in the dark, and opened the door.

After taking about two steps into the room, in utter darkness being blinded by the light difference, I felt a presence. It was insane… I felt right before me there was something close to my size looking at me. I’m sure you’ve had that feeling before. A chill went up my spine as I pondered whether I was being paranoid or if there really was something in front of me. Then (as if to answer that question for me) the “presence” grunted at me. I could tell the grunt came from about my height and directly within two feet of my face. It was like a rasped, breathy, diaphragm induced grunt. Instinctively I started to back up accidently closing the door behind me. My back was now against the door and my arms spread against the wall around hip level. I can only imagine the face I was making. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind.

Should I attack this thing? What is this thing? What about my wife and my daughter? Should I try and find the light switch and further assess the situation? Should I just open the door and run like crazy? Should I remain calm see what happens?

In what seemed like minutes, though I’m sure it was only seconds, my wife’s voice echoes in the room, “Honey?” I couldn’t place her location in the darkness and didn’t know if the “presence” could either. My voice trembled, “…yeah…” She asked me with a more distinctive location, “Can you see us?” Still with a weak voice I answered, “…no…” “We’re in front of you.” My rigid stance turned to jello against the wall as I mustered the strength to pull one arm up to my chest as if to slow my heart beat down. The grunting turned out to be my nine month old daughter having just woke up and where my wife was holding her she was about eye level to me.

So the moral to this story I assume is… sometimes when you think you’re facing a demon, its really just your wife and daughter after you woke them up by shaving in the middle of the night.