 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
  |
Previous Postings |
 |
October 26, 2007:
Bless me Father for I have Changed?When you write or speak to people, there is one rule that is supposed to be followed – never, NEVER speak of Politics, Religion or Sex. Today, I’m going to break one of the rules because a very interesting thing happened to me recently.
Growing up in a HUGE family, I suppose you all guessed that I am Catholic. The jokes were endless regarding my parents and the fact that they couldn’t stop popping out kids. Mealtime resembled the mess hall at “chow time” in the Army. Luckily, I still really LIKE my nine brothers and sisters and my parents, so I’m very proud of my small town, Iowan, Catholic, huge family upbringing…
I’m sure many of you reading this also grew up Catholic, so when I say, “As a Catholic child, I was not really allowed to show emotion in Church.”, you understand. When I asked a question (as you probably guessed, I asked many), the answer was usually “…because that’s the way it is.” You learned the Catholic way and didn’t go outside the lines very often.
I don’t know how many of you knew this, but about 10-12 years ago, the Catholic Church made a change. During the Lord’s Prayer, we were allowed to hold hands with our neighbors. Actually encouraged. I thought it was the most awesome thing that had happened to my religion in my whole life. Finally, I could feel another human being in Church. I could interact with another life!
Recently, within this past year, the Church has decided that it is not a good thing to hold hands anymore because we are focusing too much on our neighbor and not enough on God. A few weeks ago, I was with my dad at the Catholic Church that I grew up in located in Varina, Iowa, and when the Lord’s Prayer began, my dad and I reached for each other’s hand. We were the only ones. Later in the car, we discussed this and I said, “Dad, I really liked when we could hold hands in Church. It makes me sad that we are not supposed to.” He said, “Me too.”
So the reason I wanted to write this story is because it shows how much change affects people who are stuck in rituals and routines. That when change puts you outside of your comfort zone, sometimes you rush back to where you feel safe. But that safe place may not be better, just safe and familiar.
I thought every Catholic would agree with me until one night, I was with friends and I asked the Catholics this question – “How many of you liked it when we held hands during the Lord’s Prayer and how many didn’t like it?” I was shocked to find out that half of my Catholic friends like it when there is no hand holding. They said they grew up that way and didn’t like it when we changed to that and now like that it’s back to no hand holding.
Now I’d like to ask all of you Catholics, and non-Catholics, what do you think?
Keep smiling!
Michelle