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| Photo credit: clipart library |
I wonder if the church-going days will ever return. The dress-up days when people especially the women dressed to the nines to go and worship God. I was one of those women who would tie gele or wear a head wrap or a fascinator to church.
Dressing up for Mass is what I learned from mother; she never took it for granted and so it was serious business. It never mattered if it was the daily early morning Mass, she would wake up early and dress really beautifully for Mass.
I learned from her that going to Mass was keeping an appointment with God and so she needed to look her best for her God. She said being beautiful comes from the inside to the outside just like the Igbos will put it "A na esi n'ime malu mma puo ilo". In summary, if you have an evil mind, there is no need to even dress up for the outer beauty will never cover the darkness of an evil heart, evil will always show.
Personally, the church is where I go to for respite, I cool off in the church from the worries and challenges of life. I also rejoice best at my wins in the church, that place is everything to me and so I am still surprised at how I have survived these months without stepping inside of a church.
It was a rule for me to visit the church everyday, even if it wasn't for Mass, I would go into the chapel and let it all out or just sit inside the church and commune with my God. I hear him clearly when I'm in His presence.
I love Sunday Masses, I try to wear my Sunday best like I was taught and when I dress casually, I would have people ask if I'm okay.
I dance the best in church because somehow my body moves better to the rhythm of Christian songs. I would dance so much and sometimes to the admiration of some while being aware that some others would rather I sat my bum down. Who cares? I am my best and happiest in my Father's house and I never let hatred or bitterness in the house of God spoil my rhythm.
Everything in the house of God brings me a unique kind of joy; the music, the prayers, the adorations/devotions and the extras like the meetings, politics, the side talks, and the dramas in particular sometimes make me laugh so hard.
I remember this particular event that happened and while everyone was agitated, I kept laughing and imagining how foolish the two characters in the midst of the squabble looked before God and man.
There was a retreat in church for seven days and this particular retreat attracted a lot of the parishioners because the Retreat Priest was very captivating. By the second day of the retreat, word was out there that it was one not to be missed and so you would see people scamper for seats in the church during the retreats and some would place items on some spaces on the pew in a bid to save those spaces for family and friends or themselves.
That works till a special kind of human comes along and throws your purse or prayer book or missal to the corner and a fight would sometimes break out.
It was the case on this particular day; someone kept a seat for herself then went away to do other things in the church compound before the retreat started.
She kept a book on the part of the pew where she wanted to sit but along came someone desperate for a space to sit, and she felt insulted that everywhere was filled up yet the one space she saw was occupied by a book?
After she looked around some more and found no space on any pews except outside under the canopy, she decided to do what only the bold would do.
She moved the book and sat down there. Just before the retreat started, the book keeper came along and asked her to leave but she refused vehemently.
An argument ensued; "please get up for me" "no". "I kept the book", "I don't care", "but I kept the book", "no you can't be saving seats with books when some of us are still looking for where to sit"
"Get up one, get up two, get up three" by this time I was almost peeing on myself from laughter waiting for what the lady counting the numbers would do and boom! She sat on the other lady.
By this time I was choking in laughter. The lady sitting down ignored her, thinking that she was dealing with a rational person who would get tired and get up.
After about five minutes of lapping another adult, the lady sitting down pushed her passenger off her body and a struggle started right there in the church and the priest had just walked in to begin the retreat.
It took the church wardens' intervention to get them to stop the "Holy fight" but I was ashamed on their behalf but grateful for the comedy relief. The lady who sat down eventually gave up the space. I wonder who was right in this situation?
My point though is that church will not be the same again. People will avoid body contacts with others and there'll definitely be no holy fights and we will definitely not get all that dressed up anymore.
I used to agree with mother about getting really dressed up to Mass but not anymore. I listen to Mass on my laptop any time of the day in my pyjamas yet I feel fulfilled when I really pay attention.
Now I know that it is not about the dress or hat or gele or shoes and bag. It's about the mind, the sincerity of heart, lessons learnt and the imitation of Christ.
Whenever I go back to church, it will definitely be simplicity all the way. In fact I'll take a new nickname, Amy Simple.