You really do get to an age in life where you must simply accept some things about yourself. This has happened to me. There is a very good chance I will never wear a six petite anything. I probably won't ever be a delegate to general conference, and although there were some years I would have liked to have been, I really no longer have any great desire to be one. That's a good thing since I've not ever made it beyond a Jurisdictional Reserve. I will most probably never serve Kirkwood as senior pastor, not only because I might not be the best person for that position, but since I am contemplating retiring with 35 years of service in 2012. Another thing I have accepted about myself, as I have admitted here over the years, is that I am messy. Very. And it feels like I have really gotten into this messy thing in a big way since coming on the district. Particularly in terms of the interior of my car.
However, accepting oneself is no excuse for being inhospitable. I do want to be radically hospitable in as many part of my life as I can. Last week, at cabinet, as usual when we broke for lunch, we piled into one of the dss' cars and went off to get something to eat. Except for the last several times we have met, I have not volunteered to be the lunch driver because my car was such a mess that I was embarrassed to let anybody besides my kids and sometimes Philip in it. A mess. I will not offend your sensibilities by describing it. But since today was such a gorgeous day, I took two hours and cleaned the interior. This week my colleagues I hope, will climb in my car to go to lunch. I guess when even you realize who you are, some of who you are still can change, and needs to change when it's getting in the way of offering yourself and your car for others. This may be something that some of our churches need to wake up to, too. "This is just the way I am" works for some things, but never should be an excuse for not growing, or not caring.
In any case, my car is certainly not spotless, but no longer embarrasing!
4 comments:
When I was young, I was always appalled at the messiness of my pastor's car. Now, my car looks identical - ridiculously messy most of the time. Who knew this would happen to me?? I think it comes with the territory! I'm taking someone out to lunch today too - and had to clean my car for the occasion!
Hey friend,
I love my mini-van. I just put all the junk in the back and load up. Then every 6 months or so I have to clean out the back. It is good for hauling my bike too....
My car stays messy much of the time in the back seat. I try and take something out of everytime I drive it. With two small kids and trips to McDonalds all the time it hard to keep clean.
I can relate to everyone's comments. I see other people with clean cars and wonder "why can't I be like that?" I heard a man on Oprah say that clutter and being overweight are connected. At first I was skeptical, but then I decided that for myself, it's true. Somehow, discipline in one area (or lack of it) spills over into another. I'm working on it!
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