This morning I woke up early and contemplated what I wanted to accomplish during the course of the day. It was 5:30am, and I had a few hours before I had any hard and fast obligations. I hadn’t yet gotten my long walk in for the week and I hoped to catch a service at Calvary of Albuquerque because Ed Stetzer was going to be the guest speaker.
We had previously scheduled my daughter’s 13th birthday party for today. This party was technically the 3rd in the series of birthday parties. Last weekend, two of her long-time friends spent the night, followed by a day playing in the river. One of those friends doesn’t get along with the school friends. So, trying to include all, without drama for my daughter, we allowed two different “parties”. Then, we had a family celebration on her actual birthday. Today is the water park day, and we had a BYGO offer, so we allowed two friends from school to celebrate with her.
My husband woke up early as well, and encouraged me to do both my walk and attend church. Trying to kill two birds with one stone, I walked the nearly 7 miles to church. I arrived, hot and sweaty, but in enough time to catch Ed’s entire message.
He spoke about service, and how few church goers actually devote any time giving to others or investing into meeting “church” needs. He equated church attendance to theater attendance. We gain admission, look to be entertained, complain if we aren’t happy with the music or message, then head home. He’s right. I’m often guilty of being too consumer minded, not wanting to make the personal or emotional investment into someone else.
My husband and I took turns watching the girls at the water park, and during my break, I went home to get a shower and take care of a few things. I went outside to check on my tomato plants, and inspect if there was any sign of remaining tomato worms (I had killed at least 7 over the last two days). 
I have to pause for a moment to say something: I despise and fear tomato worms! If you aren’t familiar with them, they easily disguise themselves on the leaves of the plant, and then eat both plant and fruit. Early childhood memories include my mother, armed with a giant pair of kitchen shears, cutting the nasty beasts in half, trying to protect the few tomatoes that will grow in the hot New Mexico sun. So, I do the same today. Carefully examining to see if there is any sign of further destruction to my plants, I nervously clutched my own kitchen shears, ready to sever any sign of life I observed. I don’t know why I’m afraid of them. I recognize it’s quite irrational, but I’ve actually had nightmares about them.
In the course of the day, I also had a chance to read a thought provoking blog by Ryan Russell (redbikeleader.com/RESET) addressing his frustration with social media and how shallow it can be. This is another area in which I have frequent and conflicting opinions. I had actually attended the Calvary service with Ed Stetzer thinking this might be a subject he would cover (I was first introduced to Ed and his work at the NRB Conference speaking on this topic).
Now, during my shift at the water park, I have some time to think back on the events of today and formulate a few lessons/conclusions:
*It’s good to work hard/exercise hard and feel a sense of exhaustion and/or completion.
*It’s worth the effort to put yourself in a position to learn something new and to be challenged to fight against the status quo.
*Life is like a group of 13 year-old girls. You can choose to immerse yourself in the drama, or you can opt for maturity and offer yourself as a true friend to others. You may get snubbed, or you may get hugged. The only one you have the power to control is you.
*Social media sites can be like tomato worms. They are living, breathing creatures, but have the potential to be very destructive if you don’t keep a good pair of shears in hand, ready to do some cutting.
The best verse I can think of to close off this blog is Matthew 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Let us love and serve one another at church, on social media and even with drama filled friends. May our actions and love point others to the awesome grace of Christ.
