Lessons in the Church

 

When I moved back from Finland I felt like I couldn't find my own place. I was constantly on the road. I had my house in Bucharest, but it didn't feel like home. I was visiting my parents often, but it didn't feel like home either. At that time, I was going to church weekly. Sometimes, I was going to the same church, sometimes I would  go to different church. I had that restless feeling up until I set into an old church from the city center with a great community. 

From the first moment, I just felt home. At first, I was minding my own business and I had as few interactions as possible. The priest always welcomed me with a smile and a good to see you back. Little by little I started to get to know the community. It is a small community, where people have a lot of projects and each parishioner contributes with money, time and energy to the maintenance of the church and the side projects. 

Once I got acquainted with the rules of the congregation, I was asked to stay for a day to the church store to sell candles, icons and other religious objects. I was also in charge of making sure that all those who visit the church are dressed decent and not showing too much. It might look easy selling products, in essence it is quite difficult. You get to know the history of the church, the program, all the objects and the prices offered for selling and projects the church or the non-profit organization affiliated runs. It is the way you get introduced on how the church is running.

Afterwards, I was asked if I can join on Saturday for helping with the cleaning. It is so easy to judge how clean a church is, but it is so hard to do it. It is not only about the physical effort. If you are a perfectionist who likes to clean and have everything in order, you are in big trouble. After one cleans some part of the church, people may come to visit the church or to pray. On the side you just cleaned, someone might just step and the dirt is back. It is not your house to prohibit access, so you will need to smile and continue the work. 

Besides these two main activities, the Church and the affiliated non-profit organization  organize almost every 2-3 months a charity event where everyone works towards the goal. What I actually love is that children are also involved in most activities. Every Sunday the church is full of kids stay in  line to receive the Holly Eucharist. After the ceremony, the kids are taught about the Bible and they create different objects for the charity events.

Spending time in the church and community, you have the chance of doing a reality check of your own life. You may start with material things like having a room and some money and you may continue with family, friends and communities. In addition, we may observe if we are led by ego or by love. We all look for life lessons in spectacular places, but the greatest lesson are taught in day to day interactions.