The Chair People

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Hey friends,

It's a quirky thing that happens every year in my little town of Catonsville. People put their chairs out along Frederick Rd. weeks before the big parade for July 4th. Just to make sure they get a great spot, they will pull up under the cover of night, with chairs piled in the back of their SUV or truck, and line those chairs up in just the right spot along the curb.

The morning light reveals their clandestine operation. And each day, leading up to July4th, more and more of these chairs appear. Simple canvas chairs, pink adirondack chairs, sports chairs with cup holders, plastic chairs, even blankets with tarp over them are stretched out on grassy hills along Frederick Rd.

If you didn't know what this was, you would assume perhaps the President was coming. Or Bono. Or Oprah.

But no. It's much bigger. These chairs are lined up for honored veterans, baton twirlers, Boumi Temple motorcyclists, marching bands, lots of people waving in shiny cars, and a dog on a skateboard.

And on the big day, those chairs will be filled with people from all different walks of life, with something wonderful in common.

Expectancy.

People don't set up chairs without planning on being in those chairs, at a specific time, for a specific event. Something is coming and they are so eager, so ready, that they are willing to just put it out there. Wear their hearts on their sleeves. Tell the world, we are ready and waiting for that parade and we're not gonna miss it. We'll even sacrifice these beautiful chairs. It will be worth it, because we must, we MUST have a good spot.

It's that expectancy that makes me smile every year. When we are looking forward to something, fully expecting that it's going to happen, we get ready. We do whatever we need to do, to ensure that when the moment comes, we will be there in the fullness of the moment. Not missing a thing.

Expectancy. It's the ultimate expression of belief and hope and it shows off so everyone can see. Like a woman who is "expecting" a baby. You can see it on her. And she glows with anticipation of what she knows is coming.

One day, I will meet Jesus, my Lord face to face. Either He'll come back and take me with Him, or I will go be with Him where He is. It's a promise from God. It's coming.

And that's why I want to be like the "Chair people". I want to be so ready, so eager, so unashamedly expectant...that it just shows on me every day, that I am looking forward to being with Him. Expectant and glowing. Like Catonsville on the 4th of July.