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Being ornery has its advantages, once you're unstuck from the skimmer


July 15

Baptist

This search has lost some of its charm.
The church we attended today met every item (but one) on my list, and both of the items on Ben’s list. It was just fine. Totally fine. Fine.
I didn’t love it. Ben did.
I’m thinking now that lists are perhaps not the best way to pick a new church. I can’t say one negative thing about this church, but it wasn’t a place that made my spirit say aaah, like a person in one of those floaty things in the swimming pool, with a cold drink in one hand. Instead, my spirit churned and agitated the water and got sucked up against the skimmer.
It’s entirely possible that there’s something wrong with my spirit. The word ornery springs to mind.
I will mention, though, the one thing that concerned me a bit. Looking through the bulletin, I counted a dozen or so events in the next several weeks. All but one were inward-facing: events for and about that church. A teacher training, a ministry fair, a baptism class, a family picnic—that sort of thing. Apparently these are working; this is the largest church in a tiny town, and according to the financial information posted in the bulletin, they are financially strong. It’s ironic, I suppose, that such a confirmed introvert is looking for a church with an outward-facing aspect. One of the perks of orneriness is ignoring contradictions  like this.
Maybe next week.
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