Thursday – The Longest Day
“Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:5-6
There is
something about a Thursday for any week-long event that tasks the humaneness of
people. We’ve gotten over the midweek hump-day and then seem to run into a wall
when there are significant tasks yet to complete. In the phone company we
called it Critical Thursday when certain energies (focus and excitement at
getting to the task) that ran high on Monday and certain capabilities (shortness
of temper and, let’s call it, even-keeledness) were well in check on Monday ran
low and bubbled to the surface respectively on Thursday thus crossing at a
critical point. It seemed like anything could happen to derail the project
altogether.
For our VBS
kids this seemed to mean that they needed to get in every second of fun and
frolicking with friends, especially those that would leave early for vacations
and be absent on Friday. We knuckled down and had a meaningful time talking
about God’s love being forgiving. Nobody yelled (thank you God) and nobody got
seriously hurt even though I did give pour little Peter quite a bonk on the
noggin’ during the last song as we let our acting get the better of us; he
jumped when I pumped and, BONK!
That was half
our day as Thursday evening was the luau. I’m sure Ashley and key people didn’t
break at all while other officially listed volunteers started back at 4:45 p.m.
to set up tables, chairs, food stations, and barbeque chicken and hotdogs not
to mention other food preparations and setting up part of Koopman’s Hall for an
exotic animal show. We had 34 listed volunteers and countless others who just
pitched in because that’s the way they roll. Several schlepped buckets of water
to prime the pool for the giant water slides in the parking lot, others made
snow cones, and did face painting, a limbo contest, and I’m sure I missed something
with 300+ people filling the courtyard for dinner and activities that whirled
around non-stop until well after 8 p.m. and then beyond for the cleanup.
Peter showed up
and there was no giant lump on his head and he seemed no worse for feeling an
experienced elbow; I showed him the scar left on the same elbow from Mike Marsh
when I broke the tooth next to the one Keith (Jamal) Wilkes knocked when USC
played the Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabar) led UCLA Bruins. Peter didn’t seem
to get what rarified company he was keeping along with my elbow; guess I missed
that one by several generations. Peter went on the enjoy the bounce house and water slides...
All in all, a
very satisfying day of seeing God’s forgiving love all around and winning out
over Critical Thursday.
In His grip, jerry
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| The Courtyard Luau |
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| Koopman's Hall Animal Show |
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| Parking Lot Water Slides |
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