Hi friendo. I’m feeling a little under the weather this week, so I’m going to phone it in this Sunday morning. I promise I’ll be back next week with more zany, mundane adventures.
I did want to take a moment this morning to make a clarification. And an apology.
The section I wrote last week about skipping church didn’t turn out the way I had intended. Oftentimes, I’ll start writing a segment like that with a vague notion of what I want to express, and somehow, through the magical meanderings of fingers on keyboard, it usually comes together. Even as I wrote last week, I could feel what I was writing was coming out a bit fuzzy and clumsy.
What happened without me realizing at the time was I left you with a couple of impressions that were untrue.
“Growing up, I always felt like we went to church every week, because we worried people would judge us if we didn’t.”
Reading back, the meaning of this sentence seems pretty clear, but it is not exactly what I wanted to convey. I was writing here of my childhood perspective. This was how I felt as a kid, and was not in any way reflective of the actual motivations of my family. I have never once in my 48 years on this planet doubted the sincere faith of my parents or their devotion to their church community.
Later on, I wrote I’d not considered the perspective that when I skipped church, people actually missed me. This realization is not just about my current experience, but is retroactive to my childhood as well. I’m sure those lovely people missed me too, because it was (and is) a community held together by love and friendship.
I am sorry for my clumsy words. I am especially sorry for the wrong impression I gave about some very special people.
I hope you have a great week. See you next Sunday.