Did you ever get called into the principals office in school? I did. A few to many times to count actually. I even got *gasp* spanked twice in elementary school!!! --Thanks mom for giving the that permission, traitor... not that I'm bitter-- I was always getting in trouble for stupid stuff. My grade school friend Jenny, and I would get in trouble for talking, for passing notes, for whatever. In high school it tapered off a bit. I mean I was never the huge rebel tapping into my inner Goth before it was cool, nothing like that. But I WAS a Chatty Cathy, and I WAS a rule bender... never breaking... just bending... as far as I possibly could. **sigh** the memories.... good times.... anywho do you remember that feeling of... Uhhhoooohh.... principals office... me???? Well I had that feeling a while ago.... and then again... yesterday....
I get a phone call and it's the Pastor at the church I've been visiting... He's like Hey, my wife and I were wondering if we could stop by tonight and chat... bla bla bla. Now he got my number weeks ago and had said at some point in time they would be stopping by but would call first. And it through me because, as previously stated, I have been on my own since I was 18 and I have NEVER had a Pastor come to my house.... EVER.... so I figure I must just ooooozzzzeeee dysfunction. That's the only reason I can figure a Pastor would want to come over. :) --of course I'm kidding.... I think.... -- Soooo I, of course, say yes, because I had the boys` teachers over that afternoon for a parent teacher last conference thing. (This school does little "Home Visits") So the house was surprisingly spic and span, so I said SURE come on over. Plus I had made this Carmel apple dessert thing so if ANYONE was going to drop on by, yesterday was the day to do it. You'd think I was stinkin Betty Crocker/Martha Stewart.
So they came by and we chatted for about 2 hours. It went surprisingly well. I mean they didn't ban me from church so that's a plus right? :) They didn't entirely freak when they heard about the Big D... which I'm sure they already figured out, because what woman goes to church alone with a kid, unless she's... alone... with a kid! duh... And the fact that there was no little cherub running through the house last night - cuz he was at his dads- probably didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out. But they were gracious. And they offered any help, ie counseling, if we thought it might help. Which was nice. Although I told them, we'd run the counseling route... and that no... this was pretty much it. (did I ever tell you how much I spent on counseling for us??? Ugggg.... let me just say.... it's expensive to let someone in on all your dirty little secrets and dysfunction) The Pastor kinda said details weren't really needed but they were there and he asked if he - the husband- was the one who wanted the divorce. And I said... well no... I filed. And he said something rather interesting. He said "Well just because you filed doesn't mean you're the driving force behind it." and I just kinda smiled. But I was a little taken aback. In a good way.
You see, the husband likes to point out that this is all my fault. I'm the bad person because I filed the paperwork. I'M the one who left, I'M the one who wanted out, I'M the one who ultimately took action. And he thinks, he seriously thinks, that absolves him from any wrong doing. He's better than me because... well because of lots of reasons, but in this particular instance because HE didn't file. So it was interesting to just hear that comment from another person, a pastor none the less and it kinda was like... Yeah... I'm NOT crazy. --Well... in some instances anyway-- I deal with a lot of guilt.... omgosh so much guilt.... over the fact that yeah, I did file, etc etc.... but at the same time I know the reasons, some of which no one will ever know because it just serves no purpose to share them, but I know the reasons and I am ok with it. Ugghhh... but I am off subject again, this is not the point of the post....
Point is, Pastor and his wife came by and we had a nice visit. It actually turned out ok, and I didn't feel at all like I was in the principals office after like 5 minutes. They are very nice people. But I did hear some interesting things come out of this guys mouth... again, things that made me take note. Some of them were.... in no particular order...
1) other religions can go to heaven too! :) --In that we were talking about some different friends and their backgrounds and that my uncle got saved in a catholic church, etc.-
2) He prefers to have you interpret the scriptures and go with it. Meaning... he's a literal interpreter of scripture... it says what it says, go with it people.
3) And he said some thing aren't so clear ie -and this was HIS example not mine-- but drinking and dancing. He's like ya know... you may not be into drinking and dancing, and someone else might be, but we shouldn't look down on them because they do. That's the way they interpreted the scripture...(at which point, I was really wanting the neighbor to come in with a beer, just to test that theory... but they didn't) :)
And please... I am NOT doing this stuff justice. I mean he was not being sacrilegious, or becoming a heretic or a liberal fanatic in my living room. They are a very conservative church. I'm afraid I may be painting a picture here where the dude was kicking back and spewing crazy talk. And he wasn't. That's what was cool about it.
Man... I suck at this. I paint horrible pictures... ANYWAY
Now let me be clear here, he didn't say "Go, eat, drink, be merry" but he didn't say you're going to hell because you are merry either. Also... I am not complaining. If it sounds like I'm complaining I'm not. I was very pleased with the visit. I'm glad we talked. He kinda proved my impression which was... he seems very open, & approachable. Normal if you will. I think they get that people are going to do what they do, and all we can hope for is to show them what the Bible says, and hope they come to the right conclusion, or a good conclusion. Whatever.
I was encouraged by the visit. I'm glad I got called into the principals office. I learned a bit about them, their beliefs, where they stand, and I was encouraged. I think we actually think the same way, they can just express it in a better, more intellectual manner, than I, who just shoots of my mouth and is like... take it or leave it baby. :)
I did stick to safe topics though. I didn't want to throw out alllll my, uhh, dysfunction (seems to be the word of the day here) I didn't want to spew all that in one visit. We'll save that for another time. :) But overall I think it went well.
Turns out a visit to the principals office isn't always that bad.... who knew?!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I enjoyed your blog as I was blog surfing... :) sounds like we might have a lot in common.
Hand Shake :) Nice to meet you!
Conversations like that are a breath of fresh air within the often "stuffy" confines of the four walls of the church. God's people communing together and striving to flesh out His Word...how novel.
I have grown to love conversation time with P-Wagg(Pastor Wagner, that's his gang name) and try to lure him over to the house or for a ride in my car just so we can talk("C'mer little boy. You want a peice of candy?").
One thing I enjoy is the fact that he wants the Scripture and the Spirit to do the work in someone's life, not him(by guilt or manipulation). When the Spirit works, it's powerful...guilt is a heavy burden to bear.
I have been apart of many churches over the years, due to our moving around, and I think Heritage has the focus and fundamentals that I want to be a part of.
Is it perfect? Nope, but that's the point. No facades of holiness, or Pharisical pretenses, just a desire to see God work. Great stuff, as long as you are willing to be honest with God and yourself about who you are, where you have been, and were you are at right now.
For it to work, you have to lay yourself out there; which I know is often hard for people who are "returning" to the church since there are often hurts involved that caused them to put the walls up and lent to them leaving in the first place. But, when it is done right, you can go to bed guilt-free, at peace, and sleep. I waited two years before I jumped back on that path.
It hasn't been about attendance to church or anything other than surrender and submitting my life back in God's control. Life hasn't been perfect, and neither am I, but it has been freeing.
Keep it up and know that Amanda and I will walk the path with you and Russell. Of course, Emma will be there, skipping next to him, while Mikayla screams in the background...
Do you remember when we used to talk in sign language and pass notes in the ink pen!! hehe!
That pastor sounds cool Steph. That's the kind of church I would like to go to. They have their opinions, but their not judging anyone else for theirs....
Robin- Nice to meet you. Feel free to drop on by anytime, and leave a comment or two! :)
I'll Never Tell-- I totally forgot about the notes in the pen thing! We sooo should of been recruited by the CIA. Tooo funny. I do remember our code names for anyone and everyone though. :)Annnd, you know, my town is always accepting new people... I say you come up here, you can come to my church... and bonus... new life in a northern town! how cool. We could be neighbors, come join the commune. Dave would LOVE it... but first, you have to drink this kool-aid.
Rodmaster- Seriously... you are too kind. I am appreciating you and your family more everyday. You, your friendship, and the kindness of your family has done more for me, and meant more to me then you will EVER know. And more than I can even begin to put into words. You guys rock! :)--Thanks dude, now I'm crying!!! DANGIT! ;)-- And Mikayla... noooo I haven't seen her scream yet! Don't believe it!
Post a Comment