Not That Different

For spring break, Josh and I, with a group friends are going to Poncha Springs, CO. But first, we are spending the weekend in his hometown with his family! Saturday was spent celebrating his younger borther's birthday, and today has been spent in two different churches. 

First, Josh and I had to drag ourselves out of bed for an 8 am Mass at St. Francis de Sales in Lansing. Then came breakfast at this awesome train depot now restaurant in downtown Leavenworth. Then came Josh's childhood church. 

During Mass, there is the part which everyone greets those around with them with the Sign of Peace. This is one of my favorite parts, especially at camp, when everyone walks around giving hugs and creating this atmosphere of Love and fellowship. 

The Sign of Peace happens during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, shortly after the Lord's Prayer is said. During the early times of the Church, it was called the Kiss of Peace. It has origins in the Jewish culture, and the other Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures of the time, all of which who used kisses as a sign of peace and respect. But what's the point now? 

This Kiss of Peace, the Sign of Peace, this acknowledgement of the people around us is for us to see each other with love and respect. In the same way that Budhists offer "Namaste" to each other, acknowledging each other's souls; we as Christians are acknowledging the Peace of Christ within us all. And not only are we acknowledging this Peace in each other, but we are offering it to those around us as well, creating a community of believers, filled with Christ's Love and Peace for each of us. 

At the beginning of service at Lansing First Southern Baptist Church, there was some singing, a greeting from the pastor, and then an invitation for people to go around and greet one another. 

"Hug, shake hands, talk," He encouraged them. I could handle the hugging and hand-shaking, but at first, the talking caught me off guard, along with the roar of conversation that ensued. At least not in my childhood, which required conversation outside the sanctuary for the most part. But as I sat there, feeling slightly on edge, I reminded myself that just because it was different does not make it wrong. 

Imagine how Josh must feel in the middle of much more formal gathering at Mass, when we suddenly start making eye contact and touching one another, I chided myself, this is no different. This was exactly like the Sign of Peace, it was love, peace, and fellowship. What's so bad about that? 

The obvious answer is the right one; nothing. 

We all get so hung up on different churches, different denominations. When what matters is that we see the Peace of Christ in each other, and know that each of us are Loved by God in the same mighty, all-consuming, Loving way. We are all in our own ways "totus tuus", or totally God's. 

Totus tuus, and happy spring break,

LeAnn