DAY OFF?

This morning when I got dressed, I put on my TEAM USA Olypic Shirt, my new blue jeans, and my sneakers. It was about 5:30 in the morning, but I was full of expectations because in a sense, this was going to be for me a real day off.

One of the criteria for describing the day this way was the fact that I was not going to be attending any worship services at all. After attending three services on Friday, I rationalized that it would be ok to take the day off, especially since I was heading to meet with my friend, Bishop John Holbrook, who lives in a quaint village of about 400 souls called Mears Ashby.

Soon after I arrived at his home we were making preparations for a trip to Derby (pronounced Darby) for a football match vs. Peterborough United.

We traveled with Quentin and his son John Mark. We ate lunch at Toby's Carvery and left the car in the restaurant's parking lot so we could wlk to the stadium which I discovered was about two miles away. Thousands of other supporters were on the same sidewalk, and stopping to catch your breath was not on the list of options.

The stadium seats 30,000, and most of the seats were filled. I took some video to prove it.

Peterborough lost, but they did scor a point on a penalty shot after the goal keeper got a red car dismissal from the field for taking out an attacking player. He may be forced to sit for three games for that.

We've had dinner here with Elizabeth, Thomas, and Anna.  They were ten years younger when I met them.

Oh, by the way, over here "football games" are the equivalent for many of what we call worship, so was this really a day off?