A church planter in Pompano Beach, Florida, attends the local Chamber of Commerce meeting to expand his outreach. None of these folks have gotten involved with the church, but they have shared personal stuff with him. It's been pastoral.
Well if Larry can do it, so can Conner!
Or so I thought.
--------Scene 1----------
I wander into the meeting. A guy with a cap that has the bank's logo pulls up a chair for me. I remind myself to just be natural, be curious, ask the questions that come to mind.
First question: "So how long is this going to take, anyway?" Smooth.
But I met some people. And I volunteered to help hang Christmas lights on the town tree. More good than bad.
---------Scene 2---------
The discussion turned to some Christmas event they're hosting. Pictures with Santa, that kind of thing. "It would be nice if we could get someone to dress up as an elf," someone said.
Every single person there looked at me.
How am I supposed to take that? I mean, if we're talking Legolas, that's cool. But face it. We're not talking the lords of Lothlorien. We're talking Buddy the Elf.
I politely declined.
----------Scene 3---------
Discussion ensued at the other end of the table, so, still seeking to maintain my ask-whatever-comes-to-mind conversational skills, I turned to the fellow next to me and asked "Are y'all in charge of filling up the ice rink?"
This became a major point of discussion. I'll count that as a point in my favor. The only thing is, nobody knew the answer. But they all liked the idea of the church hosting a skate night. They liked it so much that I don't know how I'll get out of it. But hey, maybe we could do an IceCapades Christmas caroling thing. Who knows?
-----------Scene 4-----------
"Well, I guess that wraps it up then," he said. "That short enough for you, pastor?"
----------Scene 5-----------
I'm walking out the door. A guy I've met a couple times stops me to say goodbye.
"Thanks for your service," he says as we shake hands.
"Hey, I'm glad to be here."
I go outside. Then it hits me. He was talking about my service in the Army Reserve. Because it's Veterans' Day weekend. And he's a veteran who actually has deployed! "Glad to be here." Yeesh.
Well if Larry can do it, so can Conner!
Or so I thought.
--------Scene 1----------
I wander into the meeting. A guy with a cap that has the bank's logo pulls up a chair for me. I remind myself to just be natural, be curious, ask the questions that come to mind.
First question: "So how long is this going to take, anyway?" Smooth.
But I met some people. And I volunteered to help hang Christmas lights on the town tree. More good than bad.
---------Scene 2---------
The discussion turned to some Christmas event they're hosting. Pictures with Santa, that kind of thing. "It would be nice if we could get someone to dress up as an elf," someone said.
Every single person there looked at me.
How am I supposed to take that? I mean, if we're talking Legolas, that's cool. But face it. We're not talking the lords of Lothlorien. We're talking Buddy the Elf.
I politely declined.
----------Scene 3---------
Discussion ensued at the other end of the table, so, still seeking to maintain my ask-whatever-comes-to-mind conversational skills, I turned to the fellow next to me and asked "Are y'all in charge of filling up the ice rink?"
This became a major point of discussion. I'll count that as a point in my favor. The only thing is, nobody knew the answer. But they all liked the idea of the church hosting a skate night. They liked it so much that I don't know how I'll get out of it. But hey, maybe we could do an IceCapades Christmas caroling thing. Who knows?
-----------Scene 4-----------
"Well, I guess that wraps it up then," he said. "That short enough for you, pastor?"
----------Scene 5-----------
I'm walking out the door. A guy I've met a couple times stops me to say goodbye.
"Thanks for your service," he says as we shake hands.
"Hey, I'm glad to be here."
I go outside. Then it hits me. He was talking about my service in the Army Reserve. Because it's Veterans' Day weekend. And he's a veteran who actually has deployed! "Glad to be here." Yeesh.
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