A Starling's Awakening

To Sin Is Human...

The fourth song ended. Lead Pastor Simeon Jacobson asked the ushers to go forward. It was time for the offering. I heard a disgusted "UH!" From Raina. I turned, and she was holding Paul away from her body. Her face was all scrunched up.

Shannon offered, "Give him to me. I'll take care of it." Bret and I stepped out into the aisle. Shannon carried Paul to us. She handed him to Bret, long enough to sling the diaper bag on her shoulder.

"Shannon, are you sure you don't want help?"

"Babysitter, remember? We'll be back in a minute."

Part of me was glad Shannon was going to change Paul. Those around us had to have smelled it. When she returned a couple of minutes later, Paul was in a different onesie. The look Shannon gave me said it all. No words were needed.

When it was time for the sermon, Paul was handed to Ruby. It was her turn to hold him. He slept in her arms. Mark walked to the podium. He thanked the music people, and asked the audience to get out their Bibles. He told them to turn to... something.

"I know we have quite a few visitors with us today, and I know some of you haven't been exposed to Bible teaching before. For those of us who have, sometimes a back to basics refresher course is a good idea. I will be defining terms as I go along."

He explained crucifixion. I felt a knot in the pit of my stomach. He explained that Jesus was buried in a tomb of rock. What did this guy Jesus do to deserve all that?

A year ago, Charles tried to tell me that Jesus was resurrected. I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. Mark explained it, and I was not sure what to think. The whole thing still didn't make sense to me. I now had the who and the what, but not the why. Mark saved that part for last.

"I'm hoping that at least a few of you are asking yourselves, why did this take place? Why did he have to come back to life? Why did he have to die in the first place? The answer stares back at you every time you look at yourself in a mirror. You are the reason. I am the reason.

"A man named Paul, who lived in the first century, wrote a letter to the church in Rome. In it he wrote, 'For there is none righteous, not even one.' And later in that same passage: 'For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.'

Mark explained sin in the context of a parent and child relationship. My parents' may have loved me, but they didn't love me like that. As a starling I was expected to behave myself at all times, because misbehaving was bad for status, and status was everything. Mark finished by defining repentance and forgiveness. If only my own parents could have heard this. Maybe they would seek reconciliation with me.