A moment of your time?

You are now entering into the world of Victoria Sponge:

The doorbell rings. My spaghetti bol is simmering on the hot plate, and the pasta about to boil. 

'Someone get the door please' I yell to no-one in particular. Silence, not even a 'no mum, I am busy.' Four children, and I am the one left to open the door! I have a wooden spoon in my hand, not for defense, but because I am in the middle of cooking and want a quick get away ploy. 

Two smiling faces look at me and then the wooden spoon. 

'I can see that you are busy, but we will only take a moment of your time', one of the white haired lady's states.

I jump in immediately, 'If you are selling, conning, collecting, giving something away, or just bored of life and want to chat, I am afraid we do not buy, give, take, or socialize when food is being cooked.'

'Well, that is the thing' the other lady gently intones, we just want to tell you about our spiritual nourishment that we offer every Sunday at our meeting place. 

Unwittingly I open the door to their comment. 'What church are you from?'

'Oh, we don't like to go under a particular name, we just want to invite you to our service.' 

'Do you have a leaflet?' I say in a bored manner, desperate to get back to the bubbling dinner that I can hear is in need of a stir. 

'We don't like to give out leaflets unless a person shows interest in our ministry, as it can give the wrong impression.' The lady smiled again standing firmly rooted to the spot. I didn't want to seem rude but my mind wanted to get back to the kitchen and I hate just closing the door on people. 

'I really need to go and check up on my cooking. I think it might be burning.'

'Oh that's alright dear, you go we will just stay here until you get back.' 

That wasn't the answer I wanted to hear. Don't they realize I am busy with mouths to feed. 

'The thing is', I start to yell, as I move away from the front door, this isn't exactly convenient at the moment.'

'Don't worry about us, we have all day.'

But I don't I wanted to say.

Dear Lord, I know I should be charitable, but could you possibly make these people go away? 

'Would you like a hand?' one of the callers asked as she started to step into the hallway.

'What, no, I am alright, Henry, I need a hand.' I call loudly. 

'I'm busy' he replies.

Lord, are you busy, could you just intercede here, please?'

'Whatever you are making it smells very nice', came a voice from the front door. 'So do you think you might like to come to our meeting?' the lady continued. 

'The thing is I am already a Christian, so I am not really looking for another place to worship.' 

'Oh that's okay dear, we take any denominations.'

I can sense that this 'moment of my time' is going to be a slog to get through.

'Lord, I am waiting, I need that help now!'

From upstairs I can hear movement, then a bump, bump, bump as Lily Pink jumps down the stairs. 

'What's the door doing open mum?' she asks and promptly shuts it without registering the people on the other side of it.

The doorbell rings again, and Lily Pink opens it. The two ladies look at my youngest daughter and smile, she smiles back and shuts the door again.

'Lily Pink that was a bit rude closing the door on those two people.' I declare.

'They were strangers mum and your told me not to talk to strangers!' 

'That is very true, well done you for doing as you were told.' I give her a big hug and she asks me if dinner is ready.

Thank you Lord, for answering my prayer. It may not have been the answer I was looking for, but you used what was at hand to bring a conclusion to the awkward situation I was in. 

That feeling of being trapped can happen at anytime in our lives and it is especially awkward when it is on our doorstep. Fortunately for Victoria Sponge her young daughter came to the rescue, and that is the point; God often doesn't send thunderbolts or angels to fix things when we feel under pressure or need a 'get out of jail' card. God is in the everyday solutions. Now what happened may have seemed rude to shut the door on strangers who felt they were offering you something important, but those interruptions are sometimes planned like that so that you feel forced into saying or doing something that you don't want to. God protected Victoria through the logic of her daughter. Sometimes prolonging a situation can cause you to step out into dangerous territory, where your peace of mind is taken away. Better a short sharp disconnection than an entrapment.