The Mill- Sifting Through the Stuff of Life.

Last week Cindy and I went on a Cruise and for 6 days we turned off our computers and cell phones.  I have to admit I did watch a little TV, but for the most part we were electronics free.  We talked, danced, ate, swam, relaxed.  It was an incredible week.  To be honest, I didn’t want to play the role of pastor, but the funny thing was every time you meet someone on the ship they ask what you do.  I ask Cindy a couple of times if she could help me come up with an honest response that didn’t have pastor or church in it.  Not because I’m embarrassed or ashamed, but because I just want people to be themselves around me and when they find out that you are a pastor, well they have certain preconceived ideas about how you will try to save them or something.  It’s like Danny said two Sundays ago “putting on repellant”.  Because I was taken off guard I went ahead and answered the question “I’m a pastor, please don’t run, I’m not going to try to save you, I couldn’t anyway”.  Some ran anyway, but others quite interestingly didn’t run at all.  As we shared our lives with others on the ship God opened up a number of opportunities for Cindy and I to talk about our faith.  The catalyst was the way people viewed our marriage.  We didn’t think we were doing anything special and in reality we weren’t, as a matter of fact we were pretty out of sync one day at Cozumel, but people asked, and as a result we were able to openly share our faith and make some friends.  We’ve already heard back from one couple and are hoping to hear from others that we met.  Just as a reminder stay connected with the Lord and make your marriage the most important relationship in your life.  People will notice.