This morning Monroe Primary Center had their big Rededication Ceremony. I was asked to give the Invocation AND Benediction. It was quite an honor for me. The first thing they did was rush me to a conference room where I sat with the Superintendent of schools, almost the entire school board (I know…here was my chance right…I have a few issues I would like to discuss), city government dignitaries, Architects, and me (can you say, “Which one doesn’t belong?”). It was a great ceremony. In the program there is a “Special Thanks To:” section. The Living Stones Church got a shout out in that section!!! It was sweet. Here is a picture taken during the program. I’m the goofy one all the way to the left (the one not wearing a tie & obviously distracted by something shiny to the left):
The reason I didn’t wear a tie is because Principal VanDriessche & Sharon Gilbert had a shirt made for me!! My own Monroe shirt with my name embroidered in it!! YES!!! I’m beaming with pride in it!
). If she detects at all that we are upset, angry, displeased, or disappointed she very quickly tells us she is “sorry.” And then she insists on hearing a “you’re forgiven” in response. Then in her mind we are all supposed to move on and forget about it (even if emotionally you don’t want to yet but now feel obligated to acknowledge a little girl’s apology). I have a sneaky suspicion that her “sorry” might be a little more manipulative than she realizes (I hope she doesn’t read this blog or she will tell me she is sorry). But more importantly, I think I might do this to God more than I would care to admit. I very quickly want to confess it, tell God I’m sorry, and then – let’s move on! The problem isn’t about whether God will forgive me or not. The problem is that I’m really trying to manipulate God into not dealing with something deeper going on in me. My “sorry” is just my attempt to get God to move on and not focus on what probably requires some more Spirit-driven sanctifying (which might be painful). I think my “sorry” may not be as genuinely remorseful as I want to believe. I think my “sorry” might really be another form of manipulation. I wonder if God can see through that.
