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Grandpa and Grandma stepped out of their car and boarded a shuttle that whisked them away to their megachurch’s main sanctuary. Both had been regular attenders of Higher Heights Church since its founding half a century before. That small congregation of thirty had grown consistently for the first twenty years before seeing an explosion of growth in the early 1980’s. Now numbers swelled to over 25,000 a week.

The shuttle arrived at the main entrance to the sanctuary, but Grandpa and Grandma didn’t go into the main auditorium. Instead, they began walking down the corridor, past the coffee shop, bookstore, and art gallery to a small chapel that seated around 250 people.

Grandpa nodded to the old faces he saw. Many of the people had been there for more than thirty years. Others were newcomers, but still welcome. The couple took their seats in the chapel. The organist began playing “Faith of our Fathers.” This was the prelude to the traditional worship service that Grandpa and Grandma were expecting.

“Where’s John tonight?” Grandpa asked, wondering about their only son.

“Oh, he’s at the worship venue in that big tent we passed along the way here,” Grandma replied.

“The outdoor one?” Grandpa asked.

“That’s the one,” Grandma nodded. “It’s the one called ‘Heavenly Stairway,’ – you know, the one with all that Classic Rock of the 70’s.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Grandpa sighed. “He always did love those bands.” After a pause, he added, “But Sarah couldn’t stand that kind of music. I wonder how he convinced her to go to that service.”

“Oh, she’s not with him,” Grandma answered, nonchalantly. “She goes over to Worship Venue 5 – the Country music one that gives line-dancing lessons after church. You know she’s lost a lot of weight since she started going over there,” she chuckled.

“What about our grandkids, Jessica and Michael?”

“Well you know. Jessica goes to the Hawaiian islands venue, and Michael likes Hip Hop Central,” Grandma reminded him. “They come to church together, split up for the services, and then meet back after Sarah’s dancing lessons are over.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Grandpa sighed, before adding under his breath, “I miss the old days.”

“You’re showing your age,” Grandma laughed. “What do you mean?”

“I miss us going to church all together.”

“We didn’t even have a good air conditioner back then,” reminded Grandma.

“I know. But we were still together.”

“I guess you are forgetting the gossip and the fighting and the bickering. Why, don’t you remember some of those arguments?”

“I wouldn’t mind having a good fight now and then,” said Grandpa.

“I’m sure that’s the Holy Spirit talking,” Grandma said sarcastically.

“There aren’t any arguments now because we’re never with anyone who’s any different than us. Just look around, sweetheart. Who’s going to argue in here?”

“Times have changed. We’ve progressed. Just look at our attendance!”

“Well, at least we still go to church together,” Grandpa smiled.

“That’s right. And we always will,” Grandma affirmed. The organist began playing louder. The service was about to begin. “Look at where we were fifty years ago,” she added.

Grandpa began thinking of all the memories, the family outings, the church picnics, the family feuds, the stuffy sanctuary. He remembered seeing old and young, senior adults next to seniors in high school, newlyweds, young couples with children, grandparents and great-grandparents – all together, lifting their voices as one. Now, as he looked out across the sea of gray hair in front of him, he couldn’t help but feel alone.

“We’ve come a long way,” smiled Grandma.

“Yes, we have,” sighed Grandpa sadly. “We’ve come a long way.”

written by Trevin Wax. © 2007 Kingdom People Blog

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