The One Where Joshua Walks Out of Sunday School...

Joshua is annoying cracking us up with his attention to routine. Well, usually we think it's funny...but it can also be aggravating. Everything he does is in a certain routine, and it's HIS routine. Most of the time, it doesn't make any sense to us why he does the things he does...or when he does them...but to him, I'm sure it all makes perfect sense.

Example: one night we were all sitting in the living room watching TV. All of a sudden, Joshua's phone alarm went off. He jumped up and quickly headed to his bedroom. I said, "what are you doing...what was that?" He said, "8:32...time to clip my toe-nails."

HE HAD SET HIS PHONE ALARM TO REMIND HIM TO CLIP HIS TOE-NAILS. At 8:32 p.m.

I know. Don't even try to figure it out.

So, Jim teaches the college age class at church, and we all get tickled at Joshua's focus on the time. He does not want the class to run late. He has a certain place in church that he likes to sit...about half-way down and ALWAYS on the end. He must sit in the aisle seat. So he likes to get on in there and 'make his nest' and socialize before the crowd arrives.

This Sunday, Jim was supposed to be deer hunting, but when his plans changed, we went to our class. The Student Minister was there to sub for Jim, and he had brought a PASSION video in for the class to watch. As great as the video was, and we all know that Louie Giglio can BRING IT...not even he could distract Joshua from his routine. I watched it all unfold. I saw Joshua look at his watch. It was 10:37 a.m. Verrrryyy slooowwwly, he closed his Bible. His eyes darted around the room, making sure no one was watching him. He picked up his folder (where he keeps his sermon notes) and put it with his Bible. In slow motion, he put on his jacket...one sleeve at a time (the video is still going). He got his water bottle and shoved it into his pocket. Then, without saying a word to anyone, he got up and walked.out.of.class. It was 10:40 a.m.

I couldn't even look at Jim.

The ones in our class know Joshua...but this Sunday, another class had come in with ours to watch the video. We explained Joshua's obsession with routine and we all laughed. I mean, haven't we all been there? He just does what we wish we could do at times...and he gets away with it! He does a similar thing during the worship services at church...only he doesn't get up and leave. But, any given Sunday, a few minutes before noon, SPIRIT MOVING OR NOT, Joshua will pack up his pen, paper and Bible. And wait.

Because he's done.

Because it's enough already.

PEOPLE NEED JESUS...JUST (apparently) NOT AFTER 12 NOON.