Pamphlet? Bro chure

That's a silly play on a dad joke I read many moons ago. This is one iteration of that joke. "

Dude 1: Hey, bro?
Dude 2: Yeah bro? Dude 1: Can you pass me that pamphlet?

Dude 2: Brochure

I didn't say it was a great or even good joke, did I? But, I digress. There is something that prompted me to write this today. As is often the case with blog posts and articles, isn't it? Well here I am to write, as one does. I thought about making this into a podcast episode. But, I wasn't sure if there was enough 'there' there to make it into one longer than a few minutes. Let's not give up hope quite yet though.

A funny thing happened on the way to or I guess to and from dinner. Not funny, haha. Or funny how? Do I amuse you" sort of way. Funny... I'm not even sure it's funny ironically either. Clear as mud, right? Glad I'm not the only one confused now. On the corners of the intersection where the restaurant is, were 4 people standing on each corner. They were holding signs of a religious nature. Something to the effect of Jesus Loves you. Repent etc. I am not mocking these people or their signs. I am actually quite in awe of them. I don't know that I share the same level of conviction they do towards our Savior. I even envy them a little. Now, granted, I have never really been in a position like that or asked to do anything even remotely similar. I'm not sure how I would answer that question. I'd like to think I would leap at the chance to witness to others about all the wonderful things about God and His son.

The ability to listen to people yell at you and mock you and carrying on anyway is really something special. Now I don't know what the internal monologue is like in any of their heads. It's probably not easy to do in any case. I am sure there were positive interactions as well. But, Christ told us we would be persecuted for following Him. Here are just a few verses to exemplify what I am talking about:

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

So, in a way, they are blessed even if people mock and deride them. It can be a difficult concept to wrap our heads around. I know from personal experience. It used to bother me. Praying over a meal in public? Nope, not me! I didn't want people making fun of me or staring at me. Now? I don't care. I love my Savior and don't care who knows it, nor do I care anymore what they may think. That is solely their issue and not mine. If someone asks, I will happily share my testimony with them. If we deny Jesus before others, He will deny knowing us to the Father at the judgement. I can't speak for anyone but myself about this but, that is not something I'd want.

Now, all that aside, what made it funny was how it affected me and what I did. I am not normally one to approach strangers out of the blue. I saw them when we turned into the parking lot and there was a tiny scratching at the back of my brain pan. I went into eat and largely ignored it as best I could. The feeling never totally went away the entire time we were there. It became almost more insistent as time went on. When we left, the voice was still there telling me to go say something to them. To offer encouragement or something. I was hesitant and the more I thought "I don't want to do this" the louder the voice was and more insistent that I do as I was asked to do.

So, I put on my big boy pants and went over to speak to one of the people there. I thanked her for what she and her friends were doing. I offered words of encouragement and told her that I would be praying for her. She thanked me, handed me small pamphlet and said "God bless you". I returned the blessing, smiled and walked back to the car with a sense of peace. I wish, looking back, I would have responded with "You have no idea how much God has blessed me" Not just in my current season but throughout my life. Even when I wasn't paying attention or even, not all that interested in a relationship with Him. I know, what a silly child I was. Church was something we were made, or even forced to attend. It's just what we did because it was what my father did, just like his family before him. I think what bothered me most was, there was never any discussion about it. Like, outside of church, we never talked about anything to do with church. I did the First Communion and my Confirmation but I never understood the whys of it all. As far as I know, there wasn't a bible in the house. No crucifixes like in other Catholic homes, like my Grandmother's.

I certainly did no favors to my children in this area either. We just dragged them to Church back when we were still going somewhat regularly. I never had the chat with either of my kids and I should have. I failed in that regard and both grew up rejecting and resenting all of it. I hope someday, they will turn back to it. All I can do is keep praying for them. If you blindly make your kids go without any discussion, you're doing them and you a great disservice.

As always, just my .02¢ worth, YMMV

I love you all and God Bless,

Craig🦨⛪✝️