‘I’m so bad with names,’ and other stuff people say at church (and other places).

Notes on a sermon.

‘Okay,’ the person up front said, ‘sit if you want. I’d prefer it if you stand ‘cause you sing more. But you can sit if you want.’

‘Thanks mister,’ I thought as I continued sitting.

I’m so bad with names.

That is one of my least favorite phrases. Have I said it before? Do I forget people’s names? Yes and yes.

But we try. We try.

I saw two people I used to know. One was the college roommate of a girl I used to date. She remembered me. Her oldest daughter is working at a coffee shop ‘…while she figures things out.’ One has three daughters and is part of an extended family that seems to only produce female offspring. She was also pleasant and spoke positively of my family, which I always appreciate.

I met for the second time a pleasant woman whose family emigrated from Sweden a great time ago and has family with Scandinavian names; thus being interested in the etymology and naming choices for our children.

We find ways to try and remember, and when we don’t, it’s okay. But we still try.

Another thing people say.

‘You got your hands full!’ The gray-buzzed hair man said as my four assistants escorted me in.

It’s something adults like to say, and it’s probably well-meaning.

I’m not trying pick apart the things people casually say in making conversation or being friendly. I’m curious and observational by nature and think intensely and frequently about the words and phrases we exchange without considering why or what we mean by them.

Most of the time they are coming from good people, and that’s good. I think it can also be good that people think on these things.

Them women-folk.

‘Most of the women are gone on a retreat,’ he explained, ‘and they’re the ones who do the children’s stuff before church and that stuff.’

Them children-folk.

‘Hey, don’t move my stuff!’

-a 10-year old boy in a class playing Minecraft who had his electronic apparatus spread out across a quarter section of table. He did not appreciate me gently nudging a few things over to make room for me and four children at the table.

Them teenager-folk.

‘Hey God!’

-a 17-year old’s beginning to prayer

Delayed gratification.

A five-year old savors his cookie and magically makes it last throughout an entire sermon.

Present gratification.

A two-year old’s interest in going back again and again to toys and crafts in the foyer, solo. Not to use. To get and bring back, then return. Repeat, repeat.

Sermon.

A 17-year old girl preaches about Solomon, ha ELA, and being content with little things. And yes, she actually used the phrase: “…back when I was a kid…”