The First Drama at the New Church

Those that know me personally know that we left our church of seven years this past fall.  Although I love the pastor, I had some serious issues with the children's worship director that I was unable to accept; the situation was exacerbated when she yelled at me for a decision I made regarding my children.  The class times for kids were very inconvenient.  In addition, she is very impatient with children that don't fit the proverbial mold.  Further, the choir.... was not good.  I was frustrated with the quality of musicianship of the other singers and the lack of ambition on the part of the music minister.  So we said goodbye.

The new church is much better in all respects.  The pastor is great with kids and is very friendly.  Also, the children's program director is b e y o n d  patient, having had a couple of more high maintenance children herself.

So, why the drama?  Well, there was a woman in choir last Thursday that basically went off on me because another lady yelled at her and accused her of wearing perfume.  Huh?  I'm really sensitive to strong smells.  When my allergies are acting up,  I lose my voice quickly when exposed.  In extreme cases, I can have an asthma attack.  So I started having a heck of a time at rehearsal (which is the worst place to wear smelly goop; everyone breathes deeply and stands in close proximity, so irritants have a much more pronounced impact.  Anyway, I had to move and sit really far away.  The lady sitting next to me (let's call her Shirley) yells at another lady (how about Dolores?) for wearing perfume and making me lose my voice (Shirley does not read music and doesn't do too well without someone bellowing into her ear).  Dolores spins on her heel and tells me I ought to use my rescue inhaler and that I can't expect everyone to stop wearing perfume.  If that's my attitude I am in the wrong place.  I was dumbfounded.  I didn't even say a word!  Shirley decided to crusade on my behalf.  Apparently, Dolores works with a woman who has a hissy fit when she smells even unscented hand sanitizer.  Dolores then tersely informed me that she herself has leukemia and has to sanitize her hands constantly and the coworker yells at her and complains to the boss all the time.

I was so upset from being yelled at for something I didn't do that I cried all the way home and told Husband I was quitting.  I felt so sorry for myself that I was miserable for another day and a half.  So once I was done blubbering like an idiot, I prayed for her.  I imagined how difficult it must be for her to be sick.  I also thought it must upset her to be yelled at for something that is beyond her control.  And, yes, she turned around and did the same thing to me.  And you know what?  I let it go.  At least, I let it go as much as I can.  It'll take me a week or so to let it pass completely, but over and over in my head echoed this verse from Galatians:


"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."  –Galatians 1:10