Our church has had a VBS [Vacation Bible School] program running this week. Only in the evenings for 1.5hours, but it has been a good start for future years. It was enthusiastically attended AND staffed.
Anyway, someone was there who had been reading a book by a particular author. Crystal had told me earlier in the week that they had been reading the book and had some questions/concerns about it, so I had checked it out. Haven't read it yet, but did peruse the chapter headings and subtitles.
My first impression was that the author was a conspiracy theorist of religious idealogy and that he was a fruitcake.
So this evening at VBS the person who had been reading it was just in tears over some of the stuff they had read. So I spearheaded a little circle of friendly chatter and did my best to make them feel better and to inject some practical theology into their thinking. Mainly in an attempt to allow them to realize that this book wasn't the bible and just because someone throws Bible verses at you doesn't make them correct.
Then later I was talking to another person, who is happily married, has a young daughter and has been in the church for quite some time as well. We got talking about the book and he mentioned he had some questions as well. So I said the book was on my radar, but that I would definitely read it in the next week and we could talk about it the next Sabbath. He was appreciative and grateful.
On the way home, it hit me hard, like fear clawing up my throat. When did I become someone who could comfort someone my parents age, answer their questions, be asked for advice/thoughts by a fully mature man and be thought of as someone who people would listen to?
Thankfully, God has paired me with a wonderful wife. She pointed out the how's and why's.
I have definitely turned a corner this day. I can't pretend to be a young person, a sit on the sidelines and let the more experienced, more mature handle things. Now I have to be in the thick of things. Even if it is just in the thick of "little" things :-)
It kind of feels like I've grown up and just realized it for the first time. It is a weird feeling.
Happy Sabbath to you all.
2 comments:
Welcome to the club. I've felt this way for a couple years, and it's still surprising to me.
Good job.
Would I recognize the book, or is it one that goes around your circle only?
It IS a weird feeling! But you have a lot to offer, so you should probably embrace it :)
PS. Thanks for your affirmation of my new blog look. It was a big leap for one as rut-inclined as I - haha.
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