You know how they say, “The biggest part of success (or something like that) is just showing up?” They do say that, don’t they? Anyway, whether they say it or not, that’s the big thing. Showing up! Maybe for Church. Maybe for an event like…the Pancake Supper. Or for a special service….Maundy Thursday or Easter Vigil, something out of the norm (norm being a regular Sunday Service). But really, just every Sunday, come in, sit down, sing the Hymns, say the prayers, listen to the sermon (really listen), take Communion.
Every week life goes on, work, the news, the TV, traffic, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and much more. But making Church a part of it, sort of taking a break from all the rest, gives me a chance to breathe, sit back and get some perspective. Sort of…how important is a lot of that other stuff? Where does it really fit in my life? By our way of thinking today, the people of Jesus’ time had a pretty simple life; maybe they did, or maybe their worries and troubles were just as complicated in their day as ours are today. Be that as it may, it really helps to contemplate the way Jesus lived his life here on Earth, and then to say to myself, can I live that way?
I need a dose of Jesus on a regular basis just to remember how to live that way. Because I’m not the prayerful person I’d like to be, regular attendance at St. James’ helps me strive toward the goal of following Jesus’ Way. And, I look at all the benefits of the St. James’ Community, both incoming and outgoing, just by showing up.
~ Bruce Roberts