My daughter and I like ushering at our church on Christmas Eve. She's in college now and we've been doing this since she was in a backpack over my shoulder.
We were in place again last night. The church looked wonderful, and was packed to the rafters.
I'd drifted to the entry area midway through the service. A guy came in from the snow and apologized for making noise. I told him only he and I had heard anything. Offered to find him a seat but he just wanted to stand in the back and soak it up a bit.
He whispered he'd been married in this church but had gotten away from all this for the usual reasons.
He smiled at a nice part of the sermon. He looked at me again and whispered, "I'm glad you're here." I said, "you too, friend."
We shook hands and traded a look.
An angel in a ball cap? Nope, just a guy from the Christmas party across the street wondering about the big stuff.
It's easy to walk away from all the wonder that's tied up in spirituality. Life is saturated with daily-survival, important stuff. Like we need more wonder.
In fact, we do.
Sustainability means keeping to your journey. Spirituality, for me, is not the big stuff. It's not theological warfare. It's little paths. It's keeping to your journey. Among my greatest joys is to be able to share small things with my daughters that go past their remembering. Little paths. Big journeys.
My new friend in the ball cap and I both came in from the snow. In a few short whispers we'd both figured out the other guy was still searching.
As good an outcome as I could wish for us all.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
Rick
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