Our church put on a "Pageant" yesterday. This was something that was practiced for many Saturday mornings and a great deal of effort went into making it fun and entertaining for the congregation. My part was small but probably the most talked about- I was a Roman soldier. Now, most of the costumes at the church were little angel outfits, robes and such, but no Roman soldier costume. So, I looked on the internet for ideas and made my own. Now that I know how to use the sewing machine, I see myself doing some things for the car... The reason my part was the most talked about was that was that it looked something like this but nowhere as good---
and this
No sword, shield, hat, leg thingies, but the skirt was pretty close, and maybe a little too short. The congregation was laughing so much I kinda messed up my lines but they got the idea of what I was trying to communicate. I have nice legs (so the women and some men told me later on) so I didn't mind so much that they could see as much as they could.
So here's the twist. When the service was over, and I was back in my dress clothes, I went outside. As I always do (especially at church where I feel that we should all try to make whom ever we meet in or around the church feel welcome), I said hello to a man who was walking past the church. He said hello and asked me the name of our church. I told him. He then asked if I knew where the Volunteers of America was. I wasn't sure but offered to to inside and ask and to give him a ride to it. He said thanks but declined saying that he could use the exercise. I went in to find out where the VOA was but he was gone when I got back outside.
It might have been embarrassing for me to stand up on the "stage" in front of the congregation in a skirt and provide them with a moment of "hilarity," but at least I had a church and a family to do it with. At least I had a home to go back to. At least I had someone to wake up with this morning and share the excitement of opening presents that had been brought with a great deal of thought and consideration for the person they went to.
I'm not embarrassed now that I made people laugh, I'm embarrassed that I got caught up in what I was doing for myself and my family and didn't plan to do something for someone else who was less fortunate. I still have today though, better put on my thinking cap.
[This message has been edited by F-I-E-R-O (edited 12-25-2006).]
