Reflecting

Yesterday, Sunday, I was invited to come and lead worship for Calvary Chapel Bowling Green. Yep. It's the same Calvary Chapel Bowling Green that we started 14 years ago. I hadn't been back to the building itself for quite some time. The last time I think I was there was for Bethany's birthday celebration which would have been 2 years ago.

There were only a handful of people. Ryna, the pastor, said that a few were out of town for fall break. But their congregation is small but Rayn is content and really seems to be focused. I am glad. As I sat there during his message, I began to look a round a bit. On the wall behind the pulpit is the styrofoam-faux granite painted dove. I remember the couple that volunteered to paint that dove. Along the wall on the stage sat the timbalis (sp) that I saw my brother skillfully play hundreds of times, the green chairs that a local pastor gave us a great deal on, the pink women's bathroom that still hasn't been painted (I laughed at that one), and even framed pictures of Mike on the wall from when we did a baptism at Kenny's farm in the creek. The classrooms, the playset outside...so very much was the same. And yet, Ryan and his wife made some minor decorating changes to make it more homey and inviting. It was nice.

What made it the nicest of all is that for the first time since Mike resigning, I could be there without any wierdness or negative feelings from previous hard times. I only remembered good times and great people that the Lord allowed to come into and, often, out of our lives. I wasn't sad or melancholy, just really at peace and glad. GLAD!

They asked me if I wanted to come back everyonce in a while to lead worship. I am not sure at this point. But I know that if i do go visit from time to time, it will be okay and even a pleasure.