So, Wow
It's been two years since I last went to the second service. Until today.
I was working the coffee cart this morning, so I was actually there at 8:20. Ugh. But we got set up, Wade spilled chocolate syrup everywhere, the espresso machine blew up at me... just a typical day at the coffee zoo.
Oh, you want to hear about the espresso machine? Ok then. It has two steam wands and two brewers. You fill the little basket thingy with grounds, attach it to the machine, push a button, and a few seconds later you have two shots of espresso. Except today when the machine spat this massive piece of metal, plastic and coffee at me. I had coffee spots all over my pants. My teammate and I both jumped when it went flying, but I was right in front of it, so I was covered. Neither of us got hit, thank goodness. She was pretty shaken up, though. My pants cleaned up easier than she calmed down.
Fast forward to 11:00. Teammate, whose name I still do not know, cleaned up with Wade (the boss) and I went inside for church. Except hardly anyone was there. So I stood there feeling lost for a minute, then I finally claimed a seat. After getting a Big Brother Pastor hug, of course.
As people started drifting in, I started wondering if this had been some sort of tantrum related mistake. I wrote in my little book that I carry. Ok, God, I'm here. Why's that, again?
Then Christie and her family arrived. I got a hug.
Dr. Pastor and her husband arrived. I got a hug.
Tiffany arrived. I got a hug.
Still sitting by myself, but things were looking pretty good! There was a time of greeting people, and ShadowBoy saw me and wandered over. He makes me more uncomfortable every time I see him. I was willing him to go away, and for once in his life he actually got it. He did NOT insist on sitting with me!
A few minutes later, Brigitte arrived. I got a hug. And she sat with me. Yay! I hadn't seen her since the retreat, so that was fun. So I ended up sitting with Brigitte and Rodney. Or they with me. Or... whatever. I wasn't there by myself, which was the whole point.
I started coughing, so I went out to the drinking fountain in the hall. On my way back, I passed Mike. Old friend. I got a hug.
I started not breathing during the closing songs. It wasn't panic-style not breathing. It was shut-up-and-listen-style not breathing. So I sat in the back, closed my eyes, did the breathing exercise, and tried to listen to whatever it was I was supposed to hear. I got nothing. So I had a little chat with God and said, Ok, if I'm supposed to be praying about something, it might be nice to know what... Still nothing. Ok... Well, I'm here, anyway. Then Brigitte came to ask if I was ok.
Oh. My. Goodness. Seriously?!?! Has that not been my issue forever? Do I not get whiny whenever I'm freaking out by myself in the back and no one notices? The Twilight Zone theme started playing in my head.
Then Sue walked up and asked Can I give you a hug? Um...
After service, I went to say hi to Staci. Hug.
Tiffany mentioned they all go to lunch after church, and she invited me to join them. I asked Who all is "we"?
She named just about all my friends in that service. Four of whom I've been in groups of one sort or another with. They are all in a home group together. I couldn't help it. It just kinda slipped out. Holy crap, that's a good group!
Yeah, we meet on Tuesday nights. You're welcome to join us!
Tiffany got redirected to another conversation, so I turned around and there was Kristen. Hug. In case you've lost count, that's nine. So this hypothesis that I might have a couple friends at second service... Yeah.
A little while later, the room was nearly empty again, and I was still waiting on a verdict for where lunch would be. I sat in a seat right on the center aisle, but then I realized Pastor was a few feet away talking to someone. I scooted over so the aisle chair was next to me. Just in case.
Next thing I knew, Pastor was sitting there asking me how my breathing has been, and then completely cracking me up a minute later with one of his highly animated stories. I told him that my second service experiment seemed to be quite the success.
Oh, and lunch was pretty fun, too. It wasn't all the group, but it was fun.
Now I'm totally nervous about next Sunday. I think I am having trouble with how well today went. Surely next Sunday will prove 11 to be as depressing as 9. Yeah, great way to think of it, I know. It's just easier to expect the worst, so anything better is bonus. Something to work on, I guess.
I was working the coffee cart this morning, so I was actually there at 8:20. Ugh. But we got set up, Wade spilled chocolate syrup everywhere, the espresso machine blew up at me... just a typical day at the coffee zoo.
Oh, you want to hear about the espresso machine? Ok then. It has two steam wands and two brewers. You fill the little basket thingy with grounds, attach it to the machine, push a button, and a few seconds later you have two shots of espresso. Except today when the machine spat this massive piece of metal, plastic and coffee at me. I had coffee spots all over my pants. My teammate and I both jumped when it went flying, but I was right in front of it, so I was covered. Neither of us got hit, thank goodness. She was pretty shaken up, though. My pants cleaned up easier than she calmed down.
Fast forward to 11:00. Teammate, whose name I still do not know, cleaned up with Wade (the boss) and I went inside for church. Except hardly anyone was there. So I stood there feeling lost for a minute, then I finally claimed a seat. After getting a Big Brother Pastor hug, of course.
As people started drifting in, I started wondering if this had been some sort of tantrum related mistake. I wrote in my little book that I carry. Ok, God, I'm here. Why's that, again?
Then Christie and her family arrived. I got a hug.
Dr. Pastor and her husband arrived. I got a hug.
Tiffany arrived. I got a hug.
Still sitting by myself, but things were looking pretty good! There was a time of greeting people, and ShadowBoy saw me and wandered over. He makes me more uncomfortable every time I see him. I was willing him to go away, and for once in his life he actually got it. He did NOT insist on sitting with me!
A few minutes later, Brigitte arrived. I got a hug. And she sat with me. Yay! I hadn't seen her since the retreat, so that was fun. So I ended up sitting with Brigitte and Rodney. Or they with me. Or... whatever. I wasn't there by myself, which was the whole point.
I started coughing, so I went out to the drinking fountain in the hall. On my way back, I passed Mike. Old friend. I got a hug.
I started not breathing during the closing songs. It wasn't panic-style not breathing. It was shut-up-and-listen-style not breathing. So I sat in the back, closed my eyes, did the breathing exercise, and tried to listen to whatever it was I was supposed to hear. I got nothing. So I had a little chat with God and said, Ok, if I'm supposed to be praying about something, it might be nice to know what... Still nothing. Ok... Well, I'm here, anyway. Then Brigitte came to ask if I was ok.
Oh. My. Goodness. Seriously?!?! Has that not been my issue forever? Do I not get whiny whenever I'm freaking out by myself in the back and no one notices? The Twilight Zone theme started playing in my head.
Then Sue walked up and asked Can I give you a hug? Um...
After service, I went to say hi to Staci. Hug.
Tiffany mentioned they all go to lunch after church, and she invited me to join them. I asked Who all is "we"?
She named just about all my friends in that service. Four of whom I've been in groups of one sort or another with. They are all in a home group together. I couldn't help it. It just kinda slipped out. Holy crap, that's a good group!
Yeah, we meet on Tuesday nights. You're welcome to join us!
Tiffany got redirected to another conversation, so I turned around and there was Kristen. Hug. In case you've lost count, that's nine. So this hypothesis that I might have a couple friends at second service... Yeah.
A little while later, the room was nearly empty again, and I was still waiting on a verdict for where lunch would be. I sat in a seat right on the center aisle, but then I realized Pastor was a few feet away talking to someone. I scooted over so the aisle chair was next to me. Just in case.
Next thing I knew, Pastor was sitting there asking me how my breathing has been, and then completely cracking me up a minute later with one of his highly animated stories. I told him that my second service experiment seemed to be quite the success.
Oh, and lunch was pretty fun, too. It wasn't all the group, but it was fun.
Now I'm totally nervous about next Sunday. I think I am having trouble with how well today went. Surely next Sunday will prove 11 to be as depressing as 9. Yeah, great way to think of it, I know. It's just easier to expect the worst, so anything better is bonus. Something to work on, I guess.
posted by The Other Gatekeeper at
4:34 PM
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