As some of you know, this is the third summer I’ve spent in Maine. Today I finally snapped a photo that will help convey a funny misunderstanding I had in the very first days of my experience in Maine!
Upon my arrival to Maine, in June of 2007, one of my first priorities was to find a church to attend during the summer months. If you know me personally, or even if you read my blogs with any regularity, I suppose you have learned that I worship in a style that is free and without many of the trappings or strongholds that is often found in traditional, denominational church styles. As I sought a church family those first few days, I prayed for sure, but as I traveled through the towns of Maine, I also kept my eyes open, searching for a church that might be what I was seeking.
Can you guess? Well, you got it! As I quickly drove by this very location, seeing only the first few words on the sign, I got very excited! In my thinking, any place called a “Redemption Center” could only be a Holy Spirit-filled house of worship! I was feeling really great about my new discovery when a few days later, in another small town in Maine, I drove past yet ANOTHER “Redemption Center”!
DUH! I quickly realized after visually investigating the facility that the Redemption Centers that I had seen were, indeed, places to drop your RECYCLABLES! You know….you drop them off and REDEEM them for cash, I suspect!
Imagine if I had actually gone to THAT kind of “Redemption Center” on Sunday morning! Pretty funny, huh? Seems I’m often confusing things like this; guess it’s the price you pay when you live in “La-La Land”.
As you may know, I have, since that early experience, found two great little places of worship where I summer in Maine. I am thankful for the REDEMPTION I have found in Christ! I pray that you each experience His power of Redemption in your own life!