Part of the reason I’ve waited so long to post today is so that I could put up the latest installment of PresbyLand Confidential, featuring Collegiate Ministries Associate Bob Turner (now that Holy Week is over). But the free storage site we’ve been using is very temperamental.

Hooray! I finally broke through, so Bob is up for you to enjoy in all his zany glory.

In other news, I have declared “non-violent conflict” on the parking authority. It all started when I went out to get the ‘Stang from her little corner parking spot that she has to leave at 3 pm. Now, today I had parked the car on this little spot on the curb that sits right beyond the “No Parking” sign—the arrow on the sign points to the right, but I park to the left of the sign. I’ve parked there many times before, so I forsaw no problem in doing it today.

And then I saw my neon green parking ticket, nestled on the far right of my windshield. I had been cited for parking in a no stopping zone! As I said, to my knowledge there is no sign that prohibits parking in that particular spot—that’s why I have parked there so often. I checked the area out again to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. Then, shaking my parking ticket to the sky, I vowed to appeal my unjust fate.

When I saw one of the evil parking authority on my walk back to PresbyLand, I think I must have glared at him because he asked about the ticket I was holding in my hand (okay, so he was actually pretty friendly, and he wasn’t the one to give me the ticket). He claimed that there is a sign, one that I don’t think exists. So I’ve printed out a citation form and will put my case before a higher power than the parking minions. I need that $15, by golly! That will buy me another gallon bag of rose petals for my wedding!

Now you’re wondering how I’m going to bring this random diatribe back to either God or women. Well, how’s this for a try—evil parking police are like tax collectors in Jesus’ day. Everyone despises them for their line of work, even if they’re only doing what the law says (although they may also take bribes, for all I know). But Jesus loves them anyway. In the end, we’re called to love them, too, even as we call them to repentance for giving out unjust parking tickets. Go and sin no more, parking police person!

As for women, I’ve noticed that all the evil parking police I see in Louisville are men. Why is this? At least the Beatles had lovely Rita, meter maid.

But at least when I got back to the building, Worldwide Ministries was having a make-your-own trail mix party I could crash. Free food—that was some salve to my wounds.

“When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’” --Matthew 9:11-13

Kelsey