This post includes affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For full details, please see our affiliate disclosure page.
Yes, its official, I am becoming an little old church lady.
I have actually been a ‘church lady’ for many years now. Yes, many, years. Let me explain: I use to get together with 5 women to discuss our religion, our faith and what the bible and its teaching meant to us. We were: a Roman Catholic, an Anglican, a Baptist, a fairly new Pentacostle and two Dutch Reform Church members, one of which was lapsed and the other was searching for a greater community church. A very eclectic group with varying levels of faith and many, many questions.
🏡 Where to Stay: Top Accommodations
🥾 Explore: Tours & Experiences
🚙 Hit the Road: Car Rental Deals
🛫 Get Away: Find Flight Deals
🎒 Shop: Travel Essentials
I joined that group almost 10 years ago when I was looking for direction in my life as I approached my 40’s.
I fell in love with a book called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. He is a man that has preached to many about how God had put you on this earth with a very specific reason in mind.
It can be very apparent very early, it could be a calling (to be a doctor, a clerical, youth case worker, a dentist) or it could be a journey that you find yourself leading when you are forty and you are looking for the meaning of your life.
Whatever that journey or calling may be, it can come at different times and in different forms and it does not have to involve a God in any form. It could come in the form of a spiritual experience, a call to Mother Earth or a peaceful meditative state. All of these, in my view, are valid and transcendent (yes, I did have to Google that word to make sure I was using it correctly).
I go to church because it is the way I was brought up. My parents were (and remain) devote Catholic from a strong Hispanic tradition. I was born Roman Catholic and I will die Roman Catholic. I am not always in agreement with all things about the Catholic Church but I live my peace with my God.
After almost 20 years of being married, my husband decided to join the Catholic Church. It was a request that I stopped making years ago. He had his reasons for wanting to remain a member of the United Church (though he did not practice in that church) for most of those 20 years. Eighteen months ago, he decided he wanted to join the rest of the ‘team’ –his words not mine. When he asked me to marry him, before I even said yes, I asked if we could have a family and so, could we bring them up as Catholics. He said yes… so I said yes. That is how important my Church was and is to me.
I go to mass with love in my heart and reverence for the traditions and the beauty and familiarity that is a Sunday service.
That is why, on this Easter Sunday, I had a hiccup. A very big hiccup. I realized, much to my horror and some shame, that I had become a little old ‘church lady’.
Why? Because I couldn’t understand the people in front of us. A couple that were chewing gum like it was chewing tobacco, a woman that was scratching her (roughly) 11 year old son’s back (under his shirt). This was not a toddler that she was trying to sooth but a full on grown boy. Then, the fact that neither of these families offered alms.
A church is a living breathing entity… their are expenses (our priest mentioned that the AC was on to keep everyone comfortable), there is charity (for those in need or those in the service of God) and so giving alms as an offering and appreciation of these fine points is just a sign of respect.
Most (I’m saying 99%) of the people that are attending Mass are there to respect and honour the Lord. To give thanks and praise. To renew a faith that has stayed with them through their lives or has come to them more recently. Regardless, most are there for the love of God.
So clearly, I need to open my heart. I know I must focus on those that are happy to attend and show reverence and not let the silliness of those that seem to show little respect at such a sacred time.
I am sorry if I offended some by writing this small rant. I will go to confession to repent…(o.k. maybe not right away…) but eventually I will.
See, clearly, I am far from pious or perfect. I still need some work. So I will go to Church again to find it in my heart to forgive and (hopefully) forget the teeny tiny sins of others.
🥾 Explore: Tours & Experiences
🏡 Where to Stay: Top Accommodations
🚙 Hit the Road: Car Rental Deals
🛫 Get Away: Find Flight Deals
🎒 Shop: Travel Essentials