The World of Grandpa Don

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Going to Church Can Be Dangerous

Each day during my time of reflection and meditation, I read a passage from "A Year with C. S. Lewis". The book was a thoughtful Christmas gift which, for each day of the year, presents a passage from one of Lewis's many books relating to theology and Christianity. One of these passages brought out a concept that was new to me and I think may be an important clue as to why many of us are reluctant to allow ourselves to get fully immersed in religion or to get involved at all. 

It probably is not due to a conscious decision on our part but a reaction to our subconscious desire to stay with what is comfortable and familiar. We are generally satisfied with ourselves. Our lives are relatively good and even though we would like to win the lottery (that would solve all our problems) or at least make more money, we have it pretty good. 

So, why rock the boat? Going to church could place demands on us that would bring us into uncharted territory. It could send us off into a new direction and bring a new level of living into our world. It could make us aware of spirituality and it may change the way we live or at least the way we evaluate our lives. Who needs it? So, many stay away from church.

That, of course, is not the reason we give for staying away. Remember, I said it may not be a conscious decision. The reasons given for not going to church is that; "It is boring", "It is not relevant to my life", "I don't understand it", or "I can be a good person without being preached to".  (I know because I have used some of these excuses myself.)

And there are many of us who, in spite of these "reasons", find themselves in church anyway. We are there because of habit, because someone else expects us to be there, because we believe there is a God and He will send us to hell if we don't go, or because we are not sure about God but go just in case. (I know because I have had some of these reasons, at various times,  myself.) However, while being in church, we are bored, see no relevance to our lives and would much rather be some where else. (I have been there.) We do not allow ourselves to go beyond being a reluctant member of the "audience". 

And then something happens. It happens to some at a very early age and to some later in life. It may be a conscious choice or gradual awareness. It my be that (as our pastor related in a recent homily) we come to an impasse in our lives and we realize that we are not in control. We hit the "Ctrl Alt Delete" keys of life and give ourselves over to the love (and mercy) of God.

Once we begin to really participate in our liturgies, by listening to the readings (I mean really listening), by hearing and understanding the homilies, by joining in the prayers (both sung and spoken) and absorbing their meaning. we find that the boredom is gone. We find that there is meaning there. We find that although the readings do not always address our current needs they do relate to part of our lives that has happened or probably will happen. 

Once something has triggered the latch and has  opened us to spiritual awareness, we find something unexpected. The time we formerly perceived as spent (as in wasted) in church has become time wisely invested in our well-being.  What had been boring and irrelevant is now of primary interest and essential to our life. In place of our church attendance being an imposition on our valuable time it is now the most important aspect of our lives. 

And then the really miraculous thing happens. The thing we were trying to avoid overcomes us. We forget 'self' and really start to be concerned for others. We find time to volunteer a little and then a little more. There are things we become immersed in that we never dreamed we could or would do. As this develops we discover that rather than being an interruption to our lives, our spirituality has become an enhancement to our lives. 

We no longer 'give' an hour a week to God because we now know that our spirituality is our real life and not a separate thing. We work, and play with a different attitude and go to church anticipating the recharging of our spirits.

There is a calmness, a feeling of satisfaction when we become one with a community of people who have been touch by God and who are no longer afraid to reach for Him. There may be turmoil and tribulation all around us be we now realize that we deal with it to the best of our abilities, giving it over to the hands of someone who can, ... God. 

So, we were right all the time. Going to church, and really becoming a Christian can be dangerous. It may radically change our lives. The miracle in it is that once done, we love it an wonder why it took so long to get here.

At least that has been my experience.

Don Plefka
02/04/04

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