"Sometimes Church Is..."

A few weeks ago, I was inspired by a post my friend John shared on Facebook:

"Sometimes church is staying home to cuddle your depressed wife and trying to help her be okay, where you let go of logic and reason to just be for a while.

Sometimes church is going alone and sitting between young good looking couples with promising futures, sticking out like a sore thumb, but only because you're trying to sing tenor and bass instead of the melody.

Sometimes church is being reminded of things you've forgotten, having good conversations in the halls instead of being on time to class, or making old friends new."

I was truly blessed by his words, they've stuck in my mind the past couple weeks as I've started to think of what "church" means to me. I have also been thinking HARD on a video my church released a few months ago, it's only a minute long so PLZ watch it: 

Before I continue, I want to emphasize how much I enjoy attending my congregation's church meetings, and most importantly my soul is healed and my covenants with Christ renewed as I partake of his sacrament. So attending a physical church building is great.

But, just like my friend John and this video proclaim so beautifully, our devotion to faith cannot and should not only take place inside the walls of a certain building for a few hours each week. Faith in Christ takes so many shapes in our lives. I've created my own list of what church is to me (and what it is to others who have inspired me).

Sometimes, church is dropping everything at your job in order to pray with a customer who is grieving the loss of her husband. 

Sometimes, church is your husband making dinner downstairs after telling you to take an hour for yourself to spend some quality time on your hobby, which is writing.

Sometimes, church is your toddler son making the ASL sign for "Jesus" while you read him a story from The Friend magazine.

Sometimes, church is taking the time to call an old friend or FaceTime a family member you haven't seen in a while.

Sometimes, church is taking care of your aging mother day in and day out. She suffers from dementia and at times doesn't remember who you are or where she lives.

Sometimes, church is singing a Christmas Carol to remind the listeners of the joy of Christ's birth.

Sometimes, church is a quiet moment of weeping when a particular scripture tells you (in a way you never considered before!) how acutely God is aware of you, and that HE. LOVES. YOU.

Sometimes, church is biting back gossip and changing the subject.

Sometimes, church is talking with a friend over lunch about each of your states of mental health, and how you're faring in that regard, and how you can help one another.

Sometimes, church is a day spent doing all that you can to help everyone you can within the means and power you possess.



God knows what we do to make church happen in our lives.
As a favorite quote of mine reads,

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

~Mother Teresa

Day #307