It’s been a while since I have been to church. Surprisingly, I am kind of missing it. I don’t really miss the preaching all that much even though sometimes it can be quite good, and I certainly don’t miss all that fake rock music they all seem to attempt to play these days. But, I do miss the people, the relationships, and folks who will accept me warts and all.
You see there is that other side of all those sinners. That’s the side, where people at church for the most part want to be better than they are. Sure they screw up. Hey, I know a secret – you do too. Sorry, it has to do with this thing called being part of the human race. Guess what – once people start going to church they do not shed off their humanness. I won’t argue that most church folk pretend to be better than they are, I know I do. But I know another secret you do that also, every time you are in the presence of another human you try to be better than you are, unless of course you’re a psychopath.
That other side of church goers that I have experienced has been pretty gosh darn good! When my house burned down and we had to go to a hotel with nothing, not even our tooth brushes. It was the church people who took my daughters shopping for new clothes the very next day on their dime. It was a church friend when I had come back to the hotel the day after the fire still wearing my dirty ash stained clothes, to my surprise had dropped off a six pack of new t-shirts and underwear just my size…who thinks of those kinds of things? Church people do! BTW- I did need some fresh undies.
It was a man from church who normally charged 200 plus dollars per hour for consulting, who met with me once a week for several months to give me advice on life and running a business and did not want a single dollar for the time he spent with me. I guess now they call those folks life coaches. I called him my friend and life mentor.
When our children were born it was the church folk who brought us meals for several weeks, so my wife would not have to endure my cooking – now that’s considerate.
When a terrible tragedy hit my family, it was for course family, but it was also good church folk who were there to help bandage up the emotional hurts and not leave us alone, giving of their selves, time, prayers, and love. Maybe that is the big thing that makes church folks great. In spite of the back stabbing, the gossip, the hurts they will inflict…they also love. I suppose their love is far from perfect but when you’re hurting, imperfect love seems perfect.
Hmm…tomorrow’s Sunday, I think this back stabbing, gossiper, insensitive brute might put on my mask and head to church. Please don’t tell them how bad I am, you see I am afraid if they know who and what I am, they won’t love me.
Oh… yeah I almost forgot the secret….they are all just like me.
Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17 (New International Version)
15 comments:
It sounds as if you've encountered some pretty good "church folks" along the way, GQ. I know we Christians have our faults and don't always do things the way God would like. But, then, we aren't perfect...just forgiven. :)
Glad you know so many of the "good" ones! Hope you have a great weekend!
Sylvia
What a catchy post title! I've always thought a more appropriate name for "church" should be "hospital for sinners". Blessings GQ...hope you have a great time at church today!
Church people may worm into your life more than one would like but then how else would they know you are sick and need food, transportation or that you just lost a loved one and need comforting. The gossiping has two functions. One is pure nosiness for sure but the other is to let them know when help is needed. Pretty decent trade off.
the church round you sounds like a good one
I enjoy going into church alone and communing with the statues and watching the candles and just being
Hope sends you hugs
What an uplifting post, GQ. Yes, not of us are perfect, but most of us (excluding psycopaths) DO care to offer a helping hand when things go wrong..
Gosh, I can only imagine the horror you lived through to lose everything you had to a fire - well, not everything, I guess you had the most precious thing, your family, still safe and intact.
Church people have accepted me warts and all , so I accept them too. Nobody is perfect. No church is perfect.
This is what the family of god is all about , bearing each other 's burdens and reaching out with a helping hand. That is practical Christianity. I am gla d you encountered such people. I have too an d wan t to be one their kind.
Great post GQ
Glad you made it okay after that fire. How frightening!
Nice to know there are some good people around to help when you need it. Sending hugs
Linda: Yip – Those church people aren’t to bad on their good days :-)
Sylvia: The weekend was great – how about yours?
Debra: Hospital for sinners – that’s a good name. - I like it.
Arkansas Patti: You are just miss positive today – seeing the bright side of gossip, that takes work and I like it – does that mean I should try gossiping a little more? Ok maybe I shouldn’t push it. :-)
Dianne: Sounds peaceful and quite. Hugs back at Hope.
Shrinky: The fire seemed bad at first but then it was a great adventure, tearing the burned house down – I bet you never got to take a chain saw to your house before and rebuilding was a bit stressful but mostly it was fun.
Amrita: I heard once if you find a perfect church don’t join it because you’ll ruin it.
Wendy: No one was home when it burned – all I saw was a bunch of ash and smoke stained walls, but it was a bit weird looking up at your ceiling and seeing blue sky – I mean gray sky = Seattle, need I say more.
Wow, talk about seeing the glass half full - way to go, GQ!
I guess you are one of the lucky one's who has the support when one needed it.
oh wow, talking about back stabbing organisms... visit my blog for more :P
This is a nice piece. No matter how bad we think people might be, they might surprise us.
I don't think you are bad.
Misguided maybe :P
Don't stab me eh?
I've experienced the good, the bad and the ugly at church...and also been part of each. Thank God for his mercy.
Nice...Always 2 sides to every coin.
Many Church goers might do better to adhere to the percepts of Jesus Christ. Fortunately their are some that do just that and they bring the Light into the Church.
Kind regards,
Mike
Community spirit has value. Gossip happens at work, at home and even in pubs. Am on my way to meet up with some folks shortly. Will try not to gossip :)
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