I have seen the benevolent face of God, and He is Very Good.

He leaned very close to me—I felt his heavenly glow upon my cheek, I swear it—and said, “Child, I am the truth and the light. Follow in my ways and all shall be well. I command thee to dispatch thy children to one of my houses forthwith.”

I’m not sure I even know what “forthwith” means, but when God talks, who am I to argue? I went and signed my kids up for Vacation Bible School.

For five holy and blessed mornings this week, I am free. Free. Free to sit at my desk and work on assignments free of “she’s touching me” or “he took my toy” or “when can we go swimming?” If that’s not enough to make a person give out a hearty “Hallelujah!” then I don’t know what is.

In the discombobulation that has been moving and settling and not knowing people here and having no definitive summer plan for the kids, I had completely forgotten what it’s like to just have time to myself to work. I’ve been exhausted for weeks, and I’ve turned into one of those people who’s always standing around exclaiming, “Man, I don’t know why I’m so tired.” Perhaps because I’m working in 10-minute increments during the day while the children spin in circles around me? Perhaps because I then return to my desk after they’re in bed and work another two to five hours before turning in, myself?

Yesterday I got up early and showered and fed the kids and took them to a neighborhood church and signed them in and waved and went on my merry way. Back home again, I sat down and whipped out three assignments in what seemed like record time… and I got to drink my tea before it got cold.

I’ve got religion, baby. Vacation Bible School is the way and the truth and the light. Amen.