Christian Living

The Real Nitty Gritty

by Terry Barlow
05/11/14
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If I'm honest I must admit that I'm often a last minute kind of guy, getting places mostly on time but with not a picosecond to spare. (picosecond=the time it takes to travel a hair's breadth going the speed of light) My wife, on the other hand, likes margin both in time and space, and both in theory and practice. I also like margin in theory but find it much more difficult to apply or practice in everyday life. So sometimes Sundays can be a testing ground (don't want to say BATTLEGROUND) around our house. My wife is aiming to arrive at church a little early if possible and I'm programmed for the last minute arrival. She thinks I'm being disrespectful of the others at church, and I think she's being a bit obsessive about being early. Being blessed to be part of a two car and a two driver family, I squeeze in a shower while she's putting on the finishing touches in her outfit looking doubtfully at me out of the corner of her eye. "You take your car, " I say. "That way you can relax. I'll be right on your heels (or taillights)." "But that's such a waste of gas and unnecessary wear and tear on TWO cars!" She replies, and she's right about it not being the ideal solution. But it remains an available solution. "I know, but (I tell her later) getting all stressed while you wait is also a waste of your emotional energy and amounts to unnecessary wear and tear on YOU, the vessel and vehicle of the Holy Spirit." "No," she answers, "I'll just stay home." "Not good," I respond. "Then the enemy of our souls has his way and you miss out on the fellowship." In the end we went together, arriving just past the last minute, and were among the FIRST to be there, allowing plenty of time to make musical arrangements beforehand, another reason she was concerned, and rightly so, about cutting it so close. I don't exactly say "told you so" later the next day, but we do look back together on how it unfolded and try to better understand the other's view and position. It was a victory in that we both participated with and enjoyed the presence of God and the family of God, but the way of  love (for love is more than a gift or even a fruit, it is a full-fledged way of conducting ourselves in its own right) if followed wants to keep learning and find a way for it to flow more smoothly.