Oh, the ignominy!

[cacheman]

Yesterday my bishop asked to speak with me. He said he was concerned about my church attendance (we've had this conversation before), and I told him the same thing I've said before: I attend sacrament meeting because my wife asked me to do so, but I am not comfortable sitting through the rest of the meetings.

He then said, "I was wondering if you'd accept a calling."

"It depends," I said.

"We need someone to ring the bell at the end of each class period."

Having been involved in enough ward councils and bishopric meetings, I know that this is just another attempt to keep me in the building for three hours on Sunday, as if being there to ring the bell would give me renewed faith by osmosis. He readily admitted to my status as the ward "project."

But it's kind of funny to be that guy, the one they talk about in ward council: "How are we going to get Brother Runtu to come to church more regularly?" In my old ward in Texas, the bell-ringer calling was usually reserved for the mentally unstable (oh, wait, that kind of fits here).

Mind you, I'm not above ringing bells, if that's what God wants me to do. But it seems pointless to ring the bell just so someone can say they got me to stay the full three hours.

[_The Dude]

Do it dressed up like a hunchback.

[_Some Schmo]

It's for your eternal salvation, Runtu. They want you to be a dead ringer for Jesus.

[_Calculus Crusader]

Do it dressed up like a hunchback.

LOL!

[_CaliforniaKid]

So what did you tell your bishop?

[_KimberlyAnn]

You can ring my be-ee-eell, Ring My Bell!

Wooo! Wooo! Wooo!

Ring it!

KA

[_Runtu]

So what did you tell your bishop?

I told him that I appreciated their concern for my spiritual welfare, but since I didn't feel comfortable sitting through three hours of church meetings, I would not be comfortable ringing the bell.

Besides, I already have a calling that doesn't require me to be there on Sundays.

[_TAK]

He readily admitted to my status as the ward "project."

Oh feel the love baby!

[_Calculus Crusader]

So what did you tell your bishop?

I told him that I appreciated their concern for my spiritual welfare, but since I didn't feel comfortable sitting through three hours of church meetings, I would not be comfortable ringing the bell.

Besides, I already have a calling that doesn't require me to be there on Sundays.

How can you survive in Provo? I visited a friend there once and after one night I was ready to burn rubber out of there. It reminds me of the twilight zone.

[_Runtu]

How can you survive in Provo? I visited a friend there once and after one night I was ready to burn rubber out of there. It reminds me of the twilight zone.

I like it here, oddly enough. For the most part, the church isn't any more intrusive than it was in Texas.