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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Keeping The First Things, First"
November 24, 2010
I stood outside the door of the AAA office in Waterford looking in like a
child standing outside the Christmas display window at the famous FAO
Schwarz toy store in New York City. My eyes were wide open and my
mouth was ajar. I looked at my watch and it read 5:30 p.m. I looked at the
sign on the door and it said "Hours: 8:30 -5:30 p.m. I waved at one of the
ladies inside and she looked at me and then turned away.
I couldn't believe it. I had come so close. Yet, I had missed my
opportunity. Let me back up a little bit and explain how this happened. It
starts with the fact that on Sunday I will be leaving for Riesa, Germany
with a group from Luis Pabon Dance Studio. My daughter, Rachel, and her
friends, will be competing for the IDO World Tap Dance Championship
with over 3,400 dancers from four continents and 27 countries.
It is a big trip. I set aside Tuesday afternoon to drive down to the AAA
office to pick up some Euros and a few other travel items. The phone rang
just as I was about to leave the church. I chatted for a while and then was
off. On route I realized that I needed to stop at the Post Office to drop off a
few letters. It would only take a few minutes.
As I headed back down West Main Street I decided to stop at Dunkin'
Donuts to get a Coffee Coolata as a late afternoon "pick me up." The line
was long but I wasn't in a hurry so I waited. Satisfied, I was off again, for
real this time.
I ended up making two more stops before I got to New London and then
I hit every stop light along Route 1 into Waterford. To make matters worse,
I took one wrong turn and ended up finding several one way streets that
took me around the block a few times.
It was dark as I arrived and it suddenly hit me that I had no idea what the
store's hours were. I could only hope that it was still open. As I drove up to
the building I saw the lights were still on and I sent up a prayer of thanks. I
got out of the car and strode up to the door to find that I had missed out by
mere seconds. I was bummed out but I knew it was all my fault.
As I was driving home A Christmas carol came on the radio and a
thought hit me. The same thing often happens to many of us during the
season of Advent. It seems like we just start thinking about Christmas and it
is over. Year after year we miss the joy of the season because we get side
tracked and caught up in other things. Then it is here and gone again.
Maybe this year we need to put first things, first. Christmas is coming.
Let's try to slow down and prepare our hearts and minds for the story of
the birth of Jesus. Let's plan some activities that help us focus on the real
meaning of Christmas. Let's go to church. Let's pick up the Bible and read
the story. Don't let another Christmas pass you by without stopping to
enjoy the wonder of God's love.
Be blessed! Happy Advent. See you in church. Cal
November 24, 2010
I stood outside the door of the AAA office in Waterford looking in like a
child standing outside the Christmas display window at the famous FAO
Schwarz toy store in New York City. My eyes were wide open and my
mouth was ajar. I looked at my watch and it read 5:30 p.m. I looked at the
sign on the door and it said "Hours: 8:30 -5:30 p.m. I waved at one of the
ladies inside and she looked at me and then turned away.
I couldn't believe it. I had come so close. Yet, I had missed my
opportunity. Let me back up a little bit and explain how this happened. It
starts with the fact that on Sunday I will be leaving for Riesa, Germany
with a group from Luis Pabon Dance Studio. My daughter, Rachel, and her
friends, will be competing for the IDO World Tap Dance Championship
with over 3,400 dancers from four continents and 27 countries.
It is a big trip. I set aside Tuesday afternoon to drive down to the AAA
office to pick up some Euros and a few other travel items. The phone rang
just as I was about to leave the church. I chatted for a while and then was
off. On route I realized that I needed to stop at the Post Office to drop off a
few letters. It would only take a few minutes.
As I headed back down West Main Street I decided to stop at Dunkin'
Donuts to get a Coffee Coolata as a late afternoon "pick me up." The line
was long but I wasn't in a hurry so I waited. Satisfied, I was off again, for
real this time.
I ended up making two more stops before I got to New London and then
I hit every stop light along Route 1 into Waterford. To make matters worse,
I took one wrong turn and ended up finding several one way streets that
took me around the block a few times.
It was dark as I arrived and it suddenly hit me that I had no idea what the
store's hours were. I could only hope that it was still open. As I drove up to
the building I saw the lights were still on and I sent up a prayer of thanks. I
got out of the car and strode up to the door to find that I had missed out by
mere seconds. I was bummed out but I knew it was all my fault.
As I was driving home A Christmas carol came on the radio and a
thought hit me. The same thing often happens to many of us during the
season of Advent. It seems like we just start thinking about Christmas and it
is over. Year after year we miss the joy of the season because we get side
tracked and caught up in other things. Then it is here and gone again.
Maybe this year we need to put first things, first. Christmas is coming.
Let's try to slow down and prepare our hearts and minds for the story of
the birth of Jesus. Let's plan some activities that help us focus on the real
meaning of Christmas. Let's go to church. Let's pick up the Bible and read
the story. Don't let another Christmas pass you by without stopping to
enjoy the wonder of God's love.
Be blessed! Happy Advent. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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