Today at Life Group we are discussing Chapter 21. Oh yes. We finally made it all the way here. Everyone is nervous and edgy, even the group leader. One couple would have been thrilled to elucidate us on the topic but they have a new baby and are sleep deprived. They are the only ones who were looking forward to it and they may not make it.
Early on I said I would just stay home for Chapter 21. For a while I thought maybe I'd be up to discussing it. But no, I can always trust my first reaction. There is no way I could possibly participate in a discussion of Chapter 21. There are just some things nice girls don't do.
I knew I wouldn't have to twist his arm, as Daniel no more wants to sit there with all of our friends and talk about Chapter 21 either. That's none of their business. And frankly, I don't need to think about their Chapter 21 either.
The church Daniel's boss goes to got into a lot of heat in the neighborhood and the media for their sermon series on...well, Chapter 21. I don't think the sermons were considered inappropriate. But nobody liked the big sign on the main road near the High School that said umm...Chapter 21 in five foot letters. And can I blame them? No. I wouldn't want to drive my kids to school past a big fat Chapter 21 sign either.
Some people think my aversion to Chapter 21 is a kind of hypocrisy. To them I can only say this: All of my jokes and such on the topic are firmly rooted in an adolescent level of immaturity brought on by discomfort at the topic. So there.
Oh, jeesh. I just realized that I am leaving you a little in the dark. The Chapter 21 I am referring to is in Covenant Marriage by Gary Chapman (not the Gary Chapman that Amy Grant abandoned.) It's a reasonably good book if you over look things like Chapter 21 and the wooden dialogue he uses in his example situations.
We will be boycotting group tonight. I plan to spend the newly freed time making Christmas tree ornaments for my preschool Sunday Schoolers. Daniel, frankly, may be hoping to get some Chapter 21. And that's fine. As long as I don't have to tell anyone about it afterwards.
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2 comments:
You make me laugh! You're so funny and an amazing articulator! (Is that a word?)
I think some things may be appropriately discussed in a very Biblical way in the right group at the right time, Chapter 21 included. :) I agree, that last night's group wasn't the right group (the mix) and based on observation, probably not in a really sound Biblical way either. I do think that some of us women may appreciate an encouraging, building-up (Eph 4) and gracious conversation on the topic where we would come away challenged to improve and raise ourselves to God's standards in every area of our lives. But it does take great efforts on our parts to see that every conversation "benefits those who listen" (Eph 4)...and often I think that direction gets lost or forgotten in some groups...
Meanwhile, I hope your evening off was as lovely and relaxing and full of hot chocolate as mine was! :)
Gawrsh thanks. : ) I'm nothing if not articulated.
And I freely admit that I would be the one to bring the conversation down to a level that does that lift one another up or benefit those who listen.
Not that I am ashamed of...chapter 21...I just still get the giggles and can't talk seriously about it. It is something Daniel and I have learned to talk about and that is definitely healthy. But to do so we both have to laugh a lot or we feel very ridiculous.
Our evening off was very lovely. I took some time to figure out the ornaments...I'll need your input though. I'm not sure if they are good enough. We ate some delightful maple frosted cookies and drank tea together and really enjoyed an extra quiet evening.
Traci
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