"I know they, they don't see my flaws
Or these hidden scars
And all the mess I made
Oh, so don't, don't let Sunday fool ya"
- Sunday, Tori Kelly
There are only a few things that can make me willingly drag myself out of bed. Among those things are Disneyland, limited-time video game events, and church. As you've probably guessed, this post is about the third one.
I've been going to Mass for pretty much my whole life. I can still remember going to church when I was only 5 or so, sitting on the kneelers and using the pew as a handy table for my drawings. I've been going to my current church for about 10 years. I can count the number of times I've missed Mass on one hand. Okay, maybe two. The point is, not even sickness, vacation, or my aversion to being a morning person can really prevent me from going to church.
I didn't really get it when I was younger. Quite natural, really. Having to be quiet and reverent for an hour or so is quite agonizing for most kids. I know I used to count the minutes and keep track of how often the priest would go into overtime. Kids don't really have the patience for anything that doesn't provide enough physical/visual stimulation. And that's totally fine. Expecting kids to act like adults would be weird and unrealistic.
As of late, I've become more appreciative of the chance to attend Mass. It gives me a chance to escape the world for a bit and partake in some spiritual introspection. It allows me to reflect on biblical text through the homily and my personal interpretation. It continues to be something familiar and welcoming that will be there for me pretty much anywhere I go.
Life has blessed me with the opportunity to visit many different churches. I've heard worship music performed in a variety of styles and languages. I've heard homilies that have been thought-provoking, profound, and inspirational. I've seen communities that are vibrantly devout and quietly faithful.
But at the end of the day, we're all part of one big community. That's not to say that the community is perpetually problem-free or effortlessly collaborative. Politics, denominational differences, church crises... there are multitudinous obstacles that make it seem like a true grand unification is impossible. And it gets really disheartening at times.
But with the grace of God (quite literally, of course), I believe we can pull through. I believe things will be better someday. I believe God has a plan for us all.
Until then, I'll spend my Sunday mornings with a plate of toast, a glass of milk, and a trip to church.
