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I played “hooky” today (I think that’s how you say it in American!!!) – I decided not to go to church. I had to drive to another city and drop off Christmas presents. I really didn’t feel like going. I did however, get in a couple of weeks ago, when virtually no one turned up, and it was sacrament meeting only. Anyway, that aside, I have been getting heavy criticism from someone over my church membership. I have neither confirmed or denied it. If anyone asks, I just say that the same person thinks I am in the FBI, and that his brother is attacking him with radar. Yep, he’s schizophrenic, and talks so much garbage, that when he has gone and told everybody else about something I had told him in confidence, no one believes him basically. Although someone has said that he wondered where I kept going to all the time, and why I had these mysterious “appointments”.
I will be going out with the mishes this week, but I needed some time off frankly.
Your American-ese is flawless. Yes, I need time off every now and then, too. I actually had to take care of an ’emergency’ at work today. And I will use almost any excuse imaginable to ditch (does that translate?) SS.
Very off-topic, but I wonder if anyone else worries about using the terms ‘America/American’ referring to the US exclusively. I know it’s pretty much universal practice, but I was reprimanded once by a Brazilian friend who reminded me that Brazil is America, too, so I’m a bit gun shy.
I took two solid weeks off. It was planned — as a Sunday school teacher the only thing left were topics I felt dispassionate about, so I delegated them to traditional believers in our Ward and went on a trip with my children that spanned Church, and then spent the other Sunday working on my university studies. It was a wonderful experience. The time I spent with my son was absolutely stellar, and it strengthened our bond as father and child significantly. It was liberating to have the time to myself to work on my schooling without putting the kids off for 4 hours like I normally have to. On the other hand, it impressed upon me how important it is for me to be at Church. My kids all vied to stay at home with me the second Sunday when I was doing work, citing how awfully boring Church is. One tried the “I’m sick” routine halfway through the meetings and asked me to come get them — I refused.
Also strange was how they objected to being away on Sunday for the fun trip we did together. I was surprised. But when they say I wasn’t going that next week, everyone wanted to stay at home. I learned this — if I stop going then we will definitely lose the next generation. Their commitment is easily shattered.
SilentDawning wrote:if I stop going then we will definitely lose the next generation. Their commitment is easily shattered.
yeah, this is what I have found too.
I took off about 7 weeks after GC this Fall. I was so upset and “bitter” about the message, I would have been a huge distraction to the branch if I was there. I think Sam, if you need to get away from church for a week or two or a hundred – do it. Take care of yourself first.
Must have been the week for it, I guess. We skipped out on a it too because of my husbands nephews birthday party. My husbands side isn’t active at all. We went to a local amusement arcade and played for a few hours. It was a lot of fun! But it did feel pretty strange not to be at church on a Sunday. doug wrote:Your American-ese is flawless.
Thank y’all.
doug wrote:Yes, I need time off every now and then, too. I actually had to take care of an ’emergency’ at work today. And I will use almost any excuse imaginable to ditch (does that translate?) SS.
I do have a major church event this week, and I turned up when almost no one else did, and I hold a TR (admittedly not full yet), so I can fall back on all of these.
It’s a combination of anti-Mormon rubbish I’m having to put up with now, and also I needed a break from conformism. (I’m planning to set up a subversive magazine in the near future – it’s the last thing I need)
doug wrote:
Very off-topic, but I wonder if anyone else worries about using the terms ‘America/American’ referring to the US exclusively. I know it’s pretty much universal practice, but I was reprimanded once by a Brazilian friend who reminded me that Brazil is America, too, so I’m a bit gun shy.Yes, a lot of Latin Americans don’t like it! “America” is everywhere between Cape Horn and the Bering Straits. But the same kind of thing goes on elsewhere. We used to refer to the Soviet Union as “Russia”, even though the majority of Soviet people were not actually Russian. A lot of people refer to the UK as England as well – same kind of thing.
cwald wrote:
I took off about 7 weeks after GC this Fall. I was so upset and “bitter” about the message, I would have been a huge distraction to the branch if I was there. I think Sam, if you need to get away from church for a week or two or a hundred – do it. Take care of yourself first.Thanks Cwald.
I’m not a big one for Christmas, but I got the chance to spend some (short) time with my god daughter and her brother. I (attempted to) sing carols to the brother (because he asked me to), and I also got my god daughter her first Bible, so I can argue that my visit wasn’t entirely secular. It was good to see them, but because of weather conditions, I couldn’t stay longer.
” if I stop going then we will definitely lose the next generation. Their commitment is easily shattered.” Still can’t figure out how to do the quotes right. Anyway, I have had the same experience with my kids. I have been working out of town for the last month and have skipped a few Sundays. We took a family day and I stayed home another day. The kids very easily get into a “do we have to go to church” attitude. If it was just my wife and myself we would be playing hooky a lot more because our desire to go right now is at an all time low but I feel an obligation to the kids. Also, both my wife and I have Sunday responsibilities and I feel bad about calling someone to teach my lesson on a regular basis. Don’t exactly know what to do but that seems to be par for the course for me right now. SamBee wrote:I decided not to go to church
Quote:Contrary to the world’s secular teaching, the scriptures teach us that we do have agency, and our righteous exercise of agency always makes a difference in the opportunities we have and our ability to act upon them and progress eternally.
Robert D. Hales, “Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life”, Ensign, Nov. 2010
I believe this is true…we all can choose what we want, and sometimes need, for ourselves…we know ourselves best. I often have found it more important to reflect on why I feel like skipping church, than caring what others think about my attendance. I have also found it refreshing to return and understand why I like being there sometimes too.
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