By Phoebe White
This past Sunday I stopped by Costco on the way home from church and the strangest thing happened. As I was checking out, the cashier told me I was “glowing!” The ladies in line behind me heard her and they chimed in their agreement as well. I couldn’t believe it! Needless to say, I am not accustomed to such compliments from total strangers. Before I had a chance to think through a response, I just blurted out, “It must be because I just came from church at Christ Church Cranbrook. You should come, it’s transformational!”
Now I should clarify that I am normally not one to talk about religion with friends, much less try to evangelize total strangers, but it was the truth. What I am finding now is that church really does give me energy. In fact, it’s starting to feel more and more like going to the gym; They both give back bountifully and they both are vital to a happy, healthy life. The more time I spend at either, the more energy and stamina I have, and the more positive I feel. I sleep better. I look better. I feel better and am more alert. I even started washing my sheets on Sundays, I have so much energy!
But it wasn’t always that way.
Many years ago, I found myself out of the habit of going to church. I was spending a lot of time taking care of my paralyzed mother and while I missed church, I never felt like I had the energy. (If you have ever cared for a loved one for an extended period of time, you know how exhausting it can be.) I was also grieving the death of my father and brother. It was a challenging time, and I was feeling isolated and alone.
Then one day, maybe it was two years ago now, I got a call from a member of the church. It was totally out of the blue. They were doing random “check-in” calls to see how people were managing through the pandemic and asking if there was anything they could do or pray for. That phone call was a Godsend! We had a lovely conversation and it was just what I needed to get out the door and get back to church — and I’ve been coming ever since.
I guess all of this is a long-winded way of sharing that if you ever find yourself “too tired” for church or stuck in a rut as I was, do whatever you need to do to come back. If you need help, get a friend to pick you up or make plans to meet for coffee afterward. Whatever it takes. Just come. You’ll be glad you did. And before long, you too will find yourself glowing again!