She pulled me aside on the ramp outside the main room at church. She's so fun. Exciting to be around. Some people just have that presence. It's not that she talks all that much or cracks jokes all the time, because she doesn't. But there's such fire in her eyes, you definitely sense a real live person in there watching you. Dancing with you, even when you're standing still.
She's said so many encouraging things to me before. From the first moment we met, she's been building me up.
She says I'm a gifted musician, and what musician doesn't love that? She says I'm a great songwriter and guitarist. I'm eating this stuff up. When she slows me down this day on the way out of church, I'm braced for another helping of compliments, thank you very much.
"You were great today, Len"
"Thanks." I'm smiling. Yeah, I like this.
"Do you believe all that stuff you were saying?"
"Yeah, of course. Don't you?"
Strange question. Seems an odd way to set up the next compliment. But I'm down with variety.
"So how come you're not living it?"
"huh?" and by huh, I mean "What the...?"
"It's called Lip Service, Len. Clever words about how much you love God and how much you love your wife, but that's not what your actions represent. When are you going to stop paying Lip Service and actually live the stuff you say?"
Emotional Response In My Head: "Who the hell do you think you are, Merna Osborne? And what gave you the idea I want your opinion right now?"
What I Say Out Loud: "duh, ah, um, well, ayah, uh, hmmmm..."
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful the kisses of an enemy.
My friends don't always say nice things to me all the time. That's how I know they're my friends. About 5 years ago, my friend asked me some tough questions. I am grateful to her for caring enough to tell me the truth.
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