Court appearance

If you've never spent the morning in a county courthouse for roll call, you should. For that matter, if you've never sat in on a trial, (district court or superior court) you should.
Usually, you'll hear folks complain and dread being called up for jury duty 1 day in about 7 years. We can't stand to waste our time in the court system. But, there's a forgotten population of folks for which the court system is a way of life. I knew when I stepped in the courtroom that morning, I was in the right place. Words won't do "justice" to describe the scene. But, if Jesus were still enfleshed he'd have been there, hung out there, conversed outside on the steps during breaks. (Of course, you might say he is in flesh in us, and you'd be right. That's why we should probably spend more time there).
There was a hodgepodge of folks packed in that Monday morning. One couple, or family, or aquaintances came in dragging 6 kids with them. None of them could have been over 4 and the youngest of which was being held. Who knows how many times they'd been in a courtroom already and hardly four years old.
During breaks, everyone clears the courtroom to use the phone or restroom, and many go for a smoke or fresh air.
I'll never forget the image I spotted that morning before heading back upstairs to the courtroom. It was one of those little children, (probably around 3 years old), with a sippy cup in hand and climbing the stairwell to the courtroom. No guardians or adults in sight. Just a little man with sippy cup in hand, making his way upstairs for a court appearance. It broke my heart to think what might be in store for that young boy. Was he getting familiar practice for a rocky future? Was it a foreshadowing of things to come, imprinting a cruel destiny before he ever has so much as a chance? I pray not. Not if I have anything to do with it. (And believe me, we all have something to do with it).

Adoption

We're celebrating eight months of adoption with our cat, Simon bar Jonah. It's almost as if he's always been part of our family. We couldn't ask for a better one. He's so cute and even likes to help with sermon prep. :)
Yet, even now, as trusting and loving as he is, there are some things he's just not comfortable with. We're not exactly sure of all the details of his previous home, but we do know he must have been thrown at times. He'll sit close to you but, he'll never actually walk over you or serve as a laptop. And, if you start to pick him up, he panics and wiggles loose. We've come to accept that but, we continue to offer and show him as much love as possible. He may never be able to feel comfortable enough to sit in our lap or be held. But, we won't give up trying and we won't give up loving him.
The newsletter from the adoption center came this week too. Inside were a handful of short descriptions and pictures of other Siamese waiting for adoption: Lizzie- senior, diabetic; Marigold - age & hyperthyroidism; Beauty- thrown from a car; Curry- terrified of people; Chance- old, deaf, grumpy, renal failure; Neville- diabetic, geezer; Catnip- 2nd time foster, shy, timid, not people oriented. It's not exactly an attractive list of qualities. It sounds more like a hospital list or chart of flaws and imperfections. Who would want to mess with or deal with any of those miserable cats? The funny thing is, when we open our eyes and look around, there are an awful lot of people like that out there - whose lives seem to be a pitiful mess. We might even be bold enough to admit ourselves among them. If we had any common sense, we'd just put them out of their misery. Luckily, there are people who aren't governed so much by common sense as they are God sense. We often wonder what the kingdom of God might look like. I think it looks an awful lot like adoption and the folks who won't give up trying and won't give up loving them. That is, after all, what God does for us. That's what God wants the Church to look like too - People who look around and see a host of folks with unattractive qualities, deeply flawed, whose lives are falling apart, and decide that no matter what they're not going to give up trying to love them.

Outside looking in

It was one of those crazy Sunday's with 4 services in one day (luckily i cancelled the 5th a few weeks earlier). The 4th that day was a Homecoming celebration at our 223 yr old church in the woods near the Pee Dee. There's a renovated restroom out back that's only used once a month. My wife just happened to be the one to use it this month. Except, when she tried to exit, she found herself trapped thanks to a faulty doorknob. It was hard not to laugh at the situation. If you'd have been there you'd have realized just how comical it all played out. (Including trying to open the window that was painted shut). However, after a while the humor turned to frustration, anxiety, and panic.
It's always interesting, even comical, when you're the one on the outside looking in. But, the story takes on an entirely different character when you're the one locked in. I wonder how many folks out there feel trapped where they are, frustrated, scared, and suffocating. Yet, most of us will never know. We'll simply keep plugging along. Everything's just fine out here. Rarely do we stop to consider what it feels like to be the one trapped inside. But, be careful what you ask for. If you want God to provide you with opportunities to identify with and be relationally involved with others - you might just get what you asked for.