I am just like him
“Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea,” (Psalm 46:2).
I looked at him. My eyes scanned his ineptitude, his apparent inability to muster any human norm. His un-coordination was evident, his fashion awkward, his hygiene unimportant, I peered at my friend and in my silent conversation observing obvious differences from me all that surfaced within was — “I’m glad I am not like him.”
Low points are often pedestrian and sins can be cloistered in silence. I buried the encounter and moved on. And then I am reminded, perspective is limited by what we know and believe. What we know is framed by experience, memory, impression. Youth is such an assurance, a confidence based on nothing but inexperience doubt delayed. The young have only to surrender to the seasons of giving up and taking on. They have only to relinquish the giving and taking our shallow desires demand. Fear is a quiet companion.
The seasons in the Midlands were subtle transitions. The South Carolina sandhills lie still like a close summer day, windless amid the loblollies and Spanish moss. Sandhill summers are oppressive, leaning on one’s civility and olfactory stamina. Fall arrives and winter follows with hardly a preamble except for an abatement in the oppression and the longleaf’s reluctance. Spring taps the natives on their shoulders, reminding them another summer comes. Northwest Georgia seasons are different than the sandhills. Here, they are more defined like tides and moon phases, pronounced by tree buds and solstices and woolly worms. One can hear a north wind whistle through this piedmont. The maples relinquish their leaves on time, signaling that old trickster winter is lurking behind the autumn hue. The locals notice when the hornets hang low.
The good book says faith moves mountains. I have never seen a mountain move but I have sensed the season change in my silent conversations. I’ve noticed a little less selfassurance in them, a little more acceptance, too. I was piddling the other day, moving slowly, procrastinating and searching for motivation. I had a chore to do. There was a bookshelf to put together, a kit. Opening the box confusion set in. Acquiescing to the instructions I began. Step one — make sure the parts are there and the tools, especially a hammer, always a hammer. Starting, my ineptitude surfaced. I thought, isn’t it easier to buy ready-made bookshelves? I muddled forward.
I’m not inclined to cuss until I realize some factory worker packs boxes with a smirk. Or I hit myself using a hammer. Rudimentary and clumsy know no norm. And then, I thought about my friend and realized — “I am just like him.”
My season changed.
Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
Bethlehem Temple Church, 401 Nixon Ave., will have a Black History program Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. The event will feature skits, trivia, poetry and they will honor citizens from the community. For more information call Jackie Jenkins at 706-204-6112.
Cave Spring United Methodist Church, 30 Alabama St., Cave Spring, will host its annual “Souper” Bowl supper on Feb. 3 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. Homemade soups, stews, chili, cornbread and desserts will be available. The supper is all-you-can-eat or carry out. Entry is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Proceeds benefit local Feed the Hungry programs and church projects. For more information call 706777-8761 or 706-777-3748.
First Baptist Church of Rome, 100 E. Fourth Ave., holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship is held at 11 a.m. and broadcast on Comcast channel 44. For more information visit www.fbcrome.org.
Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 445 E. 14th St., will celebrate the 34th Pastoral Anniversary of the Rev. and Mrs. Terrell M. Shields on March 10-11. On March 10, there will be a banquet held at the Willingham Gymnasium, 560 Division St., 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $15. You may purchase a ticket by calling 706235-8895 or see any member of the church. Tickets will not be sold at the door. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Feb. 17. On March 11, the Rev. William Watkins, pastor of Mt. Zion Grassdale Baptist Church, will be guest preacher at the 10:45 a.m. service. The Rev. Dr. Timothy McDonald and Iconium Baptist Church of Atlanta will be the afternoon guests. For more information call 706-234-2091 or 706234-5047.
Ahmad Hall and Friends will be in concert on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at The Grand Theatre, 7 North Wall St., Cartersville. Tickets can be purchased online at www. thegrandtheatre.org or at the Box office. For more information call Tamara Hall at 706-766-7148.
Lyerly United Methodist Church is selling their third cookbook, “Feeding the Flock.” Cookbooks can be purchased from any church member. To receive a cookbook by mail, send $13 to Lyerly United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Lyerly, GA 30730. For more information call JoAnn Mitchell at 706-895-2636. Roman Catholic devotees raise their images of the Baby Jesus as they are blessed with holy water in celebration of a feast day in Manila, Philippines. Thousands of devotees troop to churches with their “Santo Nino,” or Baby Jesus, images some of which are dressed in various costumes as basketball players, firemen, police and soldiers for the annual procession and blessing.
Photos by Bullit Marquez,
The North Georgia General Missionary Baptist Association will hold the First Saturday Fellowship of Churches Feb. 3 at 9:45 a.m. with Pastor Steve Caldwell and Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 17 E. Pennington Ave.
Pisgah Baptist Church, 5603 Alabama Highway, holds prayer every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. For more information call 706-2354119 or 706-292-0462.
Rome’s Own Gospel Choir and Northwest Georgia Winds will perform a concert titled “Lift Every Voice” directed by Sam Baltzer at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Rome City Auditorium. The concert will celebrate unity and togetherness for Black History Month. Rehearsals will be held at Lovejoy Baptist Church, 436 Branham Ave., on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Singers who would like to join may contact Sam Baltzer at 706-234-6317 or by email at sambaltzer12@gmail.com.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 911 N. Broad St., has weekend Masses on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish. Masses on Sunday will be at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. St. Mary’s Catholic School, 401 E. Seventh St., will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week with special activities each day next week starting with a school Mass on Monday at 9:30 a.m. with Archbishop of Atlanta Wilton Gregory presiding. Special activities will be available at the school each day, including school tours for prospective students and the Scholastic Book Fair in the school media center. The public is invited and welcome at any of these Catholic Schools Week events and activities. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome.org.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 101 E. Fourth Ave., offers Sunday services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church. A service of Holy Eucharist in Spanish is offered Sundays at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Midweek Eucharist services
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Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, 6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, offers Sunday School at 10 a.m. followed by the worship service at 11 a.m. The Rev. Camille Josey will lead the service. The scripture readings for this week are Psalm 127:1-2 from the Old Testament and John 2:1325 from the New Testament. The sermon title is “Righteous Anger.” For more information call Janet Farr at 706-346-7268.
Solid Holy Rock Deliverance Tabernacle, 700 Kingston Ave., will celebrate its 36th church anniversary tonight at 7 p.m. with Pastor Kenneth Benham of Adairsville Body of Christ as the guest speaker. For more information call 706-291-8948.
Third Street Ministries will be giving away winter coats and jackets to low income or homeless ladies and men on Feb. 3 between noon and 4 p.m. in the parking lot behind Rome First United Methodist Church, 202 E. Third Ave. The parking lot is between Second St. and Third St. behind Good Neighbors Ministries.
Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 304 Coker Drive, will have Holy Eucharist this Sunday 11 a.m. with a covered-dish luncheon to follow. Al-Anon will meet Wednesday at noon and a Healing Service with Holy Eucharist will be at 6 p.m. For more information call Priest-in-Charge Linda Pineo at 706-234-0197.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1941 Shorter Ave., holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship is at 11 a.m. The Rev. Greg Lund’s sermon title will be “Expecting and Confronting the Enemy.” A nursery is available. For further information call 706-235-8561.
West Rome United Methodist Church, 1003 Shorter Ave., will meet at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The sermon, “With Authority” comes from Mark 1:21-28. For more information visit the church website at www.westromeumc. org, call 706-234-6214 or email wrumc@bellsouth.net.