How Late is Too Late?

My delima this morning:  how late is too late to walk into a Church service? 

Yep, I was later than usual.

Driving to church I contemplated going to breakfast and skipping first service.  But I really like getting out early, and I prefer the traditional service music over the praise songs of second service, so I stayed on my course.

I decided I'd drive to Church and see if I was too late.  

Arriving at the rear entrance, the only activity I saw was a lone car making a door-side drop.  The little devil on one shoulder said, "They are probably early for Sunday School." (We offer a shared  SS in between the two services--that way it doesn't feel like too different Churches meeting in the same building.)

The little angel on the other shoulder reminded me of the guy who walked in about 10 minutes before the invitation a couple of weeks ago." At the time my self-righteousness reared its ugly head and my first thought was, "I'm glad I'm never THAT late." I regreted the thought instantly. It was quite judgy. I didn't know if he was returning from the bathroom, or comming in after dealing with an emergency. And frankly,  it really didn't matter.  What mattered was he was there.

That's what decided it for me. 

When I arrived at the vestibule doors and  peeked into The sanctuary  the special music was about to start, so I etiquette  dictated I would wait until they were through. 

But they never started.  They were experiencing tech difficulties. So I slipped in during the wait. Which meant instead of waiting in the vestibule  and missing it, I got to hear it without a door between us muffling the sound. ☺

Even when I don't deserve His favor, I receive it. I wasn't too late after all.