The first Friday every month we have an unwritten rule in our family that we all should attend the prayer meeting in our church followed by mass, all together a 5 hour affair. I know its not the ideal way to spend your weekend, but I guess its one of the last signs of discipline and order left in me so I follow without question.
Finding a parking in church can be a pain, but then its not as difficult as carrying the cross so I parked my car and walked towards the church making sure i checked in each and every mirror on the way that I was looking good.Yup! bro. you look amazing...So I finally reached church and went inside the crowded hall with people in every corner sitting and standing.The hall was near full capacity so I had to stand in whatever space available..another moment when I wished it would have been easier to pretend I was sick and watch TV, but common sense prevailed and I convinced myself not to think on those lines especially with swine flu, global job losses and traffic mortality on the increase. So I took my corner in the church and began to listen to the preacher. But I guess as with all people my age,well I am 25 I guess i can call myself a youth for another year. my mind began to wander.. wander like it I never knew possible.. thoughts about my next vacation, what my fiance would be doing now.. When I could get a seat, When it would be time to go, how do I make more money, why the women's area is so far from the men. Why the A/C is not working properly, have I lost weight, is my shirt tucked in properly.. this and that and my mind kept wandering, not listening to the words or the grace that filled the room..
I didn't hear most of the speeches but I physically i was participating with all the chants and the hymns and with all the raising of the hands and "Alleluia","Alleluia" echoing in the room, indeed it was a factory of grace where men were trying to grab Lords attention to direct his entire stock of grace and blessings towards this gathering who are here on a weekend to glorify his name.
Then after a hour and half or so, the preacher said " Let us pray for all those who have taken credit cards and loans and are now trying hard to come out of it"... In a fraction of a second I came out of all that I was thinking.. I guess during that whole session I would have not said "Alleluia" as loudly and honestly as I would have said in my entire life.. suddenly I was humble I was sincere. my thoughts were all directed towards the power of god to touch me,make a miracle happen, and wished so hard he would take away all my cards and a Pajero would replace my Corolla 2007..I pushed to make space for myself ( point to be noted I am not a small man)to kneel and raise my hands to pray..in the darkness of the room I saw all these hands raised pleading and through it all I saw the light directed on the cross which was the centre of attention,the chants of praise kept increasing louder and louder grace was showering on this gathering as it does on every first Friday..As the entire gathering there would believe, the Big Sale of grace was on and everyone there wanted a piece of it.. everyone wanted to be saved to be touched to be uplifted.. People cried, people called out in agony.. the Bazaar of salvation of these men and women had opened.. and I was in it full on without letting my mind or heart divert even for a second..
While driving back I thought to myself, Man always turns to god when he knows the situation he is in is beyond his control, when he knows he cant do anything about it but wants results fast he calls out to that power above.We all change when we know theres something in it for us. We all want something out of someone or something.. whether is time, money, a helping hand and to some extent even love..we give happiness to get happiness, we get pain when we give pain. We love someone in the belief that they do the same. We help someone hoping that someday that favour will be returned in some way or another. We spend money on the best deals.. I guess thats the complexity of the human mind and I guess thats where the role of god or ones belief in god is so vital, it makes him realise that no matter how much he might have progressed in intellect or power, wisdom or social status, unless he accepts there is someone looking over him charting his start and his end. his road of life will be filled with trails and turbulence.
As one once said...Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.
0 comments:
Post a Comment