This past Saturday night my mom offered the impossible – to watch
the kiddo so I could to church by myself for once in a blue moon! At the end of
a very, very long parenting day I took her up on it if only to get some free Chinese
food beforehand and an hour away from the kiddo, I jumped at the chance
needless to say.
By the time I got to Mass (what Christian Catholics call
church), I was really looking forward to the spiritual side of things, it was
also the first Sunday in Lent so they did what is called Stations of the Cross
before mass as well. I was pretty excited,
and no I am not kidding; I have a strong faith that I have built the past few
years on my life journey. So about the third station, I noticed someone sat
down beside me in the pew – a guy, a young guy from what I could tell. Hey, I am faithful not dead ;)
The mass began and I was very happy to sing the hymns, read
the readings, listen to the priest and honestly get my prayer on. During a
couple of the silent/transistion times, however, I did “look around the
congegration” and confirmed – yes the male sitting next to me was young and not
un-attractive from quick glance. Hey, I’m human – a faithful human but still
human.
At this time in the mass, we start preparing communion and
all the prayer that goes with it, in which we Christian Catholics (notice we
ARE Christians, for those who think I am one of “those Catholics,” I assure you
I am Christian first) get the running joke of how much exercise we get during
mass from standing, kneeling, and sitting. Well, also during the end of that
time of prep there is the Our Father; now some
folks hold the hands of strangers during this prayer and some do not. I
do not, I find it weird – I mean I get the fellowship but I am not a hugger
either if that tells you anything. So of
course, I start to get nervous as the moment approaches. Don’t get me wrong, I
was being very prayerful to myself, but again – human people, human. And
single.
I mean the guy is praying devoutly as I seem to be, singing
all the hymns (if you go to a service and see a guy singing all the hymns it is
a rarity, however, my dad has always done it and found joy in it), pulling out
the kneeler we were sharing in the pew, etc. So I was wiping my now slightly damp
palms and thinking to myself – “silly girl, it’s mass, it’s a prayer, get it
together you don’t even know this guy.” The time came and thankfully no
hand-holding was pushed during the Our Father (phew for me on that one) and I
was able to focus on my favorite, go-to prayer. Next in mass is Peace, shake
hands, “peace” or “peace be with you” and back to it – yes peace was given to
my pew neighbor and confirmed – probably around my age, decently dressed for
mass, and attractive to me, I am sure my friend and fellow blogger Elaine will confirm he is no Brian
Williams but hey ; ) @viewfromdownhere.
The rest of mass I was very thankful for God showing me the
hope and the view of what I truly want – someone to be my friend during mass,
the hope of a future partner to share all that with, one who sings all the
hymns and pulls out the kneeler for me as well as let’s me get my individual
prayer on but to discuss topics later. I was now just comfortable, happy to not
be chasing a toddler around, focused on the praise, and settled in renewed
hope.
The final song ended and I was happy in my hope to get back
in the car and get back at life with the hope of someday. On my way out of the
pew, he spoke! He introduced himself, shook my hand, and asked how long I had
been going to this church. I was really surprised and really happy to have the
encounter! Ok, happy is putting it mildly. I only have a first name and the
fact that he goes to Saturday night mass but it’s something, if not just more
hope that God has someone who is ready and waiting for me….who is Christian and
a little bonus….Catholic! I hope to meet more young people and maybe I can get
the folks to babysit more often. Oh, and I was early and church ran long so I
got TWO hours kiddo free J
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