Article December 7, 2009 ISSUE

Church in Action

BY ERIC OYAMA

I have to admit: It took me a little while to see the value and purpose of church. And I think part of this was due to feeling a lack of fellowship.

When I was younger, I got the impression that church was a place to debate the paint color ("Off-white is more spiritual than eggshell white!"); or the physical structure and makeup of the church or Reading Room ("Well, I've prayed about it, and I'm right!").

No wonder I didn't want to be a part of church—I wasn't finding any fellowship there, and because of this, I didn't see that church had any relevance in my own life or society. Not that I didn't have some growing of my own to do. I was more than content to stay at home on Sundays, doing my own spiritual study and reflection. And so the quiet, prayerful time I'd spent with the congregation during Sunday services slowly turned into quiet time on my own at home, and finally to quiet time with my eyes closed and my head on a pillow.