Blessings on You, IRS

Here's the story.

About 15 minutes ago I did the unthinkable...I called the IRS. I didn't know what to expect, as someone warned it may take hours to get through to an human being.

I called because I was lonely. My wife is at work and it's raining outside.

No, just kidding.

I'm an introvert (...well, to be exact, I'm an INFJ according to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). All this means is that I don't get lonely often, especially when it's raining outside: too many books to read, movies to review, blogs to write.

The real reason I called the Internal Revenue Service was to inquire about the status of Stage & Story's 501(c)(3) application. We filed it a long time ago...and we haven't heard anything since.

Well, today, after waiting on the phone for five hours...

Kidding again.

Actually, I only waited 15 minutes. They connected me to a very kind woman named Jackson. She was helpful and articulate. She seemed to go above and beyond in answering my questions (and this INFJ asks a lot of questions.)

Jackson's conclusion -- on behalf of the IRS-- is that Stage & Story has received its official status as a 501(c)(3) organization or a public charity.

Maybe it's the Christmas season, or the nice rain outside our mountain cabin, but I'm feeling grateful this morning.

Thank you, IRS. Thank you, Jackson. Yeah, yeah, I know it's her job, but Jackson did it with joy and a smile (probably, I was talking to her on the phone...but her voice smiled).

And that's a good reminder for this season, because even if we hadn't received our 501(c)(3) status, there are lots of reasons to smile with our face and voice. Our God is good and faithful!

The end.

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Dane is president of Stage & Story and cast chaplain at LifeHouse Theater in Redlands, CA.