"I Will Sign for The Lord"

Try to imagine for a moment that you are hearing impaired. Please cover your ears. Can you hear anything? Maybe you can hear your breaths or possibly your heartbeat? Walk around for minute, ears still covered tight. Instead of straining to hear, relax and take a deep breath. Try to feel each footstep that you take. Can you feel the reverberation of your dog’s footsteps on the hardwood floor, a door slamming shut, or the furnace turning on?

Mark and I entered church this past Sunday fully rested and ready to go. The girls were visiting with their grandparents and we were so excited to be together, kid-free. Wahoo! Life was grand! Simpson’s dictionary defines the word date as ANYWHERE that parents go together, for ANY length of time, WITHOUT kids. We attended a wonderful fellowship class that morning with parents from the girls’ school and then we were off with the masses, heading down a massive hallway towards the large sanctuary for worship.

I am at the church a lot during the week, taking the girls to school, picking them up, at prayer group or bible study, but not with this many people. With each step I took, I nervously prayed. For us introverts, large churches offer excellent opportunities to become connected, but equally as many opportunities to feel lost in the numbers. The old, but yet still familiar feeling of belonging to a church of 13,000+ in Colorado came back to me all too fast. I took a deep breath and stepped in through the doorway with as much strength and determination as I could muster. Over and over, I chanted to myself, “It is O.K., I am in church. It is O.K., I am in church.”

Upon entering the sanctuary, I cautiously looked around and as I began to take in all of the individual groups of people that were clustering together, it was with great surprise that I noticed everyone entered exchanging familiar handshakes, hugs and kisses. One man was showing off his new granddaughter. And let me tell you, she is a beauty! Everyone seemed so genuine. The reuniting smiles and hugs were igniting. My heart was warming up. The worship team (4 not 40) stood up and the chorus of music beautifully cascaded over the stage.

Then one group of the congregation, sitting to my left, grabbed me by the heartstrings. They were different. Their joy was contagious. You’ve heard the saying, “that person wears their heart on their sleeve.” Well, no doubt, this entire group of individuals did. They were wearing love and joy like no other. Wow! I want what they have, I thought. I wonder what they had for breakfast was my next thought. Better yet, what bible study are they doing? I was ready to stealthily fly over to their section of the sanctuary and hang out behind their pew just to find out the secret to their joy. With hands softly and lovingly placed on the next brother’s/sister’s shoulder, their smiles and their eye expressions clearly said to one another, “I love you and I am glad to be in the house of the Lord with you today.” Dr. Gary Chapman mentioned a few announcements and the music continued. I was captured!

The praise group was in full force now and as I looked around the sanctuary this time, I noticed the reservation that the majority of us (I) tend to have. You know, cautiously swaying, reluctant to sing that we may be off key, looking out of the corner of your eye to see what everyone else is doing. What would others think if I looked somewhat excited to be in church this morning? What if I sing off key? My silly thought was, Well, I can’t sing off key. We are the new people! Lousy excuse, huh?

As my eyes veered back toward my favorite group of folks, I noticed even more their expressions of love and grace. Arms rose with palms facing upward towards heaven. Smiles became larger, and eyes were lifted upwards. It was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever witnessed. Then, as the lyrics appeared on the screen above, their expressions of faith were even more beautiful as this group of the congregation began to sign each word they sang. As they signed, each word of the music became alive and real to me. I found myself simply quiet, listening, and watching in awe.

My personal challenge in the coming weeks is to learn how to feel compassion for others in my life and how to truly show Christ’s love through my actions. I don’t know about you, but I am quick to speak. Honestly, I have good intentions most of the time; but, I still plant that left foot firmly where it doesn’t belong in my effort to speak first, or to be heard. My late grandfather was an amazing man. When you walked into his home, he greeted you with one hand on your shoulder and the other hand locked in yours. He embraced you until he got a good look into your eyes. There was no doubt that you would be remembered always by him. His look was intentional as if to say, “I now know you and I will pray for you.” In the future, when I want to tell my husband and children how much I care for them, maybe I reach out and touch their shoulder or hand first, or I just simply smile and listen. What if next Sunday at church I don't worry so much about how my voice sounds, but belt it out with joy? What if next Sunday I try lifting my palms towards heaven acknowledging my savior?