Sabbath-day musings...

I posted this on Facebook. I thought I'd share it here too.

I'm a church-going individual. I have been my whole life. Sunday would come around, and there was no question...you get dressed up in your best clothes, and you sit through 3 hours of church. As I get older, sometimes I wonder about the purpose of church. It's extremely easy to use it as a cover-up. A way to show the world your Christianity. It's so easy to cling to church as the way to profess your faith and prove yourself, but how are we professing our faith beyond church? What do we do with what we learn in church? These are the questions I've been asking myself lately.

Today in church, the question was asked, "How do you stand up and stand out among your peers and how are you different?" The younger me used to think things like, "I'm open and honest about my quirks of not drinking alcohol or coffee...or about how I attend church on Sundays and try not to work on the Sabbath"...etc. The older I get, though...those things are far from my my mind. I, personally, don't need to share the "odd" quirks of Mormonism with the world. The truth is, the world probably already knows how odd we are. Here's what I DO need to share with the world. I need to be the Mormon that people remember because I loved them. I need to be the Mormon that people remember because I mourned with them when they experienced tragic loss. I need to be the Mormon that extended unwavering compassion towards people in their struggles. I need to be the Mormon that offered a shoulder to cry on...even in our differences...and possibly saved a real, tangible life because I offered that shoulder. I need to be the Mormon that bridges the gaps caused by hate and misunderstandings. And I need to be the Mormon that is open to accepting compassion, empathy, love and support from everyone who extends it to me. That's how I need to stand out. I need to be that person that people can think of and say, "I knew a Mormon once. We were friends. We shared a powerful connection of love and understanding."

In true Crystal fashion, I'll end this little novel with an Amy Grant lyric: "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Everybody needs a helping hand; take a look at your fellow man. Tell me...what can I do today? Everybody needs a helping out, if that ain't what it's all about. Tell me what...what can I do? What can I do today?" That's my continued prayer.