Today is the day Western Lent starts with Ash Wednesday services in many churches, and it is also the first of March. March, for us this year, is roaring in like a lion with wild temperature swings, bad storms yesterday and last night, and now nasty sideways snow. All of that means that it's a serious pain day for me with my fibromyalgia and other diagnoses.
Living in daily, constant pain means that I cannot teach any more or do any full-time job at all, and it also means that it makes getting to church difficult. Church feeds our souls, though, so while I couldn't make it to our church's noon service, I hope I can walk well enough to get to our 7pm service. Living in daily pain means that just getting ready takes a lot of energy, especially on bad days like today. Bathing, standing at the sink to brush teeth and do makeup, getting dressed, all of that takes more than I have some days; for church, though, I keep reminding myself that it's worth it.
Church is about corporate worship, performing the liturgy that has been handed down from the beginning all together as a group. While I can listen to the liturgy on Ancient Faith Radio or spend time reading and praying over the Daily Lectio reading, it isn't the same as being together, all of us in the sanctuary, singing and praying as one. We become the Body of Christ in the liturgy more than at any other time, and for those of us who struggle getting there, we miss it.
In this Lent, if you can, please visit someone who can't make it to church and have a meal or even just a snack with that person. Let that person know that he is important, that she is missed. I plan on doing the same on whatever good days I have, and of course, I will have to bring my knitting.
Living in daily, constant pain means that I cannot teach any more or do any full-time job at all, and it also means that it makes getting to church difficult. Church feeds our souls, though, so while I couldn't make it to our church's noon service, I hope I can walk well enough to get to our 7pm service. Living in daily pain means that just getting ready takes a lot of energy, especially on bad days like today. Bathing, standing at the sink to brush teeth and do makeup, getting dressed, all of that takes more than I have some days; for church, though, I keep reminding myself that it's worth it.
Church is about corporate worship, performing the liturgy that has been handed down from the beginning all together as a group. While I can listen to the liturgy on Ancient Faith Radio or spend time reading and praying over the Daily Lectio reading, it isn't the same as being together, all of us in the sanctuary, singing and praying as one. We become the Body of Christ in the liturgy more than at any other time, and for those of us who struggle getting there, we miss it.
In this Lent, if you can, please visit someone who can't make it to church and have a meal or even just a snack with that person. Let that person know that he is important, that she is missed. I plan on doing the same on whatever good days I have, and of course, I will have to bring my knitting.