Wednesday, May 22, 2013

A Reverent Pause

I don’t' usually write about religion. I feel that a person's spiritual beliefs are a very personal matter. So don't fear this is not a piece of evangelism. Today my daughter's school (Catholic) had a special mass for the second graders that have made their First Communion this spring. All of the children wore their special clothes and processed in with Father. The First graders always "put on" the mass, for their older friends and it's all very special and sweet. Last year I went to cheer on Zoe who was reading. And this year I went to smile and wave, and eat cake with her class afterwards. This morning I was struck by the sincerity and devotion of these little people. It's so sweet to hear their little, often lispy, voice read in church. But there's something strong about it as well. Little first graders holding candles and walking stick straight. These kids could but the Royal Guard to shame. There is a fierceness about what they believe in a way that's most often found in children. And how sad that that resoluteness so often wains in adulthood. We think of our children as small, fragile, naive. But when it comes to faith and spirituality they can often teach us a lesson. In our modern crazy world, full of distractions, we should all take a lesson from the youngest among us, those who are able, amazingly, to simply be in a moment. I'm sure their teachers wonder why they can't do that in Math class, but in church these sweet children are laser focused. They are a beautiful reminder of what faith and spiritual practice should be, however you practice it. I am so grateful that I took some time out of my work day to share the mass with my kiddo and all her friends. I am also supremely grateful to have my kiddo as a gentle reminder of what my religious upbringing was like, and how special it all was. Watching your children live through these milestones is a gift.

1 comment:

Meryl said...

Not Catholic at all, but on the few occasions I've attended mass with friends I'm always struck by how beautiful it all is and the comfort people seem to take from the ritual of it all.