What church can do
I “heart” church. And yeah, I’m not ashamed to admit that I love it, because I’ve seen what church can do. I’ve seen what it’s done for me.
I’ve been a member of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, for a while now, and I’ve started to notice a pattern. Whenever there’s a fellow member who isn’t my favorite person, I’m given an opportunity to heal that misperception. We end up on the same committee, or we teach Sunday School together, or I find myself sitting next to him or her during a service. And as I pray to love that individual in the way they deserve to be loved, Christ, the power of Truth that reveals who each of us is as God’s child, moves my heart. My perspective shifts. I’m blessed with a new and reformed view of the person. Where before there was only irritation, irresistible love sort of … takes over.
Like with one of my fellow Sunday School teachers. She kind of made me nuts. I was nice. Perfectly civil. Mostly I attempted to cope by avoiding her, but that didn’t really work. So did I pray about it? Honestly, not really. Because why should I? We were just too different to ever be friends.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
