Some of you may remember having your mouth washed out with soap as a lesson in not using profanity or any ‘bad’ words. My Mom used bar soap and rubbed it across our tongues while other mothers put liquid dish soap onto the tongues for their misbehaved children. While not harmful, the taste and threat of getting it again certainly made up speak more carefully, especially if there were grown ups around.
Watching my grandchildren playing in the park, I had observed other children in the playground as well and found myself almost dumbstruck with the litany of profanity emanating for a couple of these young people. I expect they were in the 10 – 12 year age range. The adults there watching their little ones play could only shake their heads and lead their children away from the ruckus being created by the cursing club.
I asked myself if these children were showing off and trying to be ‘big’ or were they not being raised with no boundaries on behavior and curtesy. Have we ignored teaching limits to what is generally considered polite? Is there no consequence for engaging in outbursts of public profanity? Personally I think it might be time to get out that bar of soap and wash out a few mouths.
‘Apricot Quince? Baked Apple? Wild Huckleberry? If they had these soaps when I was a kid I wouldn’t have minded having my mouth washed out.’
Arrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh, I was not made for technology. I don’t know if it is an unwillingness to learn, lack of proof reading, over excitement, fat fingers, or any other issue or combination thereof. In any case, the send button is too easy to press.
It all started innocently enough. My sweet friend got a tattoo to celebrate recovery from a traumatic medical episode. She sent me a picture and in my eagerness to show support I pushed what I thought was a thumbs up emoji to show my support. Horror of horrors, I instead sent a negative emoji that showed a definite lack of support for her celebration. I tried to delete it, I tried to amend it, I tried to explain the futility of my efforts in an additional text message. I failed completely.
I am taking a break from social media for a while, it is too powerful to be left in the hands of someone as unskilled as I seem to be. No more emojis either, I will use my words. Emoji is a stupid word anyway. A made up word. I will use real words from now on.
Before you can understand where I am coming from, I will tell you I am Lutheran. Lutheran Church of Canada to be exact. Now many communing church members will understand that holy moment I am going to write about.
Attending church services every week serves to help me re-focus and re-commit to being a better me. I believe we need balance, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual; a connectedness to be whole. I try to be the best version of myself as I can be and attending church services weekly gives me that time out for reflection and renewal.
In many Christian services there is a point in the ceremony where parishioners are invited to examine their conscience and ask God to forgive them the sins they committed. Then the Pastor reminds us our sins are forgiven through our belief in Christ’s resurrection and triumph over death (sin). At this point in the service I am feeling better about myself but not too much, that would cross over into pride. As a Lutheran it is okay to be proud but not too proud.
The service continues with Bible readings, a sermon, an opportunity to give financially and an invitation to take part in the rite of holy communion.
This opportunity to partake of the body and blood of Christ further serves to enrich my relationship to God, through Christ. Prayers and petitions are said and prayers of thanksgiving offered. The Pastor invites those who believe in the creed to partake in the sacrament of holy communion. I take my turn at the communion rail to receive the bread and wine that is the very element of Christ in me, and for that one perfect moment I feel worthy of holiness.
The difficult part is to keep the feeling of wholeness and communion with God as I return to my seat so I can prayerfully reflect on the miracle of the grace of God through faith. This is my plan. I want this feeling of holiness in me as long as I can, it just feels right. As with most of my plans however, things do not go as I hoped. My eyes stray from my humble, reverent gaze at the floor and I see a friend smile an nod at me and I smile and nod back. She looks good today I notice. Drat! I have allowed my holiness to be sidetracked and I am back to my old but renewed self. I slide back into my seat in the pew, bow my head and thank God for blessing me. I tried. I vow to myself that next week will be different. A personal challenge on how long I can keep this holiness feeling.
Services concluded and time to enjoy the friendship of my church family over coffee and cookies in the social room.
None of this will make any sense to anyone not familiar with a Christian communing church, but I know there are many of you who can identify with that holy moment.
Views from Veteran 