Opus 2023-147: Why Go?

On Friday nights a group of old people from the church get together for dinner at a local restaurant.  I know I am old because I was invited to join them.  

Recently my wife has been on a mantra of, “Why do you go?”

The obvious reason is to get to know the people of the church.  You don’t know people if all you do is sit in the same room or row.  You may feel comfortable and accepted but a worship service is to focus on God, not to talk to each other.

Then there is a need for this isolationist introvert to get out and rub elbows with other human beings.  I am quite content to stay in my corner of the house.  I have little need for conversation.  At least I don’t feel like I need it, but I am also aware of the dangers of being isolated.  So I force myself to get up and get out.  Once I am in the presence of others I can have a good time but it is something I need to force because it is not my default.

One that occurred to me and generated this post was that I need to get to know people on a level that reminds me not to judge on superficial minutia.  It is easy to do and yet when we get to know people on the heart level we have a bit more mercy.  In some ways God is more critical than we are but I think in many ways He is more laid back, if you will accept that term.  It is because He can see into our hearts and minds.  He does not get distracted by all the superficial foibles we have that don’t reflect our inner reality.  

An example would be close relatives.  It is amazing how much lee way we are willing to give to people important to us.  We do it because we care and also because we know them.  We have a feel for what makes them tick.

When my wife ask me why I go I often don’t have an answer ready.  Maybe this will put the words in my mouth.

homo unius libri