Ups and downs
I continue to be amazed at the ups and downs, of this thing called ministry. This weekend was just full of them, and I want to tell you they play with your emotions big time. For instance…we start the weekend with an upper….performing Allison Chester’s wedding! This beautiful young lady now married…imagine it. She was a grade school-er when we came here…but the downer was knowing it was only a little over a year ago, I performed her father’s funeral. He was a great guy and must have enjoyed peering over the balcony of heaven and seeing his daughter take this next big step in life. After an 18 hour day of study, music rehearsal, a wedding and reception I went to bed.
Next downer…It’s Sunday and we have big day planned at Church…but I get up at 5AM to a snow-storm…bummer! Why Lord! Oh well we make it to church and introduce our guests for the day, Charity Gregori and Ashely Jacobs…their music is amazing…that must mean an “upper”…great! But downer - the snow has wiped out the first service and we have less than 50 people there while the parking lot is still being plowed! But the next service is a little better. Not the normal crowd, but a not bad for such a terrible storm. So we are headed in the right direction…upper. Once again, Charity and Ashley blow everyone away and our worship team is right in the pocket. I am blessed and even do a little dancing around on my reconstructed knee… it’s a major upper! I think my message goes over pretty good…now I’m getting warm fuzzies!
Deacons and Senior Elders party is only a couple of hours away - so no time to rest between services…we are busy cooking and getting set up. Not a downer…but being pooped is not an upper either. Guys and gals show up…great time…great folks…lots of laughs…and I don’t give into to all the deserts…big time upper! Now clean up (downer) and go home after another almost 18 hour day!
Monday, usual day off…but not this time (what’s new)…Up again early because today Rich O. and I do our friend John Palinka’s funeral…major downer! Cold outside, Maria’s sad and that makes me sad. Things are not getting much better… Rich does the burial…Donna and I shoot off to the hospital to see a couple of our ladies… one pretty sick, the other in ICU. Hospitals are no fun.
Then we are off to the repast…and lo and behold we discover the room where it is being held all set up for a big event…what was supposed to happen? Oh, this was supposed to be a big-retirement dinner for John Palinkas! Tonight - right here in this room..scores of people coming to celebrate the work of man who was there since 1959! But today, we are holding his repast in the same room…can you imagine. Double major downer!
We get home in time to watch the final Survivor (yes we watch it…give me a break)…and of course the one guy I definitely don’t want to win does. Bummer! Oh well off to bed…not bad only a twelve hour day.
But today will be a major upper…a shopping date and dinner with my six year old granddaughter, Sarah! Can’t wait…..hmmmm, I wonder what tomorrow holds?
