A Winter Tale, part 3

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 32:5 NIV

***

Sunday morning, I decided to worship online. This disappointed Jenna, but I needed to be home if things thawed, or worst case, pipes burst.

***

Pastor Joaquin’s topic was A Passion for What Comes Next. Again, God was speaking directly to me.

1) Obey the first step. Or you’ll never know what God will do.

2) Step out in faith: Faith obeys even in the midst of the storm.

3) Fix your focus on God’s purpose, not your own pain.

4) Don’t go back. Because Jesus is all I need to obediently step forward.

5) Live filled with The Holy Spirit. And that will never happen if I deliberately choose disobedience.

***

The service ended. I picked up my phone and dialed. My call was answered by a woman named Casey.

I asked for Vince. Casey said she could help me. I said I needed to talk to Vince. And I told her why: I had very much not been nice and needed to apologize.

Casey began to tell me that we all make mistakes, that Customer Service people understand that we are not at our best, etcetera, etcetera …

I interrupted her. I told her that I was a Christian and my behavior was wrong. I needed to make it right, or at least better.

That changed the conversation. Casey said nobody ever calls to apologize. I said, they should. She told me she was also a Christian and that I was one of the nicest people she ever talked to. (I beg to differ … but okay.) She promised to let Vince know about my call; said it would make his day. Said I’d made her day, too. I sent her a “virtual hug” and we ended the call.

Less than 15 minutes later, the water came gushing back into the sink and the toilet filled.

***

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Psalm 130:3-4 NIV

***

For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5 NIV