Don't you just love it when one of your classic favorites comes on tv? Like the Cosby show when Cliff feeds Claire the cake to music? Or the other one when Claire says, "...that is Eunice Chantilly's TACKY bracelet!"? Or the Seinfeld when the soup Nazi banishes them forever? "No more soup for you!"
My very favorite episode of Everybody Loves Raymond came on today. It's the episode when Raymond and Deborah battle over who is going to take the suitcase upstairs. Hilarious! And then they got to my favorite line when Marie says to Deborah,
"Don't let a suitcase filled with cheese become your big fork and spoon."
If you haven't seen the episode, you're probably scratching your head, but it you have, I'll bet you're laughing just like I did.
The loose translation is, "Don't let the little stuff become the big stuff." Wise words, indeed. (See, there is redeeming value to all the tv that I watch! Well, ok. Maybe not all of it.)
Last night and today I was challenged with similar thoughts. At our pastor search committee meeting last night, one of our members said that he has decided to commit to 10 years at our church after our new pastor comes no matter what. James McDonald on today's podcast talks about fellowship as a discipline and discusses what it takes to stay at a church and build community for decades.
No matter what...what it takes...to overlook cheese in a suitcase. I mean to forgive offenses. To support leadership when you don't agree. To sing to music you don't like. To be transparent when life is painful. To reach out to others when they're so messy. To hold your tongue when you want to let the lashes fly. To give a gentle answer when your blood boils. To love others' difficult children ('cause ours are just so precious!). To live and give and take and love and build community.
Who knew Everybody Loves Raymond would bring me to such a place?
(I'd love to hear about your favorite episode of your favorite show and why you love it!)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Everybody Loves Community
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4 comments:
Ha - I was actually thinkin of my favorite episode of Everybody Loves Raymond just yesterday. It's the one where Debra has PMS issues and poor Ray, he tries to help. I was remembering when Frank was talking about one or two bad mood days becoming a week, and then it's the ONLY mood and says (something like), "Not a day goes by that I don't pray for a comet to come crashing down to bring me sweet relief!"
I was praying that I never make the mood of my home such that my husband or kids ever prefer to be hit by a comet. Our mood affects the mood of the whole home - praying it's for good!
Thanks so much for your post. It was very timely for us in regards to sticking w/ a church as well (our church is facing people leaving for ??? reasons)
Thanks!
Hi Amy,
I remember that episode. It was such a powerful example of the hard work in marriage to not get so hard and prideful in our conflicts. It's always been convicting. :)
My husband and I like to quote various tv show lines to each other. They are usually just sweet little lines that make us grin.
Have a great week.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Hi Amy,
I remember that episode. It was such a powerful example of the hard work in marriage to not get so hard and prideful in our conflicts. It's always been convicting. :)
My husband and I like to quote various tv show lines to each other. They are usually just sweet little lines that make us grin.
Have a great week.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Wow Amy,
First, I love Everybody Loves Raymond and I am very familiar with this episode. I had to laugh as I read your post. Something you wrote hit close to home. I have walked away from my home church because I didn't agree with a huge decision made recently that has really hurt and destroyed relationships and families that attend. I have been struggling with wanting to return "home" and wondering how I would deal with my own opinions and hurt feelings. Then I think,"you follow Jesus, not a man" and pray for strength to do the right thing for my family.
I will move the suitcase. :)
Thanks!
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