A few years ago, I was taking a course on "Spiritual Disciplines" down in Indianapolis at our denominational ministry center. It was a great class. During those days, you could count on reading 100 pages a night out of textbooks, and work on a lengthy report (not kidding). But in this class, Mike Conkle gave us an unusual assignment. He wanted to show us that everything in our life is spiritual. So we were to do something that we really enjoy, and do it in the presence of the Lord. Now I am in a class with a bunch of good Free Methodists. One guy says that he will go on a prayer walk, another says that they will fast, while another one says that they will spend all night in prayer. I announced that I was going to a hockey game. My professor tells me to enjoy it in the presence of the Lord.
After chapel and dinner, I notice that I was running late. So I drove over to the Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis because that is the home arena of the Indianapolis Ice according to the website.
I pay $10 for parking, and race into the arena. I told the girl in the booth that I want to get as close to the ice as possible. We went over the chart and she found a front row seat near the corner. As soon as I got my ticket, I am immediately frisked as they run a wand over my body. Of course this is only a few months after 9/11 so I understand.
After the interrogation and they realize that I am not a terrorist, I am able to enter the arena. I race around the corner and I realized something was seriously wrong. Everyone is wearing denim and cowboy hats. It smells like cow poop, and country music is blaring in the background. I look down at my ticket and seen that I am at the National Rodeo Finals. I ran back to the booth and asked where the hockey game went to. She told me that night only was at the State Fairgrounds. And why was this not put onto the web site???
They wouldnt refund my ticket, so I went in to Starbucks there at the arena to calm down.
I then went to my seat armed with a Mocha Latte, my Dallas Willard book, dressed in Khaki pants and a sweater. I sat between two guys that could have passed for twins of Larry the Cable Guy. I really stuck out like a sore thumb.
I can really say that I went to a hockey game and a rodeo broke out.

Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 21, 2009 at 5:49 AM

    Just found this buried in my reader...made me smile. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

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