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Sunday morning, I woke up with laryngitis.
Having dodged a cold most of the week, I was finally overtaken by the little booger and my larynx (voice box) was completely surrounded and incapable of screaming for help.
I sat on the toilet seat, realizing that in two short hours I was supposed to share at Saint James United Methodist Church in Goose Creek, South Carolina. That hardly seemed plausible. The word “unlikely” came to mind.
Yet I must tell you, I’ve never been content with accepting my first look at anything. My initial observation is always full of fear, culture and predictability. So realizing that I could not call these fine people and bail out at this late hour, I asked myself a valuable question: “What is it you can do this morning that will edify your brothers and sisters?”
Candidly, we all wake up every morning, each one of us a little lame simply due to being human beings. Yet it is our purpose to find ways to edify.
Singing was out of the question. My singing voice yesterday morning resembled a child’s squeal after falling off the monkey bars.
But I was able to speak.
I was able to think.
The ten fingers on my hands were not infected whatsoever, so playing the piano was available.
I had no congestion in my sense of humor.
So without troubling Pastor Susannah, Vance and all the cherished, human folk at Saint James, I just launched into what I still had at hand.
I made no explanation because it would not have been edifying.
I made no excuses. Once again, not edifying.
Edifying is when you take what you’ve got and instead of proclaiming it insufficient, you use it to bless other people.
It was a bit of a mine field–guessing when my voice would crackle or crunch–but after three blessed hours, I was able to make connection with my new brothers and sisters, and from what they tell me, lift their spirits.
The good news is that God’s spirit is sufficient to our every need.
The better news is that if we want to tap that grace, we need to humbly admit when we have found ourselves buried under the weather.
Published by Jonathan Cring
6 years ago 
