I was sick last week. I had the worst sinus infection I’ve ever had. I couldn’t do anything for 4 days. It’s hard to describe how incapacitated I was. I’m kinda mad that there’s not a more sinister name for a sinus infection. It just doesn’t sound that horrible. I think people who’ve never had one think it’s like having a bad stuffy nose. There should be a new name for it that  is more descriptive. Maybe “EndoViral ImmunoLambasting SupraNasal Olfactory Threat” or E.V.I.L.  S.N.O.T. for short. I’m telling you, it was horrible. I’m not pretty when I’m sick.

I don’t meant that in the “I don’t look good” sense (though that is certainly true, especially during a sinus rinse). Rather, I’m just depressing to be around when I get sick. I started feeling sorry for myself. I began looking at life and all I saw was the glass-half-empty side of things. By the time the weekend came around, I was ready to get out of the house and be around people again, even though I wasn’t feeling a whole lot better. I’m glad I did.

On Saturday morning my team held a training event for small group leaders. I’m the upfront guy for those kinds of events. During the round table discussions I had a leader come up to me and tell me that, of all the small group trainings he’s been a part of, this one was the best. He went on to say, “People who don’t come to this have no idea what they’re missing out on. This is really valuable stuff.” Now, this guy has been a small group leader for years in many different contexts. There are few things you can tell him that he hasn’t already heard. Coming from him those comments were a big deal.

Sunday after the first service I had a young man and his girlfriend grab me for a few minutes. I’d met with the young man back in the fall of last year when he needed some counseling. He was going through a rough time, living a couple hours away from here while his girlfriend lived in this area. He was finishing up school, trying to get a job transfer, not really sure about his relationship to church, and doubting whether his relationship with his girlfriend was going to survive. We talked for a while, I made some suggestions and that was the last I saw of him. They pulled me aside Sunday to tell me that he had gotten the job transfer recently, moved into the area and things between them were going great. They are regularly attending here and he’d never forgotten the conversation we’d had.

Not long after I’d parted with them, a woman that I’d never met came up to me and told me that she loves it when I get the opportunity to teach during the worship services. She said I’m a great speaker with a gentle humor that can put people at ease. She wanted to know when I’d be speaking next.

The weekend was also the weekend of our baptism services. One of the opportunities we create is for people who would like to get baptized on the spur of the moment, to come and get in the water. We offer some dry clothes for them to change into, though many of them choose to go home wet! Our baptismal pool is actually in the lobby of the church and a live video feed is displayed in the sanctuary during the baptisms. The second service was wrapping up, the senior pastor was already changing out of his wet clothes and a young man walked up wondering if it was too late to get baptized. I told him that the pastor was already getting dressed and the man replied, “Oh, ok. I’ll just do it some other time.” No way! I emptied my pockets, took off my shoes and told him that if today is his day, we’re not going to let it get away. We entered the water together and I got to baptize him. We both went home wet!

So, there I was, feeling sorry for myself, wondering if I was really in the right place at the right time doing the right thing and God strung together all those encounters. It’s been a long time since I felt such affirmation that I’m exactly where I should be. Sometimes doubting where we are and what we’re doing is a good thing. It gives God the opportunity remind us why He called us to where we are. Or maybe it gives us an opportunity to listen. Either way, doubt isn’t always a sign of weakness or faithlessness. Now, how to change my doubts that I’ll actually finish my first half-marathon in 9 days…

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