Ladies Bible Study bbq planning.....wow.

Have you ever been on a planning committee? You know, for a church picnic or a small group bbq or the such. I have - many times. And it tends to be rather run-of-the-mill and predictable. But, most of us would admit, that that's usually the best way to get things done. Just have your master list of "things to bring", divide up the list and go your merry way. Generally it goes sort of like this:

"Okay, for this year's *insert occasion of choice*, we're going to stick with finger foods. So, following our "finger foods" master list, we'll divide up the items and go from there."

What follows is easy to determine. Each person is given an item, or a category (like sweet or savoury; punch or coffee), perhaps there is some limited discussion to make things crystal clear, but it's fairly brief since things are quite straight forward. End of meeting.

Now, I'd like to tell you about the ladies bible study wind-up bbq planning that I witnessed. Witnessed, you say? Isn't that being a bit dramatic? Well, just you wait. As this scene unfolds, you may just take my side. I felt a bit like I was in the presence of a bolt of lightning. Expect it didn't quit......bolting. It just flashed on and on and I sat as one stunned and amazed. Was it genious? Or was it.......not?

Bible study went as it always did - great discussion, thought provoking delving into God's Word, lots of application to our lives, leaving us encouraged and ready to go on. We prayed and there was a sort of satisfied quiet as the prayer ended. It was peaceful. But not for long. Suddenly, Agnes said, "wind-up bbq". And it all went wild from there.

It didn't take me long to see that we were being dictated by a large salad bowl. I know, you're shaking your head in disbelief. But it's true. The "norm" is for a number of people to bring a salad, right? Perhaps one brings a potato salad, one brings a pasta salad and a coupla people bring a garden salad. Not in this case. As I questioned how this was done, I got a number of excited smiles as ladies exchanged glances, tickled to be able to enlighten me. "Oh Cher, Agnes has this big salad bowl!" I looked over at Agnes, only to see her face glowing with pride, head nodding affirmation that yes, indeed, this was true. So, our goal was to communally fill the big salad bowl. But how to best do this? I'm not sure anyone knew. I'm still not sure anyone knows. All I'm sure of is that the room erupted into shouts of "cucumber! lettuce! peppers! tomatoes!" I felt left out, not really sure how to proceed. So, I tentatively called out "croutons?" in as loud a voice as I could muster. The ladies stopped short. I broke out in a sweat. Would my meager offering be acceptable? Would the BIG SALAD BOWL (for that was how I was now thinking of the bowl - all in capitals) be pleased? Smiles broke out all around and my idea was thoroughly approved of. And then chaos resumed. I wrote tomatoes on my list 3 times, only to have it snatched away each time and given to someone else. I fiercely guarded my croutons - hoping they'd been forgotten and no one would give them away. Suddenly I was given "salad dressing" and it so took me by surprise that I drew a blank when they asked what kind I would bring. I stuttered and stammered and looked around pleadingly for help. They kindly assigned me Ranch and I wrote it on my list, wondering if it would stay there. The far corner of the room broke out in a free-for-all over the red peppers and I took that moment to collect myself. Wow.

When dessert entered the discussion I fervently hoped there was no BIG DESSERT BOWL in existence. I didnt' think I could handle it. There wasn't , but there must have been some secret plan in place for I just couldn't quite understand how one absent bible study member was assigned "dessert", as if anything would be fine, while another was assigned, "turtle cheesecake". I also couldnt' quite reconcile why one lady was given "cucumbers" while another had to bring numerous offerings of differing cost and prep. work. But I didn't dare question. I wouldn't have known what to say anyhow. It was just all so foreign.

In the end, I have a list that says, "meat, croutons, ranch". That'll have to do. I'm not brave enough to re-enter the fray. I hope I do it right. If I, in ignorance, throw my carefully cooked and chopped up meat into the BIG SALAD BOWL, only to have every eye turn upon me in gross disapproval, this may not be the end of the story. I may be back.