Friday, May 5, 2006 - When did I become a member of the Church in Laodicea?
This morning we stopped to pay our phone bill at a rental storage place that accepts payments to our phone company. We pull in behind a beat up old truck that had trash in the back and I noticed a small blue sticker on the back glass that read "clergy". There was a sad, tired, grouchy looking teen girl in the cab of the truck and a couple of hillbilly (I know, there's that word again, not very p.c. of me) looking women in the building. I though to myself, "Clergy?! They probably put that sticker on there so that they could get a close parking spot at the hospital...sheesh what people won't do to avoid walking...the sticker's not even on there straight!"
I don't know where the hospital thing came from, I'm just sharing my mindset with you.
I watch my dh walk in and go to the empty booth beside them to pay the bill and I pray that they don't talk to him...I'm catty and jealous and hate to see my dh talk to another woman okay, I'm not proud of it but I admit it.
I notice a man come in behind my dh that looks like his father will look in 20 years and my thoughts drift to in-law problems...
I snap out of it and see that the women are talking to my dh and he is not shy about responding. Everyone in the place seems to be enjoying the conversation they are having. They've got the whole place smiling. My mind races to think of who in the world these women are...an old girlfriend maybe?
Suddenly they are walking towards me and it hits me...
This is a family that we have known for years, I used to spend weekends at thier home as a refuge from my own family problems as a teen. They never moved away, but the kids changed schools and we lost touch about 15 years ago.
The reason for the clergy sticker and the dumpy truck is that they voluntarily live below thier means to operate the only homeless shelter in the county. They are very much in the ministry, probably moreso than many of us will ever be. I had heard about it a few years ago. (they would never bring it up themselves to tell us.)
We had a nice chat in the parking lot and caught up on all the baby news and what both of our brothers were doing in the military.
The Lord really showed me didn't He?
We parted ways and I felt like the biggest idiot and the smallest person on the planet.
Where do I get off judging what a clergyman is and isn't supposed to look like?
My eyes were opened a bit wider today to see the ugly, judgemental person I have become.
I gripe and complain about what some churches have become and I am no better.
Thank you Lord for loving me too much to allow me to stay where I am. I didn't realize how pitiful and miserable I had become. I didn't see that I am poor, blind, and naked. Thank you for showing me today. Thank you for your forgiveness and mercy and for the Hope that I have in You.
Comments
Saturday, May 6, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ChathamMommy
Wow. Thanks for your transparency. I'm pretty judgemental about people and need to be knocked in the head occasionally to keep my focus right.
*hugs*
Saturday, May 6, 2006 - Thanks
Posted by WillowTree
I need to be more aware of how God sees others and not how they look on the outside. Thanks for the vivid reminder of that.
TaraAnn (FIAR)
Sunday, May 7, 2006 - That Ebay song!
Posted by flapjacks
Hi Trish,
I've been thinking about being judgmental recently, too. It's oh, so easy :-(
Here's a link to the Ebay song I mentioned - there's a thing at the top to click to hear it (sorry the language is a bit iffy in one place). It's kind of a catchy song though - if you're like me you'll hear it going round in your head and it'll make you laugh :-D
Alice
Sunday, May 7, 2006 - Ah, what link was that? I hear you ask...
Posted by flapjacks
Sorry - here it is:
http://www.geoffellis.com/ebay.html
Alice
Sunday, May 7, 2006 - hee,hee,hee!
Posted by tallenmomof5
Sadly, I've bought a couple of the items listed in that song.
:) Thanks for the link!
Thursday, June 1, 2006 - Clergy
Posted by kkccmom
Oh Trish...what an insighful post. Oh my. What hypocrites we all are. ALL of us. Not just you, My Friend!
It reminds me of the time I was in the grocery store, when my oldest DD (now 18) was a toddler. Standing not more than 10 ft from us in the meat section was a "biker dude" -- black t-shirt, LONG ZZ-Top looking beard, just pretty scrufty.
My daugther said, "Look Mommy. He doesn't love Jesus, does he?"
Oh my. If I could have slid under the tile I would have. I honestly don't think he heard her (she didn't speak up), but I just felt myself go all red. I cringed to think that in some way, I had transferred MY standard of who loves Jesus and who doesn't to my little girl.
I cringe to think of it now...Laodacea, in deed.
THANK YOU for shedding some light on a dark place we all hide!
Kim