I have been avoiding this topic for a while now. Mostly because it’s been drilled into me to never talk about politics or religion in mixed company. You don’t want to unintentionally offend someone.
And…to be honest I don’t know enough about either topic to have a highly educated debate. Especially when it comes to religion.
I was raised old school Lutheran. The fire and brimstone type. Always preaching that I’m a sinner and doing things wrong. At the age of five I didn’t understand. I was good all week according my standards, no lying, no hitting, doing my chores, etc. So why is this guy at church telling me I’m bad? I just didn’t get it.
Years later I attended a nondenominational church with music and fan fair. I remember liking it as a kid, but early morning Sundays were not my thing.
Eventually, dad found a Methodist church he liked. It was ok, but it was still church. Early Sundays, long sermons, sitting and being still. Not much fun for a kid.
By the time I was in High School, dad let me decide whether I wanted to go. I chose to stay home and he chose to go.
That Methodist church was his beacon till he died.
I on the other hand never became a churchy sort of person. I was married in a church, but neither of my kids are baptised and we don’t do anything on Sundays but watch football and hang out in our PJs.
Recently, though I’ve been asking questions about Faith.
That it means to believe in something.
As I ask these questions and throw them out to the heavens, I sometimes receive an answer.
Like on Monday.
I’ve been having a hard time at work. So much so that I wasn’t sure it was a place where I should stay. All signs were saying “give up”. Finally, I just raised my hands to they sky and said “Please, please just let me know that everything will be ok. That I can stay in this job and be happy.”
I wasn’t making bargains. I wasn’t wishing for something. I was just asking for guidance.
And immediately it appeared.
I ended up giving two tours of our retirement community and signing a lease that day.
The mood shifted, and my load was lightened.
I’ll admit I’m not ready to give up my lazy Sunday mornings, and you probably won’t see me breaking out a Bible anytime soon, but my faith is growing a little bit each day.
And if God knows me as well as I think he does, He knows how much I appreciated His help this week even if I don’t go to church on Sundays.
>What a blessing, Brook! I'm so glad you threw a line out, not knowing what to expect.
God is like that, too — always extending a line to us, willing to be left hanging…all for the chance of *maybe* 🙂
>Draw near to Him, and He'll draw near to you — it's one of my favorite promises in Scripture, and it made me smile to read about how He reached out and squeezed your hand this week.
>I grew up in a strict Catholic household. I went to church every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. I went on saint days. I went on holidays. I went…. went… went… all the time. I went to Catholic school and Catholic college. And I STILL consider myself catholic, but…
But…
I don't go to church as much as I should. I like lazy Sunday afternoons and football games. We go when we feel the need or when we feel the guilt. I feel the same as you about church even though I have a close relationship with God.
I say… listen to your heart. It is the holy spirit telling you what to do. Don't listen to guilt and don't listen to what others try to tell you about what you should be doing.
I say… I loved this post. I get it. I'm faithful, but I'm not really a part of the church anymore. Sometimes it makes me sad, but other times it brings me so much closer to God.
xo!
alita
>LOVE the post. LOVE LOVE LOVE the comments. Spent from 20-45 going to church 3-4 times a week. Go much less now, and seem to hear God more clearly. I wonder if the words/bands etc. that are there to help connect us don't end up distracting us or drowning out our voice and God's voice. This is a beautiful example of God reaching right into your life! Thanks for this!
>I'm thinking that maybe questions of spirituality and faith are never easy questions, at least not to those who *really* ask them. Sometimes answers come easily, sometimes they don't. But the questions themselves are hard and they reach deep.
But I think the really fabulous part is the fact that you are on the journey and listening for answers. And I love your bravery for posting this. We may differ in our beliefs, but I wish more people would, like you, extend enough trust to have such a conversation. Differences should not divide us, but rather help us understand ourselves and each other that much better. So thank you for that. I wish you all the best on your journey in faith.
>Ah, fire and brimstone. I hear you, friend. I hear what your heart is saying. But I love that God spoke into your life this week in a way that was anything but fire and brimstone; rather, it was the loving, tending, caring hand of a Father who says, I'm with you. I don't care about the messes; my son covered those. But I do care about you and me knowing each other.
That's what I felt the spirit pressing into my mind as I read this.
You are wonderful, and you are beautiful. And He loves you and knows your grateful heart.