Skipping Volunteer Church Work to go see The Prince of Darkness

I gave Darren Ozzy Osbourne concert tickets for Christmas. We've been trying to cross music icons off our to be seen list, and we knew that Ozzy's days have just got to be numbered. You would not believe how polarizing this man is and how many people were completely surprised that we would be going to see him.

Can't judge a book and all that.

On any given day, you will find any and all music on our iPods. Country, classical, rock, hip hop, rap, opera, hard rock, alternative, bluegrass, and folk. We listen to it all. And, funny to me, how people can be so loyal to only one or two genres. All music is wonderful and amazing and fills such a place in my life with all it's moods and quirks, I find it hard to believe that one could ever discriminate. But, people do. Hence, some of the puzzled and even harsh responses to our attending the concert. I actually had one woman infer that I would go to hell. She's a particularly persnickity woman who goes to our church who believes spraying Lysol in her kids mouth's is good discipline. I do believe there is a special hell for parents like her.

Having those experiences, I was a bit nervous about finding a substitute for my confirmation class that just happened to meet on concert night. "Yes, I'm skipping church work to go see the Prince of Darkness..."

Onward and upward. Of course, our Pastoral Intern was more than willing to sub for me. Such a delightful person, she's filled with love and peace and you can just feel her goodness when you're with her. Being a truthful person, I just had to tell her where I was going. And her response?

"He's got such a great value system."

Well, there you go.

He actually does and rewatching The Osbournes reality show, I challenge anyone to show me a father closer to his children or one who speaks in that blunt and loving way that children need to be talked to. Most people can't see beyond the language or the addictions. Their loss.

Before the concert, I had the opportunity to talk with some of the people that were sitting around us. It was interesting to hear a man behind us describe the reaction of his Mega Church to his attending. Hmmmm. What would Jesus do? More importantly, what did he do. I think he'd be at the concert.

In our house, we believe that it's the emotion behind the words that has the power and not the word itself. You could turn Doody Head into a swear word with just the right emotion. So, I could care less if someone swears around me. Church service vs. the Ozzy concert--we were blessed by Ozzy more. I counted. Now, blessed and called a MF in the same sentence was a unique experience, but the sentiment was what counted. I think his message works just as well and he certainly reaches an audience in a way that not all churches are able to. Would I go to him every week for a "service"? Only with ear plugs.

We had a great time. There I was in a black sweater set (it was the best I could do, my tube top was at the cleaners), at an Ozzy concert, the sound so loud my ears were bleeding and I felt blessed. We got to see another icon. We had good enough seats that we could see his 62 year old face. The smiles he gave were genuine. I don't think you could fake that type of enthusiasm and more power to him for doing what he loves for so long. He has tremors and shakes from long term drug use, a lesson he's willing to share. He sips tea from a china cup in between songs.

Someone said Wayne Newton is coming to town. Now the reaction from people to that one just might be worth the price of the tickets and the giant underwear I'd have to purchase to throw on stage. Wonder if you can get arrested for that?