dar334

As we do almost every Sunday, unless chemo has rendered Jim unable to get to the truck or car, or unless we have left the county, we attended early church this morning.  We were able to attend our worship service at Trinity United Methodist Church because Michigan State University took home the win from the Big House.  Although college football isn’t high on my list, it is high on a lot of the lists other people have.  I can respect that.  I don’t fly a college flag proudly at my home, I proudly fly the American flag.

Now about the outcome of the game yesterday.  Our Pastor is a Michigan State fan.  And unfortunately, the actions of a few people who are U of M fans have caused me to root for whoever is playing against them, just because of the arrogance of a few maize and blue fans.  With that said, I only watch U of M if they are playing Michigan State or Ohio.  Yes.  The Ohio State Buccaneers.  (My favorite color is red.)  That’s how I roll.

We had a wedding at our church yesterday, the son of a dear friend I have known my whole life.  Someone whose friendship has changed in different ways over the years because I have grown older.  I don’t remember her ever being “little”, she was always a grown up in my eyes.  My age now indicates I am a grownup too so our friendship has changed yet again.  Jim and I attended that wedding yesterday and our Pastor did an excellent job.  In fact, I doubt any married couple in that church wasn’t looking at their spouse in a whole new way; remembering the covenant they made at the altar on their wedding day.  When he said “Till death do us part” while performing the ceremony, I had tears falling from my eyes.  Not that tears have ever been a surprise, yesterday it hit home just a little too close.

When I realized the big game was going to be on, I was surprised Pastor agreed to marry this young couple on the day the two colleges battled.  As always, he didn’t let me down at the reception when he showed up with his lovely wife and a big round button proclaiming GO STATE on the lapel of his suit.  He even began the prayer before the meal with a blessing of Michigan State before blessing the bride and groom.  That’s how he rolls.  Of course it was done in fun as the DJ let everyone there know they needed to catch a glimpse of his button when he introduced Pastor to the guests.  I’m as sure as the sun will set this evening that Pastor is lucky he left before the guests tipped a few more adult beverages.  I am also certain that when Bocephas sang about all his rowdy friends there were some ancestors of the groom in that room.

The meal was delicious and when it was done, Jim was done too.  We left just as Pastor and his wife were saying goodbye.  As Jim and I were heading to the truck, I told Pastor if Michigan State did not win, I would be attending the Baptist Church in the morning.  I didn’t feel I could sit in the pew and see the sorrow in his face.  But thankfully, I was able to give him a high-five as we walked in the door of our church this morning.   He started the service letting the other parishoners know that he was happy to see me, that like weather was predicted, my presence in the Chapel indicated the outcome of yesterdays game.

After worship was over Jim and I went to Bible Study.  There are several out there that think they don’t need to attend church or a Bible study but I am not one of those people.  If I didn’t stay in the Word, I don’t know where I’d be today.

During the study, I quietly left to visit the bathroom and when I was on my way back to the study a young women stopped me to offer a hug.  This particular young lady has become a very special friend to me and I cherish her presence on my journey.  She asked if I was still writing, she said she missed me and my blogs.  I told her nothing had touched me recently and promised I would try to be more alert to a subject to ponder about.  This wasn’t entirely the truth because I have had several topics to blog about, but I didn’t because I was afraid I would be opening a can of worms I didn’t want to unleash.

When the study was done, Jim and I had breakfast and headed to Meijer for groceries.  During our drive to Corunna, I pondered about my pondering.  I was afraid my pondering would quickly turn in to rambling, babbling, sputtering or whining as this seems to be where I have been in the last week.  Reality has hit me hard and I have stayed away from things that could possibly upset or annoy me ….. like facebook.  When I publish my blogs they go to facebook along with the WordPress site so I’m drawn to open my facebook app to see the comments.  When I do that I’m often annoyed by something else posted there, which is why I also quit reading our local paper.

In closing, I had several topics I couldn’t have written about this afternoon, but I picked this one.  Now I’m going to take my shoes off and put my feet up and watch the remainder of the Lions game with the love of my life.  We don’t get to choose when we are born and we don’t get to choose when we die and we don’t know how many more Lions games we are going to be able to watch with loved ones.  It’s the reality that is life.

This one’s for you my sweet sender of rainbows,

dar