10 September 2018

Journey Me ~ Opening Thoughts


Greetings Dear Reader,

Over this past weekend I visited three very different churches.  The range in differences is extreme.  One service was completely liturgical, another traditional protestant with some peculiarities, and the third very free form.  In the diversity of approaches to worship I also saw a very clear common thread.

Combined in these three services I encountered perhaps two hundred people.  Each of the churches was small and each held that significant factor that it was impossible to be anonymous.  For most of the last two decades I have attended churches that were very large and where anonymity was easily attained. 

Since I am emotionally quite vulnerable these days the lack of a place to hide was fearful.  The unshielded attention that visitors get in small churches was overwhelming.  The questions meant to be welcoming and kind felt invasive and penetrating.  I could feel that I had no place to hide from the people who journey with me.

We are not meant to hide.  As we journey back to the Father, we are meant to find and love our fellow travelers.  We are intended to be loved back by them.  When we are vulnerable or hurting this can be daunting.  When it is, we must embrace it.

Through these three services things rose in my mind that both heal and haunt me.  In looking over the journey so far, I keep finding things that have been good.  I also keep seeing where I have been blind to my failures and weaknesses.  I need to spend some time with these things.  Your company and counsel is always welcome Dear Reader.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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1 comment:

  1. I understand. One of the most terrifying places I visit, even in a congregation with which I am familiar is the "sacrament" of coffee hour. It is heaven for extroverts Hades for basically shy people and even worse if you find yourself standing in the middle of the room alone holding your coffee surrounded by warm conversation without openings to fill. But upon reflection I guess that says more about the congregation than me! We need to leave holes in our circles, like an empty chair at our tables to welcome the timid.

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