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Heber13 wrote:Quote:
…. Just that if you have that as a bright spot, I count you a lucky man! That’s a pretty glaringly big bright spot to have. Your kids sound amazingly mature, you have taught them well. You must feel they like having you there at church with them, right? Focus on that. That is what I do, and it fills my heart with love…which is what church is all about IMO.
Yes, I’m seeing that being there as a substitute teacher for my daughter’s class, my son’s primary class, supporting the YW capacity at various events if they need it, and helping my daughter her use her Beehive president calling as a forum for developing her strengths is one way I can contribute.
I don’t see anything wrong with leaving certain meetings when it becomes too much to handle — discreetly. The problem is, what do you do when you aren’t in a meeting? Sit in your hot car? Sit in the hallway and inadvertently annoy everyone by your non-participation? Frankly, I think I would choose a good rope-burn than sitting through many of our regular meetings these days. So, finding a way of making them tolerable would be a step in the right direction.
Read. Open the hymnbook and write different versions of hymns in a notebook – some goofy, some risque, some inspirational, some in haiku, whatever.
Sit next to someone else who looks bored and exchange silly comments in whispers – or have deep discussions in whispers.
Bring a notebook and compose the talk or lesson you would give as the teacher about the subject of the meeting.
Flirt with the elderly women. (one of my favorite activities at church and DEEPLY appreciated by the women)
Offer to take fussing children into the hallway and walk with them so their parent(s) can enjoy the meeting.
You have a good mind and a great imagination. Use them in being an agent unto yourself and don’t let others define what you can or can’t do.
I actually had an open conversation with my daughter about Sacrament meeting. I have boxed myself into a corner because for years she was allowed to read in Sacarament meeting, provided she ditched the habit at 12 years of age. Now that my boredom has reached near intolerable levels, I can’t read. I tried the other day, and she called me on it. So, we talked about our true feelings about Sacrament meeting — that it’s important to go, but that yes, we ALL find it boring
:yawn: except occasional moments when someone says something personal. So, we have decided we can read during sacrament meeting provided the material is spiritually uplifting. We agreed it’s important to go, although I didn’t have to go so far as coming up with actual reasons. So, that’s my bit of progress for the next while. e-Readers are a blessing because they are so small and inconspicuous. Plus I’m encouraging everyone to sit at the back of the meeting where all eyes are not upon you.SilentDawning wrote:Sit in the hallway and inadvertently annoy everyone by your non-participation?
Frankly, if that annoys them, that is their problem. Sometimes I need to do what I need to do to keep myself sane. I sit in the hall and read many times. I actually find many people wandering the halls and I love having conversations with them…some of the best conversations I have at church are during those times.
Heber13 wrote:SilentDawning wrote:Sit in the hallway and inadvertently annoy everyone by your non-participation?
Frankly, if that annoys them, that is their problem. Sometimes I need to do what I need to do to keep myself sane. I sit in the hall and read many times. I actually find many people wandering the halls and I love having conversations with them…some of the best conversations I have at church are during those times.
Personally, I have a problem with what I call “flash moments” or “public moments”. These are those highly public moments that attract annoying comments from people. They can be comments about your fly undone, your shoelace untied, shaving cream in your ear, a shaving cut on your cheek, or a stain on your shirt, or comments about how you are behaving or appearing in public (once, I got called out because I looked bored), and sitting in the hallway is one such public moment. For some reason, these kinds of comments I find very irritating. So, I avoid being out in the hallway all the time for leaders to make comments about how I should be behaving. I’m glad I didn’t get called out for my hilarious sleeping positions last week.
I found a room last week that is unused during Sunday School. I will be holing up there each week to read an uplifting book during that period. That is my coping strategy. And if the room gets taken, I will be out in the car or under a tree near the building, reading something uplifting.
SilentDawning wrote:I’m glad I didn’t get called out for my hilarious sleeping positions last week.
😆 SilentDawning wrote:And if the room gets taken, I will be out in the car or under a tree near the building, reading something uplifting
:thumbup:
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