We have a Bible study on Wednesday nights. That in and of itself is not dramatically different from most churches that I've been a part of except for the fact that I (the heralded pastor/teacher) completely lose control of the event. That's right. All control, gone. Hmmmm. Allow me to elucidate. It was about the 3rd or 4th week before it happened but it happened - total loss of control over a group of people that sit under my teaching on a weekly basis. I saw it happening; I knew it was happening; everything within the context of how I had been trained that Bible study should be was self-destructing; a total melt down. People were talking all at once and I was not included. How could this be? Should I stop it? Well, if so, how? I'm invisible and powerless. I could stamp my ordained foot and flash my God badge. Maybe if I had a whistle or something. I cleared my throat - no good. I faked a cough - no good. I wrote on the board (its one of those dry erase things. I like those). It didn't matter what I did. These people would not stop ........ wait, they would not stop what? Suddenly, the light came on. It wasn't chaos at all. It was connection. This little group was "gelling"; they were becoming comfortable with one another. They were becoming comfortable with me; comfortable enough to put me respectfully on the back burner for just a few minutes; comfortable enough to open up and express themselves one to another. They were becoming a family. Imagine that - a family. They were catching up with one another. They were listening and talking at the same time about what had happened since last we met. They were interested in one another. It boggles the mind. If you should ever come to our Wednesday Night Bible study, come prepared. Chaos? Maybe to the uninitiated. What some may define as chaos comes regularly now and I have found that I miss it should it ever skip a night. All I have to do is sit back and watch as this tightly knit group of people ride a mild, though somewhat raucous wave of chaos until it settles onto the calm shore of connection. Sometimes I write on my board. I love it.