This Valentine's Day...something was in the air, and it was the real deal. Real love.
At church where I work in the in the morning, the organist had suggested that we do an organ demonstration with the children after worship, and they all eagerly crowded around him and covered the ears, smiling, as played the trumpets on the loudest stop. One of my littlest singers, a kindergartener with this mop of red hair literally leaped into my arms for a big hug after rehearsal. I tell you what: heart overflowing.
On the 2 train, there was a couple across from me all dressed up for their Valentine's Day date. The guy was wearing this pink shirt and a red tie, and they were turned in toward each other in that way you do when you've just just just fallen in love. Then a five piece a capella group came through singing this song in spot on harmony. Pretty pretty pretty pretty Valentine, they sang, their bass singer grumbling along and bringing up the rear, and the whole train sort of tried to stop from smiling, but in the end just had to give into it.
When I arrived at Lydia's, Rachel had brownies in the oven and was wearing a frilly pink and yellow apron. The welcome table was all red and pink and roses, and seemingly out of nowhere, a whopping 22 people, regulars and newcomers just sort of appeared for worship, and we gave these little heart stickers to two ten year olds who were there that night, who ran around happily sticking them to things. We kept adding more folding tables and finding more place settings and fitting people in at corners until there was a place for everyone, and after we lit the candles and sang our blessing and Jen started doling out the pasta, the chatter at the table erupted energetically and I thought, Oh God, I'm so in love with these people. The room was spilling over with love.
22?! Yay! Wow! I am going to try to come this week after chapel, if I get my Greek done that afternoon. I wish I'd seen that crowd!
Posted by: Joseph Mathews | 02/18/2010 at 08:27 AM
It was crazy big! I KNOW we have to split into multiple tables, but I just don't want to do it!
Posted by: Emily Scott | 02/19/2010 at 06:53 AM