Faith and reflection - where I needed to be

I have not been to church in a few weeks.  Right before my semester began, I got a nasty summer cold that took forever to go away.  That first Sunday, I just did not feel like doing anything, so I did not.  The next Sunday I was better but still had annoying persistent cough.  I did not want to be that person who interrupted the tranquility of the service by going on a coughing rampage or constantly unwrapping cough drops during the sermon.

Today, the third Sunday I was absent, was different.  This morning I was sitting on one of my best friend's porch, talking and drinking coffee.  The weather was beautiful and I soaked it all in.  I spent last night at Jason's to help look after the dogs and to do some much needed catching up with Jason.  His partner has been very ill and in the hospital.  We went to see him for a while last night.  He did look much better than I anticipated and he is definitely on the road to recovery.  Some people do not believe in the power of prayer, and that is their right, but I feel that the prayers of Jason and Frankie's friends and family have helped him to improve.

Anyway, as I was sitting outside this morning, I started to feel some pangs of guilt that I would not make it back to Greensboro in time for church.  I have been absent from my pew for three weeks and I wondered if anyone would notice I had not been there or be concerned.  And then it dawned on me not to feel this way.  Just because I am not in church today does not mean that my relationship with God has changed or that He is disappointed in me for not showing up.  Church goes beyond architecture and not being inside that building today is ok.  I realized that I was where God needed me to be and that felt good, admittedly.

I do enjoy the physical act of being in church, especially College Park.  But we, as a congregation, are so much more than just being in that building.  If I'm only a Christian for one hour a week, then there's really not much point in being one anyway.  We did not do anything religious this morning.  We didn't sing hymns or quote scripture.  But God was there with us and I was where I was needed at that particular moment.