Church and other musings...
Nov. 21st, 2010 01:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerRambly church thoughts behind the cut...
I was tired and a little sad this morning when I went to church, thinking of how some of my online friends had been abused by someone they had befriended, and worrying that this experience might make them want to give up on online friendships, or be less trusting.
The service was wonderful-- especially the music. We sang one of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns this morning:
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to His name: He forgets not his own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
There was accompaniment from our church's brass band: two trumpets, two trombones and a French horn, and it really lifted my heart.
Then a member of the congregation sang "Pass It On". Her voice was not that great, and in some churches I know of she would not have been allowed to sing a solo. But this young woman has been through a lot, including a severe injury, and she wanted to express her thanks in this way. I don't think anyone in the congregation was unmoved, and everyone stood at the conclusion of her song.
Anyway, the rest of the service was just as touching, and during the prayer, I found myself thinking about kindness and gratitude and ingratitude. I've always believed very firmly that being nice, being kind, and being polite is the way to go through this world, but sometimes it seems like that old saying "nice guys finish last" is true.
But it's not. I suppose if you are nice and kind to people in the expectation that they will also be nice and kind to you, you may often be disappointed in them.
But you won't be disappointed in yourself, because you will know you've done the right thing.
Of course, people who make a habit of abusing the kindness of others are not disappointed in themselves most of the time, because they think they deserve to get all they can in any way that they can. But sooner or later it will catch up to them, and they will find they are far sadder and lonelier than they would have been if they had not paved their path on the good hearts of others.
Anyway, we are told "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." It doesn't say those others will follow through, however.
But people who are kind reap their own reward-- it's just not the same type of reward that people who are unkind are looking for.
And I just want to say that on my flist there are many, many kind people and I am a better person for "knowing" them, whether I have ever met you in person or not, I am ever so thankful to you, and to God for putting you in my life.
I was tired and a little sad this morning when I went to church, thinking of how some of my online friends had been abused by someone they had befriended, and worrying that this experience might make them want to give up on online friendships, or be less trusting.
The service was wonderful-- especially the music. We sang one of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns this morning:
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to His name: He forgets not his own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
There was accompaniment from our church's brass band: two trumpets, two trombones and a French horn, and it really lifted my heart.
Then a member of the congregation sang "Pass It On". Her voice was not that great, and in some churches I know of she would not have been allowed to sing a solo. But this young woman has been through a lot, including a severe injury, and she wanted to express her thanks in this way. I don't think anyone in the congregation was unmoved, and everyone stood at the conclusion of her song.
Anyway, the rest of the service was just as touching, and during the prayer, I found myself thinking about kindness and gratitude and ingratitude. I've always believed very firmly that being nice, being kind, and being polite is the way to go through this world, but sometimes it seems like that old saying "nice guys finish last" is true.
But it's not. I suppose if you are nice and kind to people in the expectation that they will also be nice and kind to you, you may often be disappointed in them.
But you won't be disappointed in yourself, because you will know you've done the right thing.
Of course, people who make a habit of abusing the kindness of others are not disappointed in themselves most of the time, because they think they deserve to get all they can in any way that they can. But sooner or later it will catch up to them, and they will find they are far sadder and lonelier than they would have been if they had not paved their path on the good hearts of others.
Anyway, we are told "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." It doesn't say those others will follow through, however.
But people who are kind reap their own reward-- it's just not the same type of reward that people who are unkind are looking for.
And I just want to say that on my flist there are many, many kind people and I am a better person for "knowing" them, whether I have ever met you in person or not, I am ever so thankful to you, and to God for putting you in my life.