last night...i worshiped.

so, in the midst of this life, i have been allowed audience in the throne room of our great God. there has been many with me at times, others only a few. but have been blessed to have been there.

last night, we gathered with about 2000 of my closest friends. we sang songs of great love, of great salvation, of great mercy, of great faith, of great healing...of his greatness. we sang we worshiped, we raised our hands and pledged our undying love and allegiance to Him.

it was simply...amazing.

for a brief moment, there was no idle chat about difficulty, about politics, about pain, about economic woes, about foreclosures, about jobs...the aroma of worship filled the room. as best i could, in my own backwoods way, i flung myself on the altar and sked him to accept my boold drenched sacrifice. i would not leave untill there was acceptance and i was consumed. there was no disapointment.

worship spilled out into a restaurant as we were invited spur of the moment to dine with some friends as a birthday was celebrated. friends talking, laughing, enjoying who we are.

it is on my mind this morning as i hear of difficulty in yet another church setting. pain is rampant, people unsettled and confused, families hurting and the once clear path of the future is now filled with haze and uncertainty.

i know what it feels like to be tossed aside, left outside the party, not part of the group, outsider, sinner, thief, addict, liar. when i was these things, it was expected to feel pain, rejection and fear.

i also know what it feel like to be inside, and still not part, treated as typical, told you are not what we need, although your gifts are good for a particular kind of people...on the team but not suited up to participate, in the room with the varsity, and yet knowing i was JV.

through all these life situations i have learned to comfortable in my own skin. could care less about what i do not have, or who i don't know, or know for that matter. i rub people the wrong way, like a rusted piece of metal brushing up the skin. it may cut you, annoy you, but prolly wont kill you. just enough displeasure to know that it is there.

all this is said to get to this...through all the life changes, disappointments, growth opportunities, and failures...one thing has remained steadfast and immovable in my life. Him. Jesus. and through all that junk, even now, worship is that place where i lose myself.

just for a glimpse...a glance, a touch of that garment that seems so elusive.

i will not settle for anything less.

not sure what you did last night. if you had discussions over the ramifications of your political stance, or if you waded deep into the fear of financial loss, or if you wept over hunger in the world, or if there was little thought or opportunity to involved. either way, you, me, us...we all occupied our time with something. trivial or full of impact.

me? last night...i worshiped.