Wondering

Sometimes I wonder if there are people who are bothered by my presence in their general vicinity. For instance, when I go to celebrations or parties, people clam up. They either stop their conversations or they significantly muffle them. And then the person throwing the party offers me something to drink, and it's usually a soft drink. This, while the beer and booze is freely flowing.

And then I occasionally hear someone say, "Oh oh! Pastor's here! We better behave ourselves." They say this with a joking tone, but they turn out to be completely serious because... they behave! It's like they were having a blast... until I show up. Inevitably the conversation turns to congregational matters: "How's so-and-so?" "The choir sounded wonderful, didn't they pastor?" "How are we doing with the fundraiser?" Etc.

Parties are supposed to be fun, right? Don't let me spoil it. Carry on as you usually would. I will not be offended, put off, or insulted. I just might enjoy myself. I like having fun just as much as anyone else. I like to laugh, talk, dance, drink, eat, joke around, etc. In other words, I'm a regular flesh-and-blood person. I guarantee that I will not condemn you to the outer regions of Hades. I will not call down lighting bolts to strike you down. I won't call the cops and have you arrested. I won't even tell Jesus on you.

And don't be worried about what I might think of you. I can tell you confidently that I will not think badly of you at all. Who cares what I think anyway? I don't even care what I think! Why should you? So, if I'm around, lighten up and enjoy yourself. You might even discover dimensions of me that you haven't seen before. I'm okay with that if you are!