Poop happens

A bat pooped in my wife’s hair.

This was the first day of the mission in Tanzania. We were at a church in one of the villages. The whole team introduced themselves, and then Ernie Bayton preached the sermon.

As each team member was called forward to say a few words, we could hear the bats behind us constantly. We were sitting along the back wall of the church, facing the congregation. Suddenly, Karen felt something hit her on the head. I took a look…it was definitely bat poop.

Almost immediately after the incident, Karen had to stand up and say her words of greetings. She did incredibly well, especially considering the distraction of having had an unexpected hair “wash” in the midst of a church service.

Karen’s hair seems to attract these kinds of things. A few months ago, we visited Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. In the course of about one hour, Karen’s hair received the special attention of two different sea gulls.

After the service that first Sunday in Tanzania, Karen’s hair received special attention once again during one of the outdoor evangelistic campaigns in the village of Sangera. This time, our whole team was seated under a tree near the platform where I would be preaching. A bird did it’s business right on Karen’s head, but this time at least she wasn’t alone. Fellow team-member, Marilyn Redwine, also experienced the same honour.

Recently, we’ve joked a lot about this special attraction certain creatures seem to have to Karen’s hair. Her hair always seems nice and smooth, so we’ve begun to wonder if maybe these unwanted additions to her hair might actually be serving as some kind of natural “conditioner.” Team-members have even talked about bottling it and marketing it as a special shampoo. However, we suspect that if we had to list the ingredients on the label it might not sell too well.

Seriously though, we’re reminded how these little discomforts can come to us anywhere, but they don’t take away from the joy of loving people. On those very days of the “poop” incidents, we also saw a lot of people come to faith in a loving God who could give them hope and a new life, and we also met a lot of wonderful people who brightened our lives in a lot of ways.

If a moral can be extracted from these incidents, I suppose it is that “poop” happens, but life goes on. I watched happily as Karen joked about her experiences but never let it stop her from loving people and rejoicing in their lives. She could have obsessed with the discomforts, but instead she looked at the big picture and noticed all the wonderful things that were happening around her.

We, too, always have that choice. We can focus on the unfortunate distractions that fill our day, complain about the discomforts that life brings our way, grumble about our aches and pains and regrets…or we can look around us for the blessings that each day brings.

You might not have a bat poop in your hair today, but something will surely happen to try to ruin your day. Don’t let it! Look past the poop to the blessing and thank God for giving you life!