Adventures in not playing guitar

Today was the one Sunday I had off from playing guitar at Summit for November. Multiple thoughts ran through my head about how I should spend my weekend. Get away, go camping, canoeing, take the bike out for a spin, but at least do something. What can I say, I'm lazy and just hung around town. (Although yesterday was terrible...my irrigation exploded and I was covered in mud and water fixing a problem that I didn't expect to exist...and in the meantime left the bike on and killed the battery, rendering it useless for the day...ruining my chances at a day of productivity...but that's all side bar information.)

I decided to spend my morning attending two churches of two denominations of which I had never been to before: Presbyterian and Unitarian Universalist. Two very different, but very similar experiences. Both services were topically the same: service. Serving others. Being more selfless. (Which made me think, OK, God, what are you saying here??)

The Presbos were awesome. This ancient couple (the guy was from England!) sat next to me and we chatted and they were so friendly (People who care!) and I think we might do lunch this week. There was joy and celebration and laughter and awkwardness and beauty and love and grace and power.

The UU service was strange. Didn't know what to expect, really. It seemed somewhat cultish, or secret society (without a secret) at best. I had to put on a nametag and sing a song out of a book they refused to call a hymnal. We lit the Truth Chalice at the beginning and extinguished it at the end, both times reading in unison quips of truth and light and love and warmth and community. I had to stand and say my name and why I was there. We shared our Joys and Concerns without praying for them. We kept one another "in our thoughts". I was corned and asked about my background, and told that I was always welcome and that it was hoped upon my return. I met some deranged lady in the parking lot who insisted on talking to me while I was on the phone, and somehow came to the conclusion that I was from Souix City. I suppose they are right in a church service, but it was more of a societal gathering.

In both services service was highlighted. Do good to those around you. Notice invitations to serve others. Don't just intellectualize, take action! Live deliberately...for others and to serve God. As I walked out of the building that had intrigued me since I first saw it, I wondered what the difference was between the two services. Essentially the same message. Why was there no power in the second one? I left the first service geared up and ready to do big things...and left the second wondering what hope or motivation there was for serving.

I climbed into my car in the midst of rumination, and turned it on. I hit play on my iPod, and David Crowder's You Alone was next on the randomized playlist. As I sang the words along with him, my eyes welled up with tears and I was never so proud to be a Christian. The irony struck me of leaving a powerless church that touts each spiritual journey as individual, that it doesn't matter who you serve -- juxtaposed with the lyrics of the song:

You alone are Father
You alone are good
You alone are Saviour
You alone are GOD.

Praise God for his redemption of fallen man, however that looks in eternity. As for my individual spiritual journey, I am pleased and honored to serve a King. I am grateful for His sacrifice. I am honored to be called His son. For me, today, there is power in the name of Jesus. I am my Beloved's and He is mine.