Ok, I confess my sinfulness. My sin of over-responsibility. My sin of thinking it all depends on me. My sin of thinking I have to "fix it."

Yesterday morning I found that there were barricades across the entrances to the Jamestown Road parking lot that we depend upon for Sunday mornings! My mind started racing with worst case scenarios. How could we operate without that parking? Would we have to cancel worship services? We had a congregational meeting scheduled! Would we have to reschedule that? According to the constitution, there must be two weeks' notice for a congregational meeting. Would we be able to assemble a quorum in the middle of July??

I called the campus police and alerted them to my concern. They were very sympathetic, and they called the director of campus parking at home. He called back and said that "Jamestown 2007" had reserved the parking lot for a special service being held at Jamestown Island; that they would be busing worshipers to the island. I explained that we depended on that lot! He said, "Oh, do you use that lot?" I said, "Since 1964." He felt badly. He explained that he's only been on the job for 10 months. He explained that he hadn't even thought about the churches across the street. He said this was a unique event. He said there would be attendants directing traffic into the lot. He said we would be welcome to use the parking garage, down Ukrops Avenue, and that the attendants directing traffic into the lot would point out where the garage is, for those who would be confused. (The garage, of course, is about a six block walk from the church!)

I closed my cell phone. Words of grace were then spoken to me. I confess my sin of not listening to them! They were spoken by that sage, Jean Kuhn. (I carried out my conversation with the parking director in the Kuhn's car on Saturday morning, as we were riding down to hear Eric Gritsch at Reformation Lutheran Church.) Jean said, "You know, I don't think you should worry about it. I think our people will just go ahead and park in the lot anyway, and the problem will take care of itself."

But I knew the problem would not take care of itself. I knew it was my responsibility to fix it! How was I to do that? I worried all afternoon and all last night.

When I got to the church this morning -- riding my bicycle! There were several empty spots at the bicycle rack! -- the attendants were already on the job, and cars were already pouring into the lot. I put on my vestments way earlier than usual, and stood out alongside Jamestown Road to offer suggestions to our folks who would obviously not be able to cope. But soon the cars pouring into the parking lot included those belonging to our members, arriving for worship! They simply followed the attendants' welcoming directions, and they found places to park, and, instead of boarding the buses for Jamestown Island, they simply walked to the church building.

Some did have to walk a longer distance than usual. But what do you know? The problem did work itself out! We successfully gathered this morning for two worship services and a congregational meeting. It hadn't been up to me to fix it at all!

I promise never ever to be caught up in my overly-responsible self ever again.

(Wanna bet?)