The spelling "Godde" is explained here, for anyone who might be wondering.
I have been looking through my notes from the Crossan lecture I attended the other night, trying to work out in my mind how to diary it. I want to share what I learned at the lecture, but I also have just got to share the nutty little story about my attempt to meet up with KTinOhio at the lecture. (About a month ago, KTinOhio and I discovered we would both be attending this event, affording us the opportunity to meet a fellow Kos blogger in real life.) So I've decided to do that first, and focus the next diary entirely on the contents of the lecture.
As I explained in my diary, God, the blue puppy, I do have a sense that Godde gives me signs or "clues" to help guide me on my journey. My use of the show "Blue's Clues" as my metaphor for how that works should indicate that I am being lighthearted and tenative about this discernment process. I am convinced that Godde has a sense of humor and subjects me to a gentle ribbing every now and then--to keep me humble, I suppose. Friday was one of those times.
KTinOhio emailed me Friday morning about where he would be before the event started Saturday evening, and asked me to email him during the day. I knew I would not be coming home between work and the lecture, so I forwarded his email to my phone so that I could respond when I had a chance during the day. I sent a quick note around lunch time, noting that some details were up in the air at that point--if the planets aligned just right, maybe Demetrius could come too.
Well, a few hours later, not only was Demetrius not going to be able to join me, but the forces of nature (rain), traffic, and my failure to bring the map I'd printed out that morning seemed to be conspiring to keep me from making it. Or at least making it there early enough to meet KTinOhio at the designated spot before the event started.
After I finally found a parking spot a couple blocks from the church, I hurried to the check-in table, pulled out my check book and payed for the event, and found myself a seat just as Crossan was being introduced. I was kicking myself for not doing a better job of planning ahead, but needed to put the woulda-coulda-shouldas our of my head so that I could focus on the lecture.
An hour and a half later, as the question and answer session was wrapping up, I started wondering if there still might be some way KTinOhio and I might meet during the reception afterwards. Didn't seem too likely, given that neither of us had a clue what the other looked like. But maybe I could--what? Look for someone who looked like he was trying to find someone? Maybe...
After Crossan answered the last question, someone from the church got up to make a couple or announcements. He held up a badge that someone had dropped, which needed to be claimed. Yikes--my badge! The one that is my time card/identification at work. How the heck did that get out of my purse? I realized that it must have come out when I took my checkbook out to pay. My mind began fast-forwarding through the next few minutes. The man in the front of the church who was holding my badge was about to read my name out loud in front of a room full of people. I was then going to have to walk up in front of all those people--including one who was expecting to meet me but until now had no way to identify me.
Yep, that'd work. I then thought silently to Whoever might be listening, "You're funny!" It was as if Godde said to me, "Tell you what--I'll help you out here, but it's gonna cost you. In embarrassment."
So yes, KT and I did get to chat for a few minutes over refreshments after the lecture. And then I headed for my car to find my way home. I remained in dialog with Godde as I tried to find my way home down winding roads in an unfamiliar part of town, after dark. "Really, I do appreciate the help, but if this is to teach me humility or something, I get it! I'm humbled, already!"
Still driving, I realized that I must have missed a turn. No biggie--I knew if I kept driving I will eventually see a street that I recognized, get my bearings, and find my way home from there. And that's exactly what I did, but not until Godde had one more bit of fun with me. While I was still making my way from street to street, trying to figure out which way home was, I came to a street sign I'd never seen before in my life.
Given the way the evening had gone, and the ongoing dialog I was still engaged in, I couldn't help but say, "Oh come on--You just made that one up!"