Note: Monday Morning Quarterback is a weekly post reviewing Sunday, the busiest, most stressful, most gratifying day in the week of a pastor/parent/spouse/citizen
Song of The Day:
3:04. Awake. Why?
3:30. Still awake. Why not? Spouse is awake too, and coughing. She’s watching American Idol. Conclude to take 4 year-old to church with me in the morning.
6:00. Alarm sounds. Snooze.
6:20. Alarm sounds again. Snooze again.
6:40. Alarm sounds a third time. Up, cursing the notion that the snooze alarm set at 20 minute increments instead of 10 makes for more a more rested awakening.
7:12. Spouse shuffles downstairs and asks if I can take 4 year-old to church with me. I’m way ahead of ya.
7:56. 4 year-old, eager to get to church and “help” me get ready, opts for a granola bar in the car for her breakfast. Happy for her churchy zeal, I acquiesce.
8:26. 4 year-old gives her stamp of approval to my plan for Children’s Time.
9:17. Play the “I Have A Dream Speech” for the high school Sunday School class, using my new portable bluetooth speaker.
9:43. Impressed with high school students’ recognition that, with respect to race in America, there’s still much work to do. For the Tickler File: a youth-led interracial worship service.
10:17. Trying not to appear desperate, race to the back of the sanctuary during the Passing of The Peace to greet a new family with a teenager. High five the Parish Associate on the way back to the chancel.
10:20. Children’s Time=Martin Luther King, Jr. + Moses + Ordination of Elders and Deacons=blank stares. Forgive me, Nancy Lammers Gross.
11:18. Community Life Team meeting in my office. 4 year-old and her playmate are pressing their faces against office sliding glass door. Grateful for her playmate’s dad, who is tracking their movements across the church while I’m in here.
11:41. Playmate’s dad interrupts meeting with an offer to take 4 year-old home for an afternoon play date. Yes please. Grateful, grateful, grateful.
12:53. Stop at the grocery store to get spouse some ice cream and lemons.
1:06. Hit Panera to get spouse French Onion Soup.
1:43. Lay down for rare Sunday afternoon nap.
1:47. Up. Who sleeps on Sunday afternoons anyway? Off to grocery store.
2:39. Grocery Store encounter with long-absent church member. Pause in the conversation, and I decline to ask the question we both know I want to ask. In a second, she’s gone. Alternately curse and congratulate myself for that bit of . . . restraint.
4:47. Digital media conversation with junior high students. Stunned by their accounts of teachers using cell phones and playing video games during class. Can this be true?
5:44. Playing Wii Just Dance to Nicki Minaj with junior high students. Impressed with their moves. Decide that this is not the time to teach them Safety Dance.
8:36. Cross the line in my impression of another youth leader.
8:38. High school student crosses the line in his impression of . . . me. I don’t whine like that!
8:48. Youth group game over. Have to be convinced by the other adult leader to skip the second game in favor of Bible study.
8:50. Commence 10 minute Bible study. Worst youth leader ever.
9:17. Stop at pharmacy to get Therflu for spouse. The flu medicine shelf resembles the Wal Mart electronics aisle on Black Friday. Only store brand flu remedy available. Yep, it’s flu season.
9:58. Go to bed.
10:12. Out of bed, warming leftovers and watching archive of AFC Championship game.
YoRocko! 
Rocky: I have had these encounters and I find that rather than asking “where have you been?”
I say what’s on my heart…”I miss you”. It usually opens doors though that is not my
reason for saying it. I really do miss them. Youth, too.
>>Digital media conversation with junior high students. Stunned by their accounts of teachers using cell phones and playing video games during class. Can this be true?<< Sadly, yes.
Thanks Erin!
There is never a wrong time to teach “Safety Dance”….
Robbin, can I count on you to teach it to the Session?