A DAY IN THE LIFE

My taste in music is very much like my taste in food.  There is very little I don’t like.  For some reason, one of my favorite songs is The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” from the Sgt. Pepper’s album.  That song is now almost thirty-nine years old, but even now, if given the opportunity, I’ll just play it and play it and ...

We have all kinds of days in life.  Right now, the Adults of our church are studying John Ortberg’s “God Is Closer Than You Think” material.  Ortberg says there are “Rainbow Days”, “Don’t Look, God Days”, “Mystery Days”, and “Ordinary Days”.  I’m actually bland enough that I’m happy with ordinary days.

I’m actually WRITING this on Friday afternoon and will post it on Saturday morning.  I just took a walk.  I’ve been tired and depressed and at least somewhat self-condemning.  I prayed and tried to sort out why I’m feeling that way.  I realized I’m a guy who loves schedules, order, and not too much pressure.  (I’ll never understand people who say, “I just LOVE pressure!”  What are they- insane?!)  I can handle an occasionally crazy day, but here’s what happened lately:

Thursday night, March 30 - My car broke down- electrical problems- had to be towed.

Friday, March 31 - With my car in the shop, I had to borrow my wife’s minivan.  I drove out to Westfield to pick up my daughter for the weekend from Westfield State. The trip was OK, but “ministry-wise” I got very little done, and felt a little stressed about that.

Saturday, April 1 - With several guys from our church I spent all day at a Christian Men’s Conference in Lexington, MA.  It was a very good event, but like all of those kind of things, pretty intense.  I came home peaceful, but exhausted.  

Sunday, April 2- We had to turn those clocks AHEAD at bedtime so I was REALLY tired.  I fumbled my way through Sunday School and morning worship service.  I was just so tired!  I drove my daughter back to Westfield State.  I know most of my fellow Assemblies of God ministers would be shocked, but I sat in front of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and genuinely enjoyed the episode.  Not long afterward, I was sound asleep.

Monday, April 3-  I had all kinds of “stuff” to do.  Unfortunately, the guys from the glass company came to replace a window we’d contracted them to replace.  It took almost ALL DAY.  I had SO much to do outside of the church building but I was “stuck” at the church building.  A guy from the church dropped by with a friend. The visit was meant to be encouraging, but for the most part, it wasn’t.  The guy really got on my nerves.  I wanted to punch him out or swear at him (now, none of my superiors from the Assemblies of God are reading this - I hope!).  I was pleasant, but by the end of the day I was depressed and breathing hard.  My wife was concerned that I needed to rest.  Honestly, I was even a little concerned that I might not be OK.  Remember the prayer vigil I wrote about?  Well, I went to it tired, depressed, and not feeling well.  It was cold and drizzly, but God gave me the strength to participate with enthusiasm and I doubt anyone could tell I wasn’t feeling well.

Tuesday, April 4- Yes, I wrote about that, too.  I went to the Benny Hinn Breakfast.  It WAS a good event, but this was one day off (Tuesdays are my day off) that I wanted to sleep in!

Wednesday, April 5-  I can’t go into any detail about it but I learned of a problem (disobedience) situation regarding someone in the church.  I was kind of “mad” about it, but I realized I have to use wisdom and not “flip out” over everything everybody does.  Wednesday night at prayer meeting we had visitors from out-of-state who brought their little kids.  I really wasn’t in the mood for little kids, but I tried to remember Jesus’ admonition about “Let the little children come to me...”  I made the best of the situation and actually tried to enjoy the kids.

Thursday, April 6-  I went to a town civic meeting in the morning (about downtown Framingham issues) and spoke up and put “my two cents in” quite a bit.  I think I was used prophetically at this meeting.  In the afternoon, I attended what was called a “Town Meeting” at the State House in Boston sponsored by 96.9 FMTalk.  I got to meet talk show host Michael Graham with whom I’ve corresponded by e-mail so that was kind of “cool” but by Thursday night I was exhausted.

Friday, April 7- running errands for the church, working on a Bible study, working on a sermon, trying to plan out my schedule for next week.  Tired. Depressed.  Trying to sort out church bills and (even worse) personal bills I’m behind on.  Well, upon review of the past week, I guess it figures why I’m tired and depressed.

I’ll be OK.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)