Going to Mass alone

I went to Mass alone today.  Just easier that way today.  But what a morning I had! 

I sat next to an elderly gentleman.  The man had his cap on the pew next to me.  It said, "Ex-POW" and listed the camp that he had been in.  I was completely blown away.  So blown away, in fact, that I thought of little else during Mass.  What had he gone through?  And he had done it for us--for all of us, doing whatever we were doing today.  He happened to be sitting in church next to me.

After the homily (which I had a difficult time focusing on!), a couple came up to the altar and renewed their vows as a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary!  So I am a total sap AND had changed purses yesterday, so I had no Kleenex in my purse as I cried watching this couple.  How amazing and how lucky for them to have been married so long!  J.R. and I will be REALLY old if we get that far!

After church, I went up to the ex-POW and told him that I had noticed his cap.  I wasn't sure what else I was going to say.  He replied, "I was just another POW in World War II."  I was stunned by that comment.  How could he say that in such a blase way?  He then tried to explain it to me, but the "wedding people" were next to us and laughing, so even though HE was the one with the hearing aid, I was the one who had a difficult time hearing! So I ended it by telling him I was glad he was here and bid him and his wife a good day.

There was also an older, gray-haired man playing the bass guitar with the choir this morning.  I thought that was kind of cool too.  Wondered what kind of music he played as a younger man!

I looked around at all the people at church today and really had a different viewpoint, realizing that we were all there for our own reasons, but each one very important for us, and each of us just as important to God and the Universe.  It was a very profound hour for me today.  When I'm there with my kids, I just usually notice every little noise they are making and if they are touching the backs of the people in front of us!  Nothing quite so profound!

Comments

[jaki coelho]

ha ha i love bronwyns comment! good to know:)

[Bronwyn]

Just read an article on my internet news page that stated spiritual (not religious) women live longer and have more and better sex than non-spiritual women. Unfortunately, the same does not go for men. Too bad for them. I think you may live to be a very old and wrinkly lady. :)