Friends

We live just down the street from some good friends of ours, John and Elda and Jolynne. It was a normal Sunday night and we were down at their place for supper and pingpong and other games. Little did we know...

Just after John had finished explaining how to play "Ticket to Ride" our peace was disturbed by the sudden entrance of two characters in black clothes, black belaclavas, and ski goggles. They immediately wrapped scarves around our (me and Kendra) heads. I gave a bit of a fight, and was rewarded by having my arms tied VERY securely behind me - tied together and then tied to my belt loop so that I was no longer much of a threat.

They took us outside, shoved us into a waiting car, and drove off. Eventually we arrived somewhere and were hauled out of the car. With my eyes still blindfolded I tried to make a break for it but Alas! was nabbed before I got more than a few feet. Good thing, it turns out, since I was headed across a road.

We were brought into a house, our blindfolds taken off, and SURPRISE!!! There was half the church in Dennis and Irene's house - it was an appreciation evening for us.

Hard to know how to react to something like this. For me it was a combination of feeling slightly abashed (not used to this kind of attention!), amused, humbled, and profoundly grateful. Humbled and grateful maybe describe it best. We are blessed to have friends like we have, and this kind of blessing is nothing we could ever really "deserve."

All those warm feelings were somewhat mitigated when someone realized that, since my hands were still tied, they could finally put a cowboy hat on me. They've been trying for almost 3 years (first time was when we came out to candidate!) and they finally succeeded. Let the record show that the hat was NOT willingly worn!

Friends, I guess, are one of God's more lavish gifts to us. We are blessed, and thankful.

Shalom,

David (and Kendra)