Midnight Mass
Well, happy Christmas, everyone.
I've just gotten home from midnight Mass - the first one I've ever been to. It was a pretty different experience, and a rather uncomfortable one in many respects, more so than I expected. I went primarily because my brother was playing, and he told me the music would be pretty good. It was (although I thought it a pity that the choir didn't balance so well with the brass sextet and organ), but the service itself left me thinking "this isn't right for me" much of the time.
Part of that, I think, was the fact that I was in a church service. I've more or less established that Christianity is not the religion I want to adopt as my own, so going to a church service for the first time in a while was bound to be a bit unsettling. Add that to the fact that I was there with my mum, who'd really prefer that I did decide to be Christian, and the feelings get a little more severe in degree.
Also, the person sitting next to me was singing flat. This did not help.
After the service finished, Mum suggested that my uncomfortable feelings were some form of prompting from within (or maybe from without?). Maybe they are, but if so, I think they're prompting me to avoid church services from here on in. I'm beginning to think that whatever spiritual practice I end up observing regularly, it will be a private thing. I don't think I'm one to "broadcast" my beliefs/faith/whatever, at least not more than I do in the course of living in the world. If someone asks me what I believe, I'll be happy to share, but I won't be volunteering the information to all and sundry.
I really hope that makes sense.
Anyway, better put my head down. I've got some important sleeping to do.
Christmas love to you all. Yes, that does mean you.
whitealinta, I'm already looking forward to when you're back again. The best of my love to you, sweetheart.
I've just gotten home from midnight Mass - the first one I've ever been to. It was a pretty different experience, and a rather uncomfortable one in many respects, more so than I expected. I went primarily because my brother was playing, and he told me the music would be pretty good. It was (although I thought it a pity that the choir didn't balance so well with the brass sextet and organ), but the service itself left me thinking "this isn't right for me" much of the time.
Part of that, I think, was the fact that I was in a church service. I've more or less established that Christianity is not the religion I want to adopt as my own, so going to a church service for the first time in a while was bound to be a bit unsettling. Add that to the fact that I was there with my mum, who'd really prefer that I did decide to be Christian, and the feelings get a little more severe in degree.
Also, the person sitting next to me was singing flat. This did not help.
After the service finished, Mum suggested that my uncomfortable feelings were some form of prompting from within (or maybe from without?). Maybe they are, but if so, I think they're prompting me to avoid church services from here on in. I'm beginning to think that whatever spiritual practice I end up observing regularly, it will be a private thing. I don't think I'm one to "broadcast" my beliefs/faith/whatever, at least not more than I do in the course of living in the world. If someone asks me what I believe, I'll be happy to share, but I won't be volunteering the information to all and sundry.
I really hope that makes sense.
Anyway, better put my head down. I've got some important sleeping to do.
Christmas love to you all. Yes, that does mean you.
whitealinta, I'm already looking forward to when you're back again. The best of my love to you, sweetheart.