It's not really about the ham

17/365


I think I'll call this one "A Big Chunk O Ham In My Pie Hole."

We had a special service at church today where a college group choir came and sang us a few diddies. Unfortunately they didn't do any 80's covers, but other than that it was nice. I used to sing in a big choir in high school and it brought me right back to those days of sight reading, making the appropriate singing face when performing, opening my mouth wide enough for a good sound, and feeling awkwardly tall in the group-even with the boy singers around me. They really were good times.

Most of the songs were your typical choral arrangements of the Christian variety. Not really my cup 'o tea, but prettily done. At the end all 34 members came down off the stage and surrounded the congregation by positioning themselves in a large circle around the perimeter of the pews. Charlie leaned over and said exactly what had popped into my head. He usually does.

"We're surrounded." Except in my head I heard Desmond from Lost say in his divine accent, "We're surrounded, Bruthah." It was a little surreal to see all these black dresses and black and red tuxed out peeps surrounding us. My imagination was starting to get the better of me when they started singing a song of blessing upon us.

And I felt a little something in my throat. Dang it! Why do I have to be such a sap? The lump moved up my throat a little bit as the beautiful sound of their voices came from all over the santuary. From every direction a message of God being near and walking beside me washed over me in the form of music.

I kept looking down willing away the tears in my eyes from spilling over. I'll be darned if I was going to have a full-on cry. I always get the sense that I'm the only one doing it and get embarrassed. Plus, I know that once it comes out, I cannot stop it. It is my weakness: fearing to show others my very deep emotions.

I kept it together somewhat and as the heavenly song of blessing ended, I had goosebumps and a full heart knowing that my creator does in fact sing over me, even when I least expect it.

He is always there beside me. In my frustration and worry. In my laughter and joy. I wonder how many times he has tried to sing over me and I was not willing to listen because I cannot sit still for the life of me. My prayer is that he will break through my fog of mental (and physical) busyness to give me more reminders of His presence. It is an awesome, spectacular experience.

After all that, we had lunch with the chorale. Thus, the eating of the ham.