The only thing more fun than people watching while eating a dog and Coke at Costco ($1.60!) is eavesdropping while you’re eating a dog and Coke at Costco. (Did I mention it’s only $1.60?)
Yesterday conversation was amusing. It was between a few women and lanky fellow with thick glasses and an overbite. The topic: Church. A topic near and dear to my heard.
“There was a BAND!” woman #1 said.
Was that a gasp I heard or the HVAC system?
Nope. I think it was a gasp. “There were drums! Git-tars! It was a regular BAAAAAAAAND.”
“NO!” Woman #2 said with disgust appropriate for the the discovery of a certain magazine hidden under her son’s mattress.
Overbite remained quit.
“And get this….the worship leader was a WOMAN!” woman #1 said in a stage whisper.
I plopped some more sauerkraut on my dog and took a swig of my Diet Coke. This was getting good; but I dribbled some pop down my front.
“I’ll never go back there,” woman #1 said.
Overbite said something about a denomination; said that’s where they go. Ah! Woman #2 must be his help meet.
The scandalous conversation continued as they compared notes on what was appropriate for worship and what wouldn’t pass muster with the Almighty.
I slurped more Diet Coke and glanced away. I think they were on to me.
A call interrupted their dialogue. Overbite had to get back to the office. And Help Meet had to go too. The horrified one followed suit. Yowsers! Too bad her church didn’t have a doctrine about ill-fitting polyester pants.
And I was left alone with my thoughts. That was fun.
Since when did Christianity turn into a salad bar or an a la cart menu? A picking and choosing affair about how we view God….versus a simple relationship with Him?
Heavy on the lettuce….hold the bacon bits….oh wait….can’t have the bacon bits, they’re ungodly…Is the Blue Cheese more godly than the Thousand Island?
Oh, the silliness that ensues when we think of God as a good version of ourselves. Or when we fashion an image of him based upon our opinions.
I suppose if you’re busy doing that stuff though, it keeps you distracted from doing the heavy lifting of loving that annoying neighbor and being nice to your family.
Saddest part though….it also keeps us from seeing the reality of his love and kindness.
Ah yes. Life is full of learning opportunities. Even at the Costco snack bar. (Did I mention the dog and Coke are only $1.60?)
Filed under: church, church life, Spirituality, The God Journey | Tagged: Christianity, church, Costco, Spirituality | 3 Comments »
