Hunt for the Dark Chocolate M 'n M's
Thursday, October 13, 2005
(16:31pm) Work began with an email from “Prince Fayad,” requesting millions of dollars to be channeled into his personal account, no doubt, in order for his virus to infect the church computers. And Rosemary wore a new “bangly” bracelet of silver hearts and thick silver ball beads which jangled as she talked. And Rosie Hatch’s mother was quarantined for five days with some of her family who had caught the whooping cough – bad situation. There was a search going on between Rosemary and Ivy for dark chocolate m ‘n m’s, and they explored the official m ‘n m website for a short spell while the water lines had just been accidentally cut outside. Apparently, dark chocolate m ‘n m’s had not been seen in stores since they had been first introduced during the last Star Wars promotion.
“Please!” Rosemary talked to the computer. “Show us where to buy the dark chocolate m ‘n m’s!”
And it was Yom Kippur – Collette wondered what, exactly, they were celebrating. The word – Jew – conjured up a most ancient feeling. It was almost a delicious creepiness – not in a crude sense, but a most holy and aged sense.
Meanwhile, Ivy spent a good half hour figuring out the exact dimensions of the plastic slips to be ordered for Mrs. Scone’s freshly printed note cards of the church. And Collette battled with Paypal (which was under maintenance) to order bulletin inserts for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, November 13th. It was saddening to read what occurred in other countries. It made Collette want to sit down with the dignitaries of Colombia, Egypt, North Korea, Yemen, and Cuba and just talk her heart out about Jesus. But they would only listen if God worked in their souls. Such a thing she could never make happen.
And while a friendly red-faced dude from SBC worked to fix the “humming” on their phone lines, Ivy shared the latest on Megan who had, indeed, been offered the co-op in Alabama. However, she and Mo were unwilling for Megan to participate. Also, a two-mile radius in Turkey had been quarantined, (thought to be successful) because of the bird flu, and the EU had set aside 1.2 billion dollars to prepare for the potential epidemic. It was always “potential.” And Mrs. English had forwarded an email from Mrs. Raven who had just undergone surgery the previous morning after feeling as though she “was going to die,” for ten days straight. The things that happened to people! Collette marveled that God had kept them so safe throughout the years. It was as Christ spoke to his disciples:
“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
As John Piper referenced the passage – Do not be amazed that such a catastrophe would happen. Be amazed that you were not the ones beneath that tower when it fell. Who are we to assume that no one deserves such a thing to come over us? We are all guilty of death.
Meanwhile, Collette looked over a catalog of brilliant blooms, considering whether to send Diana a beautiful bouquet for her birthday. There was a gorgeous piece of festive orange gerberas, blue iris, small yellow chrysanthemums, and big orange and yellow lilies. It was displayed on the same page as a shaker box of cookies – peanut butter cats and chocolate bats. A funky Halloween gift. But in the end, Collette thought she might try for the more practical. She would think it over.