On Christmas Eve a year ago, I stepped inside church doors for the first time in a very long while and found a seat in a pew.
This church was packed for a candlelight service that resonated with the faces, and the voices, of children. Many of them were invited to come to the front for a special word of scripture.
A young family sat beside me, including a baby held by her father the whole time. Occasionally, she cooed and smiled, as the song surrounding her, surrounding all of us, wafted through the sanctuary.
The music soared, and so did we.
“Peace be with you.” We grasped the hands of those around us and greeted one another with those words.
These are the usual practices and scenarios at church services every Sunday here in East Cobb, and elsewhere.
But as someone who drifted away from faith as a teenager, I felt immediately reconnected with a spirituality that has long eluded me.
Since Christmas Eve last year, I haven’t been back to church, either, mainly because I’m still not sure what I believe. All I know is that the peacefulness of being in that sanctuary on that evening hasn’t left me.
Neither has the sense that it’s moments like those that really reflect the meaning of the season.
The holidays have flown by, and as usual, I have found them overwhelming. The secular activities of shopping and gift-giving, Santa visits and tree lightings are fine and festive, as are office and school parties.
So is helping those less fortunate with the provision of food, clothing, home supplies and gifts for children as volunteers, and with charities.
Yet there’s something that I’ve found missing, something that I’ve only found in a sanctuary, or in connecting with the Christian traditions of the season. Perhaps it’s just another mid-life occasion in which I’m reflecting on the forces that shaped me.
Earlier this week, I heard Handel’s “Messiah,” the whole magisterial thing, performed by New York Philharmonic on a radio program. If that doesn’t uplift you, nothing will.
It made me think about how such music has started bringing back a little closer to God. So have some of the liturgies, many of the Psalms and an appreciation for the richness and variety of what’s available in this East Cobb community we call home.
Many of our local churches have opened their doors to the public for concerts, nativity scenes and other events this season. They’ll do the same on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
If you’re like me and unsure about what you believe, or you’re if simply looking to find a sense of peace, consider taking a step inside.
And may peace be with all of you this holiday season!
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