A few days ago, I received a package from home. Since all of my family was at home for Labor Day except me, they took pictures of all of the fun stuff they did. Then they sent me the pictures along with something to represent each activity (i.e., microwave popcorn to represent going to the movies). My mom claims it was to let me know they missed me, but Martin reassures me it was just to rub it in. In any case, isn't my family great?
Also, I've been thinking a lot lately about charity. Mostly about how uncharitable I am. If someone says something a little bit on the edge of doctrine during a Sunday school lesson, I silently scoff at their ideas. If someone says something very mainstream, I will mock them for being clichè. There's really no way to escape my scorn if you're speaking out loud in my presence.
Interestingly enough, I don't think it's all my fault. Instead, I blame all of you*. That's right, You. I get to listen to your rants about idiotic people who give horrible lessons that reference Chicken Soup For the Soul more often than the actual material in the manuals. I laugh along with you at your humorous stories about people who manage to find the exceptions to the "there are no stupid questions" rule. I see you when you roll your eyes and complain that all ward activities are lame. Now in most cases, I agree with you. I see your point. But here's the problem: I probably respect you a lot, and I probably crave your approval. If you think an activity is lame, there's no way I'm going to want to go. If you mention something negative about a lesson, I'm going to find it difficult to see the positive things about future lessons. I've been carefully honing this skill for several years now, and it turns out, it's a really hard habit to break.
I've pretty much stopped enjoying my church meetings and become very cynical (or uncharitable) about the whole thing. Now, really, I can't blame you all for this. It's really my fault, and ultimately, my problem. But I think it might help me out a little bit if we all try to be just a little bit more charitable.
I don't want you to censor yourself just because I'm around. But in talking with some of you, I find a spiritual side of you I was previously unaware of. Can we maybe let this shine through a little more often? Emphasize the good things more than the ridiculous? Share the important spiritual stuff instead of tucking it away behind a façade of humorous anecdotes? Please? This is important.
Thank you for your time,
&etc.
* This is, of course, much easier than blaming myself. Please forgive my momentary weakness.
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4 comments:
Hmmm, I think I shall. :)
If it helps, you're in a magic ward, now. All things you've heard about ward and church activities deserve to be re-examined. FHE is fun, so are Relief Society activities, friendship whatever, opening and closing socials, and all things in between. The people aren't perfect, but they mesh well. Give it all a fresh start, with new eyes.
I'll still chuckle when I hear lessons taken from internet forwards. And I won't always be impressed by the cliches and obvious truths that are often heard. But remember that the spirit can work under either situation, given the chance, and that just because it's a simple truth doesn't mean it's a lame truth. Actually, some of the basics are still complicated--I could spend lifetimes on "faith" and still not get it all.
Thing is, the gospel matters to me, and I don't lightly and casually talk about things that matter to me, no matter what the subject.
And we all spend too much time changing ourselves trying to impress our friends. We're not going to hate you if you start really enjoying your meetings and thinking the lesson had some really good points. And if, for some reason, we do, you'll find lots of other friends with priorities that match yours. You're a likable person--you don't have to spend your time worrying that your friends don't think well enough of you.
And remember--in this ward, all bets are off, and everything's new. It's a good ward, and it reminds me how much it all matters.
I just would like to say, that I love reading your blog!
Love,
Roommate B (from spring/summer 2006)
I personally had an amazing Sunday School class in which no apostasy nor inanity was present and a Chastity Talk which was equal parts appropriately scandalous and sensitive and effective. The High Council talk took what seemed to be the usual 1.2 years, but it was super interesting and spiritual, and, actually kinda novel. Home Evening was an event of epically humorous proportion (it didn't hurt that we had five out of six boys with serious improv experience playing "In the manner of the adverb"). I'm using whatever peer pressure I can evince to make you love all these things again and stop being cynical to impress us with your coolness. In fact, I think you should comment in your Sunday blocks when appropriate. (But if you quote "Footprints in the Sand", I will put you in the stocks.)
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