Friday, October 17, 2008

Oh Man.....It's Brother Halbert

Brother Halbert is the very man I've been trying to avoid since we moved back in June. I'm very careful with the places I choose to walk while we're at church just so I can avoid a chance meeting with him. I screen my unknown phone calls very closely just in case it's Brother Halbert on the other end. But as much caution as I've taken, the inevitable happened a few weeks ago. While out in the hallway with Bodie, I started chatting with some other ladies in the ward and lost track of Bodie. I quickly went around the corner to snatch him and it was there that I bumped right into Brother Halbert. How could I be so careless?? My first instinct was to grab Bodie, turn around and run. But he started to talk to me before I could get away.
He began by telling me that he was going to ask me a question he'd never asked a woman before. "What?!?!?!" "Are you expecting a baby?" he asked. Anyone who has seen me in the last couple of months knows that really isn't a question they need to ask. It's quite obvious I have a little something cooking in the oven. "Yes," I replied. Then he proceeded to tell me he's going to ask me another question that I have the choice to say yes or no to. "Would you and your husband be willing to speak in Sacrament Meeting on October 19th?" he asked. "But," he says, "I always give pregnant ladies the opportunity to say no if you're not feeling well or you think it's something you can't do right now."
I can't tell you how bad I wanted to take him up on his pregnancy offer. I'd never heard of the pregnancy offer and I had the perfect chance to use it as my "Get Out Of Speaking Pass". I was so tempted, but knew I'd feel so guilty if I did. So my response was, "Oh sure. We'd love to have the opportunity to speak in church."
Does that count against me as a lie? Because it really was a lie. I really, really, really would NOT love the opportunity to speak. I spend a good portion of my life hoping not to get that call.
But speaking is exactly what we'll be doing come Sunday morning. My talk has been thought about and rolled over in my head, but far from finished. Somehow I've found every excuse to put it off, including writing this post.
Just to make my "opportunity" sting a little more, I went out with several ladies in the ward last night who each told me how many years they've been in the ward and that they've never had to speak. Mmmm...how is it that we've been asked to speak in EVERY ward we've ever been in. What's the secret??? How do some people somehow slide under men like Brother Halbert's radar.
Maybe the trick is to really look at it like an opportunity instead of a burden. Maybe the radar only picks up on those of us with the bad attitude. OK...from now on I'm going to have a super positive attitude about speaking in church. Maybe then I won't get called.
(I'll let you know how soon Brother Halbert calls to ask us to speak again).

10 comments:

The DeGiulio's said...

I feel for you. I really dont like speaking in church, I dont do well with the whole standing in front of everyone and being put on the spot type of thing. But I feel guilty if I dont say yes and I feel blessed so I should say yes. Good luck with your talks, Im sure you'll do great. I should jinks myself but we have been in our new student ward since about May and we havent been asked to speak yet, shad works 2 sundays a month so maybe thats why?

Quinn and Ashley said...

Ashley and I are speaking this Sunday too. We were trying to fly under the radar too but sure enough they found us

terrah said...

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great! We have been here 3 years and haven't spoken yet... maybe it's because I play the organ? It's kind of nice... Since our ward just split, I'm guessing it won't be too long. In fact, the last time we've spoken in church is when we were married for only 3 weeks and were asked to give a talk on marriage. That was hard!

Vega Express said...

Maybe you can write your talk and send it me. Papi and I will be speaking in sacrament meeting on the 26th Papo has his ready I don't. Good luck I know you will do a great job.

Katrina said...

Good luck on you talks tomorrow - I know exactly how you feel. I absolutely HATE speaking in church!!!

Jason and Ashlee said...

Oh come on... you'll do great and you'll get lots of blessings because of it. Let me know how it goes.

Zeann said...

I only wish I could be there to hear. I know you guys are so bright and the spirit will radiate from you. What a blessing it would be to be in your audience. May you be blessed to give the message you have prepared in a way people can assimilate it and you will feel at ease, and may the hearts of the congregation be open to the spirit so they learn from the words you speak.

Kate said...

Well how did it go? We flew under the radar for about 10 years. Somehow our current bishop caught us. Dangit.

Anonymous said...

How did it go? I LOVE this story! I'm just glad to know I'm not the only one avoiding that "one" member of the bishopric.

Maria Johnson said...

Bad Attitude... sounds like something I heard from your Mom on one of her last Relief Society lessons. Isn't it funny I would rather give a talk in sacrament meeting than pray in sacrament meeting???