MY WAFFLE IS BURNING

Recently, while out of town, I had breakfast at one of my favorite places to eat. It is always open, and I arrived early, craving a waffle. I could taste the warm waffle, two eggs over well, and hash browns scattered and smothered.

I usually sit at the serving bar, listen as the waitress calls the order to the cook, and watch the cook display his great culinary feats in less than ten minutes. I take great care to familiarize myself with my surroundings. I have eaten at this particular establishment on many occasions. The waitresses have tattoos, missing teeth, and evidence of fast and hard living. They have an ongoing conversation every time I eat there. They always smile and are very courteous.

This morning was a little different. It was a shift change. There were about ten people there, and a young lady stood at the cash register, ready to pay for a call-in. No one was working the register. There were four waitresses, and I was the only person placing an order. An older lady took my order. She appeared to be the one in charge, and she called for a cook. No cook appeared, so she went in search of one. I could hear her barking out orders for someone to cook. A lady went to the grill and started that wonderful deed of fixing my waffle.

The ongoing conversation recommenced, and the young lady continued to wait to pay for her carryout. The conversation changed direction; the topic was now the missing ticket for the carryout. A waitress who had no front teeth and was wearing very thick glasses explained that she had placed the ticket on the counter beside the carryout, and she repeated that story for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, the lady who had started my delicious waffle checked it—golden brown and smelling so wonderful—closed the waffle iron, and disappeared into the back. A guy entered and finished cooking my order.

I listened to the lost ticket saga, but my thoughts were: my waffle is burning! The lady continued to wait for a ticket, and she told me, “I’m getting a headache.” I thought, my waffle is burning! I thought I was caught up in the Twilight Zone or maybe in an episode of the soap opera As the Waffle Burns.

The cook gave me my two eggs and hash browns—but no waffle! The smell of my waffle was getting stronger and stronger. The cook asked, “Whose waffle?” The head waitress told him it was mine. At last, the girl got her ticket. The waitresses had finally decided just to write a new one, which took about five minutes. My waffle was not burnt, but it was very crunchy!

I knew that it was an unusual day, and I ate there the next evening. I love the food. I enjoy watching the cooks, and the waitresses are always friendly. As I thought about my burning waffle, I thought about going to church to worship. How many people attend churches in our association with the expectation of a blessing—but are disappointed?

Sometimes our ongoing conversations have little to do with preparing worshippers for worship. Many come ready to participate in worship and are ready to serve, but the “ticket,”—or the directive—never comes, or it comes too late. Many people sit with their minds on things of concern, such as burning waffles.

            “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1, KJV)

 

Churches are responsible for serving spiritual food. What is your church doing to spiritually feed you?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

What role do you play in getting yourself and the church ready to worship and serve?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Imperfect people gather for spiritual food at imperfect churches, because the God we worship, serve, and proclaim is perfect.

 

Prayer: God, You are perfect. Only You could atone for my imperfections, my sin. I confess that from time to time I neglect my spiritual diet with the junk food of the world. Forgive me, and help me to prepare others and myself for worship. Thank You for burning waffles, which remind me of spiritual truths.

* This is Day 13 in my 31 Day Devotional - I Will Speak Using Stories.