Now this has never happened before...

Yep...it's been 16 years and it's never happened before, but now it has: I was invited to Meck!

I was standing in line at Target with my kids, in not exactly what I would classify as a 'great mood'. I was hoping to get in and out without bumping into anyone I knew or that knew me...I just wanted to get my stuff and get out of there. And then it happened...

Riley leans over and says to me, "That lady is talking about OUR church."

What? I start eavesdropping (is it really eavesdropping if you're standing right there and don't even really have to 'try' to hear the conversation?)...and she was right. The cashier was telling the woman in front of us about her weekend, how she found this new church and she loves it. She talked about the music, the warm environment, the kids 'play area'...she was gushing.

Then it was my turn.

I walked to the register and just waited, but I didn't have to wait for long. The cashier greeted all of us and asked what we had planned for the weekend. After giving her a vague answer she said to me, "Well if you don't have anything special going on I could give you an idea and your kids would love it too."

"Really?"

"Yes Ma'am. I've been going to this church for a few weeks and it's awesome. My whole family loves it and we aren't church people...but that's what's cool about it, it doesn't feel like it's for church-people, it feels like it's for real people. (a little shocked at herself) Oh my...you aren't offended by that are you? Do you go to church?"

But before I could answer, she was off again...

"Really...I'd be shocked if you didn't love it. Believe me, I'm the last person that ever imagined I'd be going to church much less being excited by it, but now I am, so you know it must be good stuff."

She handed me a receipt, said goodbye and off I went a little in shock over what just happened. But there's more...

Standing at the ICEE counter I hear the man that was behind me in line ask the cashier what church she was talking about because he wasn't 'church people' either and he might want to try it out.

The tears started flowing and wouldn't stop.

I was blown away by the impact of the church playing out before my eyes...how 'gossip' was spreading about Jesus and this woman couldn't contain it. She was sharing something so meaningful to her so effortlessly with complete strangers. She was sure she had stumbled on to something and wanted to make sure everyone she came in contact with knew about it...because maybe they needed to stumble over it too.

I know one man for sure who needed to hear it...the man who was standing behind me in Target, the one who wasn't 'church people'. And how do I know that?

He was sitting in the back row this past weekend.

Sometimes gossip can be a great thing.

God - please help us to spread lots of gossip about you tomorrow. Amen.