My parents have invited my siblings and me up to Columbus for a gospel concert. They invited me by email, so I don’t have to respond in person. Man, I really don’t want to drive all the way to Columbus and back for a gospel concert. It’s the day after we have to go to Toledo and back to pick up Kayla’s stuff from school. And it’s gospel. Most things I’m learning more patience and tolerance for, but bad theology is actually going the other way. Just a few weeks ago I got the urge to put on some Contemporary Christian Music that I used to listen to not long after Tywana and I got married. I loved this group and couldn’t wait to reminisce to their music, but the lyrics… I couldn’t take it. I skipped from song to song wondering how I ever listened to this guy sing about what a terrible sinner he was and how glad he was that God decided earlier to spare him by killing Jesus. The thought of going to a concert of that music, nah. I just couldn’t do it.
I took the chicken way out though. I should have called and explained that I wasn’t coming and why, but I didn’t. I just let the day come and go and decided to deal with it later. Finally, my mother mentioned the concert a few days later and I told her why we hadn’t come.
There are times now when I just have to do what’s right for me. I’ll try to remain considerate to other people’s feelings, but I knew I’d be miserable at that concert and in spite of the fact it might have made my mother happy, I just didn’t need that at the time. And that’s OK.
