SNORING IN THE PEWS

His snoring was loud, guttural, and distinctive. Lee, who I had brought to church, was embarrassing me. Sitting two rows from the front, I thought: “I wonder if the pastor heard him.”

The elder’s wife glanced back at me. She smiled-- rather graciously. A teenager across the aisle gave me a roll-your-eyes smirk. I could only guess what the people behind me thought. Then my wife gave me “a look”--“Poke him.”

I did, once. Not liking his sleepy-eyed glare, I stopped. Lee nodded, snored, and intermittently jerked his head. Then he would listen briefly and continue the irritating snoring.

I take my church experience seriously. I want to experience God. I want to worship God. I want to have my life changed . . . I want, I want.

Yeah, I started hearing from God—right through the snoring. The Bible verse “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up in due time,” whispered into my mind.

While concerned if other people were distracted by the snoring, I humbled myself. I decided not to care about what people thought of me. A formidable obstacle in life—what do people think of me?

Driving home, Lee said, “I’m sorry I kept falling asleep.” That’s O.K. I was glad he went with me knowing he attends church less than once a month.

I’m concerned about Lee’s spiritual life.

A couple of weeks later, my wife saw Lee. Again he mentioned his falling asleep, adding, “Every time I woke up, it was like the preacher was talking right to me.” And then he told her he was attending church closer to home more regularly.

God showed me; the Sunday service was about God and Lee . . . not me. I was lifted up.