Happy Sunday everyone! I love my lazy Sunday mornings sitting at my kitchen table, drinking coffee, in my pajamas, listening to the birds sing and looking out my windows at all of God’s creation.
“But wait!” I know some of you are thinking to yourself. “Why aren’t you getting up, getting dressed and going to church? Are you a sinner or a “backslider” who doesn’t believe anymore? Do you still know God? Bless your heart, I will pray for you!”
Most of you who have known me all my life know that my mother and I were in church every time the doors opened. I grew up with a wonderful Christian base that has carried me through hard times and rough patches in my life and I gave my daughter that same solid base because I think it is very important. But as I get older I have realized what works for me spiritually doesn’t have a lot to do with organized religion.
And before everyone gets their panties in a knot…..no I am not putting down people who choose to go to church on Sunday morning. I am just asking for a little less judgement on those of us who choose not to attend. I think the best way to spread some light on “why” is to answer the questions from earlier.
Why aren’t you getting up, getting dressed, and going to church?
My first, although be it a little sarcastic, answer to that question is “been there, done that”. Sometimes I tend to get in such a habit of doing things that it becomes more of an unconscious, muscle-memory action and it loses it’s true purpose. When I realized (and I was in my upper 40’s) that going to church had become a chore for me instead of a need I stopped attending. I also realized that it had been that way for quite a while for me. I had “church burnout” for lack of a better term.
I also had to reevaluate where I was spiritually. Our childhood imprinting is hard to overcome and made me do a lot of soul searching. Was I using not attending church as an excuse to be a Christian slacker? Did my not being in church mean I wasn’t a Christian? Did not sitting on a pew every Sunday morning mean God wouldn’t love me as much anymore?
The answer is NO, that does not make me a “slacker”, I am proud to be a CHRISTIAN and reevaluating my daily walk with God and finding the most effective “Praise and Worship” method for me has led me closer to God than I have ever been!!
Are you a sinner or a “backslider” who doesn’t believe anymore?
Now you are thinking “Oh my, what can we do to get her back to church?”
My answer: “Not a damn thing. I am good with my Lord. I am at peace with my relationship with God and myself for the first time in my life! It works for me and I am happy!”
Do you still know God?
Yes, now probably better than I ever have. I still have a LONG way to go and hope to never stop wanting to learn more!
I think that the scariest thing is when we think we know it all, have all the answers, stop feeling the need to learn, think everyone else is going to hell because they don’t agree with us and feel that we are a “shoe-in” to the Pearly Gates…..well, THAT is when we need to start backing up, humbling ourselves and going back to the basics.
Don’t let your “religion” get in the way of your spiritual walk with God. Do whatever you feel works for you, if that is church on Sunday, a walk in the woods or at home with your family in prayer. And stop judging others for their choices!!
So I am sitting here on the porch this Sunday morning, listening to the hummingbirds buzz to the feeder, the wind is blowing through the trees and birds are singing their morning songs. I am reading my devotionals and having my morning coffee and prayer……and for this moment, all is at peace with my world.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and Blessed Sunday!!