Dilemma Of Worship

JUST WOKE UP

The alarm just went off! "Its time to get up! I need to get ready for church and get there by 9am for pre-service prayers before the service commences at 10". I jumped out of bed straight to the bathroom. As customary I looked straight at the face staring at me through the silver surface...."ummmm you don't look bad", I thought. I reached for my tooth brush spread a bit of tooth paste on it and maneuvered it in my mouth. After rinsing my mouth I reached for the shower knob, turned it to the right temperature and allowed it to heat up while I shaved. "O God! I should have shaved before turning on the shower", I said to myself as I wiped the steam off the mirror for better vision. Stepping into the shower I allowed the heat and steam engulf my body.

GETTING DRESSED

"Ohhhhh...,,this shirt is getting tight"; I thought to myself as I struggled to bottom up at the belly region. "You need to get your abs back", I snarled to the estranged eyes staring back at me. After dressing I went to the kitchen for breakfast; "cereal wouldn't fill me up", I thought. "I prefer bagel sandwich with ketchup and mayonnaise spread combined with fried bacon and egg filling and a hot cup of caffeinated drink to wake me up. Ummmmm!That sounds perfect". The lovely thought was quickly interjected by a voice of guilt..."that's why you have the belly!". Ignoring the voice and the guilt I went to work and in 13 mins my breakfast was ready.

HAVING THE BREAKFAST

"Ohrrrr Gorddd", I muffled with the last bite of the bagel sandwich and coffee in my mouth, "I need to hit the road"! As I ran to the room, I reached for my suit, my mobile device and my silver metal case containing my bank cards and licence. Before dashing out I made a final sweep with my eyes to make sure I didn't forget anything. Convinced I had all I needed I rushed to the main door, locked it behind me and like a man with wings flew to my car...."OHHH GOD MY CAR KEYS!!!!"

ON THE ROAD

"I would go straight to prayers immediately I get to church", I said to myself speeding down the highway and trying to stay within the speed limit."No distractions...No distractions....No distractions!". As I drove down the highways I began to think of how I would walk through the church's back door and straight into the prayer suite limiting my pleasantries to just an 'hello smile' and avoiding getting into alluring conversations.

ARRIVED AT CHURCH

A drive that was 45 mins felt like 45 hours. As I maneuvered my car skillful to park in a convenient position my mind kept saying, "No distractions!!!" No one was at the back door to greet..."Good...No Distractions!", I thought. The words that was easily uttered in my mind suddenly dissipated, like the early morning mist encountering the noon day sun, as I saw a pretty lady wearing a nice conspicuously protruding dress swaying towards me."Noo distra....Good Morning", I retorted in response to her sweet melodious voice. As she leaned over for a hug and a peck I couldn't help but be lost in her perfume...."Dior...no Dolce...no..no its Creed!"

PRE-SERVICE PRAYER

A wave of disappointment greeted my face as I made my way through the entrance of the prayer suite."O boy!", I said to myself, "30 mins late....what on earth were you discussing with her?" Walking in unannounced was easy because everyone seemed focused in prayer. "C'mon you need to savor the last 30 mins you have for prayers", I said to myself. As I began to galvanize every shred of spiritual muscles to pray I couldn't but notice the same smell I was trying to figure out clouding my space."OMG....What's she doing here?"

MAKING OUR WAY TO MAIN AUDITORIUM

"How are you today?", one of the pastors asked jovially as we all made our way to the main auditorium for main service. "I'm fine sir!", I retorted trying to hide the guilt. "Good!". Still maintaining the jovial demeanor he asked the question I was hoping he wouldn't; "so why where you late?"..."ohhh my alarm didn't go off", I lied."Get a new one boi!", he said with a smile and a tap on the right shoulder as he followed the other pastors to the other side of the aisle which led to the front. Moving to the other side of the auditorium I was greeted by a pretty usher who didn't bother directing me because we both knew my seat.

MAIN SERVICE- WORSHIP

The ambiance was densely saturated with a pleasant aroma of melodious tune made up of the perfect harmony of the choir's voices and the musical instruments. All emanating from the pulpit! "Ahhhhhh....nothing can distract me now", I said to myself as I mounted my feet firmly on the ground in front of my red cushioned seat with golden colored frame. "Nothing can...not even the haunch of the lady with a tight sky blue tube skirt on the 6th row in front of me. Wooow!...that skirt really brings out her hips; and it goes perfectly with her fitted white shirt. Ummmm!....God is a perfect artist...I mean look at this curve....beautiful!!!".

"The girl sitting beside her also didn't disappoint. Although her pink sleeveless dress made her broad shoulder more conspicuous her waist perfectly made up for it by making it way to form a perfect bulge at either side. OMG!.....No distraction!", I said gnashing my teeth. "How is it that my soul is easily distracted, even with the atmosphere heavily dense with worship." As I was trying to figure out what the problem was a girl with a tight pink, knee length dress walked pass the aisle right beside me."God why do you make them this beautiful?", I said under my breath turning my head to the huge ceiling of the main auditorium; as though God was up there.

After 20 mins of what seemed to be a sensual explosion, I sat down on my seat with my head in my hands. "Everyone seems to be worshiping except me", I noticed when I looked around. "God help me...I want to worship you!" And as though in response I saw a man, who looked to be in his mid 30s wearing a nice slim fitted blue suit raising his hands in worship....I saw another but this time took of his black suit and was on his knees with his black khaki pants....another had his body prostrated on the floor. Just a few rows ahead of me was a lady; at first I didn't want to look at her because of fear of distraction but then I noticed how her hands were stretched out through her grey sleeves and her knees on the floor. All this people had one thing in common....."Worship!", I said under my breath..."Worship". Immediately the word was uttered out of my month I heard the song the choir was singing......

......CASTING CROWNS...LIFTING HANDS...BOWING HEARTS...THAT WANT WE'VE COME TO DO....ADONAI YOU RUIN ON HIGH. Immediate my heart was fills with an inexplicable and unequivocal warmth. As I allowed the melody to fill my heart I felt myself stepping out of time and my knees giving way. "What's Happening?", the question was irrelevant because the feeling was to strong...as though I was being embrace by a warm, peaceful but powerful force. My mind noticed how my mouth began:...casting crowns...lifting hands....bowing hearts.....CASTING CROWNS...LIFTING HANDS...

In that last 10 mins nothing else mattered. "10 mins? Wow.. it felt let 10 hours!"

"I realized that you doesn't have to change to come close to God....coming close to God would change you!"