A year ago, for the first time, my parents bought a package of tickets to The Nashville Symphony. They had a great time in the 2005-06 season and have been even more thrilled with this season, now that the orchestra has moved into the incredible Schermerhorn Symphony Center. A few weeks ago, they asked if I wanted to find a date and take their place at the Nov. 30 concert of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” You see, the Murfreesboro District of the United Methodist Church is having its annual clergy banquet that night, and my father — as retired clergy — is invited.

I told my parents I couldn’t make it — for the same reason they couldn’t. You see, our church — First UMC Shelbyville — is hosting the clergy dinner this year, and our men’s club is catering it. That means I’m on KP, working under our resident chef de cuisine, Andy Borders. I will leave work tomorrow afternoon and go straight to the church.

I now learn that my parents have decided to go to the symphony anyway and skip the clergy dinner. Good for them; it should be a fine evening. Of course, what they’re really looking forward to is Handel’s Messiah, which left them in tears last year and which will sound even better at the Schermerhorn.

I should have a busy day tomorrow; not only do I have the clergy dinner tomorrow night, but I’m speaking about my mission experiences tomorrow morning at a weekly prayer breakfast held by one of our local Baptist churches.