Holding a Child.
I'm fairly conservative about my church services. If the priest is not properly vested, I tend to notice and be vexed by that. I like my mass High Church, will bells, incense and chanting. So you can imagine the difficulty I have attending different denominations. This past week I had the distinct and honored pleasure of attending church with my Sifu. It wasn't quite what I expected, but I must admit that I was inspired during the service in a way I feel inspired to share with all of you now.
When Sifu invited me to come to church with him, I readily agreed, and didn't bother to ask any questions as to what kind of church he attended, or the nature of the service. When such an esteemed master requests your presence, you don't ask alot of questions, you simply go. I arrived early, as I often do, to pray the Rosary before the service. There was a band warming up, with a drum set and guitars and everything. I noted the contemporary nature of the service, and though it was very different from what I was used to, and I assured myself that I'd be fine during the service. Well, that was until a gentleman took the microphone from the pulpit and began to yell at the congregation. Not angrily, but in an excited "let's get this party started" kind of way. This church wasn't just contemporary, it was full blown Charismatic. It turned out to be a fortunate thing that Sifu was late, because if he had been there, I'd have likely jumped clear into his lap. To say I was tense would be the vast understatement of the year. I've been more relaxed in dentist chairs than I was in that pew at that moment.
Sifu arrived a few minutes later to find me hiding in the farthest seat of the back pew. He waved for me to follow him as he made his way up the aisle closer towards the middle. I could have killed him. His lovely wife and baby girl were with him, and I was thankful to have a bit of a group to hide amongst. "Christ-fest 2005" continued at the front of the church, and Sifu clapped and whistled some while I stood next to him with all the mobility of a frozen board, only to have my eyes flash open wide when a woman began speaking in tongues to our left. If I had been knocked over for any reason, I'd have likely shattered like an ice sculpture.
After a few minutes, his baby worked her way down from her mother's arms to her father's and into mine. She spent a long while playing with my saints medals, my rosary as well as tugging on my cheeks and earring. It was while holding her that the tension began to melt from me. As a watched her play and coo and smile up at me with a grin like starlight, I began to wonder if this is how Joseph must have felt when he first held Mary's son. There was the child as beautiful as anything on Earth, who, though not his own, was as dear and precious as if it were.
As I continued to watch that amazing child play with my cross, she gave me a sense of serenity that no one else could have in that moment. And it was in that quiet moment, amidst all the background sounds of praise, that I felt the Spirit. And though that is not my particular style of worship, He was still there for those who need that particular medium. Sifu eventually took his daughter back, and though I hated to let her go, I finally felt a sense of peace. That is, until Sifu mentioned something about snakes. (He was of course joking... I hope.) But still, amidst a tense situation, I'd found a spirit of peace in the eyes of a little girl who couldn't even walk yet, and that's something I'll never forget.
Let us look with joy towards the coming feast of the birth of the Child who is the giver of all peace. Amen.
Riley
When Sifu invited me to come to church with him, I readily agreed, and didn't bother to ask any questions as to what kind of church he attended, or the nature of the service. When such an esteemed master requests your presence, you don't ask alot of questions, you simply go. I arrived early, as I often do, to pray the Rosary before the service. There was a band warming up, with a drum set and guitars and everything. I noted the contemporary nature of the service, and though it was very different from what I was used to, and I assured myself that I'd be fine during the service. Well, that was until a gentleman took the microphone from the pulpit and began to yell at the congregation. Not angrily, but in an excited "let's get this party started" kind of way. This church wasn't just contemporary, it was full blown Charismatic. It turned out to be a fortunate thing that Sifu was late, because if he had been there, I'd have likely jumped clear into his lap. To say I was tense would be the vast understatement of the year. I've been more relaxed in dentist chairs than I was in that pew at that moment.
Sifu arrived a few minutes later to find me hiding in the farthest seat of the back pew. He waved for me to follow him as he made his way up the aisle closer towards the middle. I could have killed him. His lovely wife and baby girl were with him, and I was thankful to have a bit of a group to hide amongst. "Christ-fest 2005" continued at the front of the church, and Sifu clapped and whistled some while I stood next to him with all the mobility of a frozen board, only to have my eyes flash open wide when a woman began speaking in tongues to our left. If I had been knocked over for any reason, I'd have likely shattered like an ice sculpture.
After a few minutes, his baby worked her way down from her mother's arms to her father's and into mine. She spent a long while playing with my saints medals, my rosary as well as tugging on my cheeks and earring. It was while holding her that the tension began to melt from me. As a watched her play and coo and smile up at me with a grin like starlight, I began to wonder if this is how Joseph must have felt when he first held Mary's son. There was the child as beautiful as anything on Earth, who, though not his own, was as dear and precious as if it were.
As I continued to watch that amazing child play with my cross, she gave me a sense of serenity that no one else could have in that moment. And it was in that quiet moment, amidst all the background sounds of praise, that I felt the Spirit. And though that is not my particular style of worship, He was still there for those who need that particular medium. Sifu eventually took his daughter back, and though I hated to let her go, I finally felt a sense of peace. That is, until Sifu mentioned something about snakes. (He was of course joking... I hope.) But still, amidst a tense situation, I'd found a spirit of peace in the eyes of a little girl who couldn't even walk yet, and that's something I'll never forget.
Let us look with joy towards the coming feast of the birth of the Child who is the giver of all peace. Amen.
Riley
posted by Vincent Christian | 5:43 PM
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