Sleeping too much

Hi @Former-Member

For several hours I was unable to get into the website so I could not reply to your post and I am so sorry about that

I really feel for you with your churchy friend carrying on like a pork chop about people who go to church - I do so understand what you are saying - and it is such a painful situation

It's years since I went to church and I have made contact a few times but it has been painful physically and emotionally - I really miss church and wonder a lot about the people there - and I think most people are sincerely Christian and mean well but are caught up with the busyness of life and miss the point

And I do relate to your so-call friend dropping in - and how you must feel about the crap she went on with - oh man - it reminds me of a chorus we sang when I was a Youth Leader - part of it was was something like

I have married a wife, I have purchased a cow

I have land and commitments, don't bother me now

I can tell a story but I listen too - and it would amaze me when I was waiting for someone to drive me home - in 5 minutes - and for up to half an hour when I could have walked home I would be listening to someone and another person would rush up and grab their arm and interupt with some issue - and I would nearly cry knowing that person would not finish what they were saying - while I waited with my back aching

I am reminded again of the two sisters - Mary and Martha - and how Christ would not let Mary be denied the better part of listening - and wonder often what these busy people are about. I have plenty of time - I have time to share - yet I see so little of my family it breaks my heart at times - but of course they have this and that and the other and who knows what to attend to -

I let them all go and do whatever - my church people and my family

I haven't heard anything from my daughter for 3 weeks - of course she has not heard from me either - my grand-daughter is not well - and I have had sinunsites badly - and when things like this happen we fall silent - and I wonder if this Christmas I am going to have another discussion with dd about seeing her on Christmas Day - and I have made it plain to her that I want to see her on Christmas Day - but this happens

So I hear you @Former-Member - and I would not tolerate a lecture like that from anyone like your churchy person. People have tried it in the past but I have let them know that the conversation is not appropriate

God does mean for us to be there for each other all the time - not just for two hours on a Sunday - yes - it's very kind to pray for someone - but a little card letting you know they are praying would be better. And it is not a sin not to go to Church - that comment is laughable - I am a Christian and I don't go to Church and I don't think it's a sin - I rather think it's sinful to have a church service at 9.00am and expect slow starters to be up and dressed and ready for a stand up, sit down, kneel down, stand up, kneel down, sit up, get up and greet everyone and so on for however long - try this with a bad back - I know you have one - what your so-call friend said is judgmental and we are told not to judge -

Hells-bells - am I being judgmental? Well - yes I am. I do think it's not all that helpful to have one service a week so early and expect people in poor health to attend. I used to attend evening services during the week and went every evening and sometimes I was alone but read the service alone because the priest knew I would be there and would set out the readings and prayers for me

God knows our situations and our pain - he knows how it hurts - and things are screwed up. If we get involved with a church we can find ourselves really busy and forget about the pastoral side of it - I know - I was really committed when my life was really busy with work and study - and at that time there were three services on a Sunday - and I was a Youth Leader there as well as a chorister and on the vestry - at the time I felt my ministry was to the core - but now I see that was only part of what I did

I used to listen -

Many times in my life I have moved on because I have felt taken for granted - I don't go back - I wish I could sit down with you and talk about this - I can tell it hurts and I know what you are talking about

btw - only God knows who the Christians are

Decadian

did you mean me @Former-Member re what am I up to? just rang mother in hosp interstate.. she was in lala land, have to go and pick new second hand phone up lol, just taking it easy otherwise