Fear slowly crept up on me and I convinced myself that I was going too long. I recall vividly a man seated just over there wearing glasses. The sun was streaming through the lenses at the perfect angle, and shining right in my eyes. I had no idea where he was looking, or if his eyes were even open. I quickly convinced myself that if he was even awake, he was most likely heading up a group of ornery coffee hour types within the congregation who were silently praying for a rapid conclusion.
Fear is amazing.
I was completely convinced that I was running too long, that I had lost the crowd in some way. So powerful was this fear that towards the end I actually skipped a small section of the text. Created by my own fears. As I moved through those fears, rather as I was carried through these fears by others love, I was blessed with a great lesson. That morning here in January I knew that a large part of my purpose here on earth is to minister.